Manhattan Island Serenade

by Vincent Neil Emerson • Lesson #320 • Sep 17, 2020

Editor’s notes

Hey friends! Here’s the lyrics, chords, and chord progressions for the song “Manhattan Island Serenade” – originally by Leon Russell (1972), but also covered by Vincent Neil Emerson (2020). I haven’t made a video lesson yet, but here’s an audio recording of me playing the verse and chorus:

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Lyrics and chords

INTRO
  Em

VERSE
  Em                           Am            B7                      Em   (Em /D)
  ...Sitting on a highway in a broken van... thinking of you--- again
  C                                       G
  ...Guess I'll have to hitch hike to the station
  C                              G     B7
  ...With every step I see your face

  Em                       Am            B7                          Em   (Em /D)
  ...Like a mirror looking back at me... saying you're the only one
  C                             G
  ...Making me feel I could survive
  C                     G    B7
  ...Am so glad to be alive

CHORUS
      G             D/F#                   Em             Em  (Em /D)
      ...Nowhere to run, there's not a guitar to play
      C               B7                 Am              C
      ...Messed up inside and it's been raining all day
      G            B7    Em  (Em /D)     C             D           G    (G  D/F#)  Em
      ...Since you ran away................. Manhattan Island Serenade

  Em                            Am           B7                     Em    (Em /D)
  ...Sitting on a highway in a broken van... thinking of you again
  C                                         G
  ...Guess I'll have to hitchhike down the highway
  C                              G    B7
  ...With every step I see your face

  Em                       Am            B7                         Em    (Em /D)
  ...Like a mirror looking back at me... saying you're the only one
  C                             G
  ...Making me feel I could survive
  C                  G    B7
  ...So glad to be alive

      G             D/F#                   Em               (Em D)
      ...Nowhere to run, there's not a guitar to play
      C               B7                 Am               C
      ...Messed up inside and it's been raining all-- day
      G            B7    Em   (Em /D)    C             D           G     G
      ...Since you ran away................. Manhattan Island Serenade
      G            B7    Em   (Em /D)    C             D           G [let final chord ring]
      ...Since you ran away................. Manhattan Island Serenade

Chord progressions

INTRO

| Em . . . | x4

VERSE (play twice)

| Em . . . | Am . . . | B7 . . . | Em .  .  /D |
| C  . . . | G  . . . | C  . . . | G  .  B7  . |

CHORUS

| G . D/F# . | Em . . /D | C . B7 . | Am . C . |
| G . D/F# . | Em . . /D | C . D  . | G  . . . |

Listen to Vincent Neil Emerson’s version

Check it out here:

You also might want to check out Leon Russell’s original version, to see how it compares:

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Manhattan Island Serenade

Editor’s notes

Song Sheet Temporarily Unavailable...

Lyrics and chords

Chord progressions

Listen to Vincent Neil Emerson’s version

Unlock My Secret Stash!

Browse Related Lessons

Enjoy My Lessons? Show Your Support!

Looking for More Song Lessons?

Featured Courses

Guitar for Beginners

Beginner Chord Guide

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Fun & Helpful Tools I've Made

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Blank Tabs

Subscribe to my YouTube channel

Recent Lessons