Leonard Cohen – Bird on the Wire

"Bird on the Wire" is the lead-off track on Leonard Cohen's second album, Songs from a Room. It is one of his most recognizable songs and, as he wrote in the liner notes to The Best of Leonard Cohen, he used it to begin his concerts because "it seems to return me to my duties."

"Bird on the Wire" has been covered by many artists and, in fact, was first recorded by Judy Collins, on her Who Knows Where the Time Goes album. Other notable recordings include those by Joe Cocker, Jennifer Warnes, The Neville Brothers, Johnny Cash and k.d. lang. A French version of the song, "Vivre tout seul," was done by Serge Lama.

Click below for:

• the 1968 Judy Collins version
• the Songs from a Room version
• the 2003 Johnny Cash version
• the 2004 k.d. lang version
• a live Leonard Cohen version
• a live "Vivre Tout Seul" version

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Personnel

• Leonard Cohen – vocals, classical guitar
• Ron Cornelius – acoustic and electric guitar
• Bubba Fowler – banjo, bass guitar, violin, acoustic guitar
• Charlie Daniels – bass guitar, violin, acoustic guitar

• Leonard Cohen – Suzanne (song)
• Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (song)
• Leonard Cohen – Famous Blue Raincoat (song)
• Leonard Cohen – Songs of Leonard Cohen (album)
• Leonard Cohen – I'm Your Man (album)
• Leonard Cohen – The Future (album)
• Leonard Cohen – Various Positions (album)