{Intro} [B F# E (x4)]
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down [ F# B F# E E B F#] It was the afternoon of carnival, as she brushes it gently down [B F# E B F#] Rubin was strumming his painted mandolin [ F# B F# E B F# E] It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade, played in the carnival parade
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] Cherise was dressed as Pirouette in white [ F# B F# E E B F#] When a fatal vision gripped her tight, said Cherise beware tonight [B F# E B F#] Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true [ F# B F# E B F# E E 🫠] I feel afraid and I don’t know why I do, Is there another girl for you?
{Chorus} [C#m F# B Bsus4 B] If you could see in my heart, you would know it’s true [B E B A A Asus4 A] There’s none Cherise, except for you, [ G# ] Except for you [ C#m B F# B F# E] I’d swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, may I fall down cold
[(arps stacatto)] [E F#]
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] When Rubin played on his painted mandolin [ F# B F# E E B F#] The breeze would pause to listen in, Before going its way again [ B F# E B F#] Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke [ F# B F# E B F# E E 🫠] Like waves against the bandstand the dancers broke, To the painted mandolin
{Chorus} [ C#m F# B Bsus4 B ] Looking out on the crowd who was standing there [B E B A Asus4 A] Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, [ G# ] at Rubin stared [ C#m B F# B F# E] She was dressed as Pirouette in red, And her hair hung gently down
[(arps stacatto)] [E F#]
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] The crowd pressed round, Ruby stood as though alone [ F# B F# E E B F#] Rubin’s song took on a different tone, And he played it just for her [ B F# E B F#] The song that he played was the carnival parade [ F# B F# E B F# E E] Each note cut a thread of Cherise’s fate, It cut her like a blade
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] Oh Rubin played on his painted mandolin [ F# B F# E E B F#] When Ruby froze and turned to stone, For the strings played all alone [ B F# E B F#] The voice of Cherise from the face of the mandolin [ F# B F# E B F# E E] Singing Rubin, Rubin tell me true, For I have no one but you
{Chorus} [ C#m F# B Bsus4 B ] If you could see in my heart you would know it true [B E B A Asus4 A] There’s none Cherise, except for you, [ G# ] except for you [ C#m B F# B F# E] I’d swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, may I fall down cold
[(arps stacatto)] [E F#]
{Verse} [ B F# E B F#] The truth of love an unsung song must tell [ F# B F# E E B F#] The course of love must follow blind, without a look behind [ B F# E B F#] Rubin walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn [ F# B F# E B F# E E] Cherise so lightly in his arms, and her hair hung gently down
[Jam on Emaj7 (Lydian) and include thematic riff]
Starts in same key: E