Dance Me To The End Of Love

La la la la la la...

Dance me to your beauty

with a burning violin

Dance me through the panic

till I’m gathered safely in

Lift me like an olive branch

and be my homeward dove

Dance me to the end of love

Yeah, dance me to the end of love

Let me see your beauty

when the witnesses are gone

Let me feel you moving

like they do in Babylon

Show me slowly what I only

know the limits of

And dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the wedding now

dance me on and on

Dance me very tenderly and

dance me very long

We’re both of us beneath our love

both of us above

And dance me to the end of love

Yeah, dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the children

who are asking to be born

Dance me through the curtains

that our kisses have outworn

Raise a tent of shelter now

though every thread is torn

And dance me to the end of love

La la la la la la...

Dance me to your beauty
with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic
till I’m gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand
touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

La la la la la la...

Bird On The Wire

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in an old midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

Like a worm on a hook

Like a knight bent down in some old-fashioned book

It was the shape of our love that twisted me

If I have been unkind

if I have been unkind

Oh, I hope you can find the way to let it all go right on by

If I have been un–

if I have been untrue

if I have been untrue

It’s just that I thought a lover had to be some kind of liar too

(Mr. Bobby Metzger on the guitar.)

(Mr. Paul Ostermayer.)

Like a little baby stillborn

Like a beast with his horn

I have torn everyone who reached out for me

But I swear by this song

By all that I have done wrong

I will make it all up to thee

Don’t cry, don’t, don’t cry, don’t cry no more

It’s all over now, it’s over babe, don’t cry no more

I say don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry anymore

It’s over. It’s finished. It’s completed. It has, it has been paid for.

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in some old midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

Everybody Knows

co-written by Sharon Robinson

Everybody knows the dice are loaded. Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed. Everybody knows the war is over. Everybody knows the good guys lost. Everybody knows the fight was fixed: the poor stay poor, the rich get rich. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows.

Everybody knows that the boat is leaking. Everybody knows that the captain lied. Everybody have got this broken feeling like their father or their dog just died. Everybody talking to their pockets. Everybody want a box of chocolates and a long-stem rose. Everybody knows.

Everybody knows you love me, baby. Everybody knows that you really do. And everybody knows that you’ve been faithful, give or take a night or two. Everybody knows that you’ve been discreet, but there were so many people you just had to meet without your clothes. Everybody knows.

Everybody knows, everybody knows. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows. Everybody knows, everybody knows. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows.

Everybody knows that it’s now or never. Everybody knows that it’s me or you. Everybody knows that you live forever when you have done a line or two. Everybody knows the deal is rotten: Old Black Joe still pickin’ cotton for your ribbons and bows. Everybody knows.

Everybody knows that the Plague is coming. Everybody knows that it’s moving fast. Everybody knows that your naked man and woman are just a shining artifact of the past. Everybody knows the scene is dead, but there’s gonna be a meter on your bed that will disclose what everybody knows.

Everybody knows you’re in trouble. Everybody knows what you’ve been through, from the bloody cross on top of Calvary to the beach of Malibu. Everybody knows it’s coming apart: take one last look at this Mighty Heart before it blows. And everybody knows.

Everybody knows, everybody knows. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows. Everybody knows, everybody knows. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows. Everybody knows, everybody knows. That’s how it goes. Everybody knows.

Joan Of Arc

La la la la la la...

Now the flames they followed Joan of Arc

as she came riding through the dark,

no moon to keep her armour bright,

and no man to get her through this dark, this very smoky night

She said, “I’m tired of the war,

I want the kind of work I had before:

with a wedding dress, something white

to wear upon swollen appetite.”

La la la la la la...

Well, “I’m glad to– to hear you talk this way

You see, I’ve watched you riding almost every single day,

and there’s something in me just yearns to win

such a very cold and such a very lonesome heroine.”

“Well then, who are you?” she sternly spoke,

to the one beneath the smoke.

“Why, I’m– I’m fire,” he replied,

“And I love your solitude, oh how I love your sense of pride.”

