Bonnie "Prince" Billy – Ruben And Cherise (Guitar)

Key
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Chords

You want to play these up high using the A-shape barre chord F (starting at the 8th fret on the A string and the E-shape barre chord for A# and C (and the A-minor shape for G-minor). To get the intro picking, you just pick from bottom to top starting on the B string. The strumming pattern is simple and playful and consistent. You can listen to the intro to get it down. [Intro] F C Bb [Verse 1]
     F      C             Bb        F      C
Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down.

                 F      C      Bb                    F      C
It was the afternoon of carnival; As she brushes it gently down,

F          C            Bb      F     C
Rubin was strumming his painted mandolin.

                     F       C       Bb               F     C     Bb
It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade; Played the carnival parade.
[Verse 2]
     F       C          Bb     F     C
Cherise was dressing as Pirouette in white

             F       C           Bb                F      C
When a fatal vision gripped her tight; Cherise beware tonight.

F       C     Bb     F      C
Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true.

                    F          C     Bb                    F    C    Bb
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do. Is there another girl for you?
[Chorus A]
Gm                      C                F
If you could see in my heart, you would know it's true.

                 Gm     F       Eb               D
There's none Cherise except for you, except for you.

     Gm         F      C    F                    C        Bb
I'd swear to it on my very soul, if I lie may I fall down cold.
Bb C [Verse 3]
     F       C           Bb      F      C
When Rubin played on his painted mandolin,

                 F       C         Bb                 F      C
The breeze would pause to listen in; before going its way again.

       F      C        Bb        F       C
Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke,

                       F          C         Bb          F       C     Bb
Like waves against the bandstand, dancers broke; to the painted mandolin.
[Chorus B]
Gm                   C            F
Looking out at the crowd, who is standing there?

            Gm       F      Eb             D
Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, at Rubin stared.

Gm       F          C            F                     C       Bb
She was dressed as Pirouette in red and her hair hung gently down.
Bb C [Verse 4]
    F              C          Bb            F        C
The crowd pressed round, and Ruby stood as though alone.

                   F    C         Bb                     F        C
Rubin's song took on a different tone, and he played it just for her.

    F            C        Bb           F    C
The song that he played was the carnival parade,

                F          C         Bb         F           C      Bb
Each note cut a thread of Cherise's fate, oh it cut through like a blade.
[Verse 5]
F         C           Bb      F      C
Rubin was playing his painted mandolin,

                   F   C      Bb                     F            C
When Ruby froze and turned to stone, for the strings played all alone.

    F            C            Bb          F      C
The voice of Cherise from the face of the mandolin,

              F      C      Bb           F      C       Bb
Singing Rubin Rubin tell me true, for I have no one but you.
[Chorus A]
Gm                     C                F
If you could see in my heart, you would know it's true.

                 Gm      F       Eb                D
There's none Cherise except for you, except for you.

    Gm          F      C    F                   C       Bb
I'd swear to it on my very soul, if I lie may I fall down cold.
Bb C [Verse 6]
    F         C         Bb   F         C
The truth of love an unsung song must tell.

              F          C       Bb             F       C
The course of love must follow blind; without a look behind.

F       C          Bb        F         C
Rubin walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn,

           F        C      Bb           F     C    Bb
Cherise so lightly in his arms, and her hair hung gently down.
[Outro] F C Bb