B F# E
B F# E F#

[Verse 1]
   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 the carnival parade.

[Verse 2]
  B         F#           E         B      F#
Cherise was dressing as Pirouette in white
           F#  B        F#   E          E          B      F#
When a fatal vision gripped her tight; Cherise beware tonight.
B           F#           E       B   F#
Rubin, Rubin tell me truly true.
        F#           B      F#      E                B    F#    E
I feel afraid and I don't know why I do. I there another girl for you?

[Chorus 1]
C#m                    F#               B
If you could see in my heart, you would know it's true.
        B        C#m B  C#m B   A               Ab
There's none Cherise except for you, 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.

[Bridge]
E E E E
E E E E F#

[Verse 3]
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
Like waves against the bandstand dancers broke; to the painted mandolin.

[Chorus 2]
C#m                    F#               B
Looking out at the crowd, who is standing there?
        B        C#m B  C#m B   A               Ab
Sweet Ruby Claire at Rubin stared, at Rubin stared.
     C#m        B      F#   B             B     F#        E
She was dressed as Pirouette in red and her hair hung gently down.

[Verse 4]
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 he played was the carnival parade,
        F#           B      F#      E                B    F#    E
Each note cut a thread of Cherise's fate, it cut through like a blade.

[Verse 5]
B         F#           E         B      F#
Rubin was playing 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
Singing Rubin Rubin tell me true, for I have no one but you.

[Chorus 3]
C#m                    F#               B
If you could see in my heart, you would know it's true.
        B        C#m B  C#m B   A               Ab
There's none Cherise except for you, 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.

[Verse 6]
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
Cherise so lightly in his arms, and her hair hung gently down.