La la la la la la...

“Well, then fire, make your body cold,

I’m gonna give you mine to hold.”

Saying this she climbed inside

to be his one, to be his only bride.

It was deep into his fiery heart

he took the dust of our Joan of Arc,

and high above all of these assembled wedding guests

he hung the ashes of her very lovely wedding dress.

La la la la la la...

It was deep deep into his fiery heart

he took the dust of our precious Joan of Arc,

then she clearly, she clearly understood

If– if he was fire, woah, she must be wood.

I saw her wince, I saw her cry

saw the glory in her eye

Myself, I long– I long for love and light,

but must it come so cruel, and must it– must it be so very bright!

La la la la la la...

There Is A War

There is a war between the rich and poor, a war between the man and the woman. There is a war between the ones who say “there is a war” and the ones who say “there isn’t.” Why don’t you come on back to the war? Why don’t you come on back to the war?

Ah yes, I live here with a woman and a child, the situation makes me kind of nervous. Yes, I rise up from her arms, she says “I guess you call this love. I call it Room Service.” Why don’t you come on back to the war? Why don’t you come on back to the war?

You cannot stand what I’ve become. You much prefer that gentleman I was before. I was so easy to defeat. I was so easy to control. I didn’t even know there was a war. Why don’t you come on back to the war? Why don’t you come on back to the war?

Come on back to the war. Come on back to the war.

There is a war between the rich and poor, a war between the man and the woman. There is a war between the left and right, a war between the black and white, a war between the odd and the even. Why don’t you come on back to this war? Why don’t you come on back to the war? Why don’t you come on back to the war?

Come on back to the war. Come on back to the war. Come on back to the war. Come on back to the war.

Sisters Of Mercy

All the Sisters of Mercy

they are not departed or gone

They were waiting for me

when I thought that I just cannot go on

And they brought me their comfort,

later they brought me this song

Ah yes I hope you run into them

you who’ve been travelling so long

Ra ra ra ra ra ra...

Yeah, you who must leave everything

that you cannot control

It begins with your family

but soon it comes around to your soul

Well I’ve been where you’re hanging

and I think I can see how you’re pinned

Yeah, when you’re not feeling holy

your loneliness tells you you’ve sinned

Ra ra ra ra ra ra...

They lay down beside me

I made my confession to them

They touched both my eyes

I touched the dew on their hem

If your life is a leaf

that the seasons tear off and condemn

ah they will bind you with love

that is graceful and green as a stem

Ra ra ra ra ra ra...

(When) I left they were sleeping

I hope you run into them soon

Don’t turn on the lights

You can read their address by the moon

And you won’t make me jealous

if I hear that they sweetened your night

Ah, we weren’t lovers like that

and besides it would still be all right

Ra ra ra ra ra ra...

Hallelujah

Baby, I’ve been here before.

I know this room, I’ve walked this floor.

I used to live alone before I knew you.

(Yeah) I’ve seen your flag on the marble arch,

(but listen) love is not some kind of victory march,

no it’s a cold and it’s a very broken Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

(Hallelujah)

There was a time you let me know

what’s really going on below

(ah) but now you never show it to me, do you?

(Yeah but) I remember (yeah) when I moved in you,

And the holy dove (she) was moving too,

(Yes) [And] every single breath that we drew was Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

[Now] Maybe there’s a G-d above

As for me, all I’ve ever seemed to learn from love

is how to shoot at someone who outdrew you.

(Yeah) But it’s not a complaint that you hear tonight,

It’s not the laughter of someone who claims to have seen the light –

no, it’s a cold and it’s a very lonely Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I did my best; it wasn’t much.

I couldn’t feel, so I learned to touch.

I’ve told the truth, I didn’t come (all this way) to fool you.

(Yeah) Even though it all went wrong

I’ll stand (right here) before the Lord of Song

with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah!

