F         C           A#        F      C
Cherise was brushing her long hair gently down
              F   C     A#               A#         F      C
It was the afternoon of carnival; As she brushes it gently down,
F           C           A#      F   C
Rubin was strumming his painted mandolin.
        F             C         A#                    F    C    A#
It was inlaid with a pretty face in jade; Played the carnival parade.

[Verse 2]
   F         C           A#        F      C
Cherise was dressing as Pirouette in white
         F     C     A#                A#         F      C
When a fatal vision gripped her tight; Cherise beware tonight.
F       C          A#   F   C
Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true.
        F             C         A#                    F    C    A#
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      D#                  D
There's none Cherise except for you, except for you.
     Gm         F      C                F        C        A#
I'd swear to it on my very soul, if I lie may I fall down cold.

 A#   C

[Verse 3]
   F         C           A#      F      C
When Rubin played on his painted mandolin
         F         C        A#                A#      F      C
The breeze would pause to listen in; before going its way again.
F            C          A#        F       C
Masquerade began when nightfall finally woke,
        F                C         A#                    F      C    A#
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      D#              D
Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, at Rubin stared.
Gm           F         C                     F        C        A#
She was dressed as Pirouette in red and her hair hung gently down.

  A#  C

[Verse 4]
   F               C          A#       F      C
The crowd pressed round, Ruby stood as though alone.
F                  C    A#                    A#         F      C
Rubin's song took on a different tone, and he played it just for her.
F            C             A#   F   C
The song he played was the carnival parade,
      F         C         A#                 F           C      A#
Each note cut a thread of Cherise's fate, it cut through like a blade.

[Verse 5]
   F         C           A#   F      C
Rubin was playing his painted mandolin,
         F     C     A#                       A#             F   C
When Ruby froze and turned to stone, for the strings played all alone.
F             C                A#        F   C
The voice of Cherise from the face of the mandolin,
        F       C    A#                       F  C       A#
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      D#                  D
There's none Cherise except for you, except for you.
     Gm        F      C                F        C        A#
I'd swear to it on my very soul, if I lie may I fall down cold.

  A#  C

[Verse 6]
   F         C        A#         F      C
The truth of love an unsung song must tell.
         F     C         A#           A#         F      C
The course of love must follow blind; without a look behind.
   F            C         A#            F     C
Rubin walked the streets of New Orleans till dawn,
   F       C       A#                    F        C      A#
Cherise so lightly in his arms, and her hair hung gently down.