Intro: B F# E (x4)
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
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 ðŸ«
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do, Is there another girl for you?
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 B F# E
I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, may I fall down cold
(arps stacatto)
E F#
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 ðŸ«
Like waves against the bandstand the dancers broke, To the painted mandolin
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 B F# E
She was dressed as Pirouette in red, And her hair hung gently down
(arps stacatto)
E F#
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
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
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 B F# E
I'd swear to it on my very soul, If I lie, may I fall down cold
(arps stacatto)
E F#
(quiet)
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)
Starts in same key: E