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

I’m Your Man

If you want a lover

I’ll do anything you ask me to

And if you want another kind of love

I’ll wear my leather mask for you

If you want a partner

take my hand, or

if you wanna strike me

down in anger

here I stand

I’m your man

If you want a boxer

I will step into the ring for you

And if you want a Jewish doctor

I’ll uncover every inch of you

If you want a driver

climb inside

or if you wanna take me

for a ride, well

you know you can

I’m your man

Yeah, the moon’s too bright

and the chain’s too tight

and the beast won’t go to sleep

I’ve been running through

all these promises to you

that I made and I could not keep

Ah, but a man never got a woman back

not by begging on his knees

or I’d crawl to you baby

and I’d fall at your feet

and I’d howl at your beauty

like a dog in heat

and I’d claw at your heart

and I’d tear at your sheet

I’d say please

I’m your man

If you’ve got to sleep for a minute on the road

I will steer for you

and if you want to work the street alone

I’ll– I’ll disappear for you

If you want a father

for your child

or only wanna walk with me

another mile

across the sand

I’m your man

Yeah, the moon’s too bright

and the chain’s too tight

and the beast won’t go to sleep

I’ve been running through

all these promises to you

that I made and I could not keep

Ah, but a man never got a woman back

not by begging on his knees

or I’d crawl to you baby

and I’d fall at your feet

and I’d howl at your beauty

like a dog in heat

and I’d claw at your heart

and I’d tear at your sheet

I’d say please

I’m your man

Who By Fire?

And who by fire? Who by water? Who in the sunshine? Who in the night time? Who by high ordeal? Who by common trial? Who in your merry, merry month of May? Who by very slow decay? And who– who shall I say is calling?

And who in her lonely slip? Who by barbiturate? Who in these realms of love? Who by something blunt? And who by avalanche? Who by powder? Who for his greed? Who for his hunger? And who– who shall I say is calling?

And who by brave assent? Who by accident? Who in solitude? Who in this mirror? Who by his lady’s command? Who by his own hand? Who in mortal chains? Who in power? And who– who shall I say is calling? And who– who shall I say is calling?

And who by fire? Who by water? Who in the sunshine? Who in the night time? Who by high ordeal? Who by common trial? Who in your merry, merry month of May? Who by very slow decay? And who– who shall I say is calling? And who– who shall I say is calling?

One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,

you were talking so brave and so sweet;

giving me head on the unmade bed,

while the limousines wait in the street.

Those were the reasons, and that was New York,

we were running for the money and the flesh;

and that was called love for the workers in song,

probably still is for those of them left.

Ah but you got away, didn’t you, baby,

you just turned your back on the crowd.

You got away, I never once heard you say:

“I need you, I don’t need you,

I need you, I don’t need you,” –

and all of that jiving around.  

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men,
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said: “Well, never mind,
we are ugly, but we have the music.” 

Ah but you got away, didn’t you, baby,

you just turned your back on the crowd.

You got away, I never once heard you say:

“I need you, I don’t need you,

I need you, I don’t need you,” –

and all of that jiving around.
 

I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you the best;

I can’t keep track of each fallen robin.

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel –

that’s all, I don’t even think of you that often.

If It Be Your Will

If it be your will

that I speak no more,

and my voice be still

as it was before;

I will speak no more,

I shall abide until

I am spoken for

if it be your will.

If it be your will

that a voice be true,

from this broken hill

I will sing to you.

From this broken hill

all your praises they shall ring

if it be your will

to let me sing.

From this broken hill

all your praises they shall ring

if it be your will

to let me sing.

If it be your will,

if there is a choice,

let the rivers fill,

let the hills rejoice.

Let your mercy spill

on all these burning hearts in hell,

if it be your will

to make us well.

And draw us near

and bind us tight,

all your children here

in their rags of light;

in our rags of light,

all dressed to kill;

and end this night,

if it be your will.

If it be your will.

Heart With No Companion

Now I greet you from the other side

Of sorrow and despair

With a love so vast and so shattered

It will reach you everywhere

And I sing this for the captain

Whose ship has not been built

For the mother in confusion

Her cradle still unfilled

For the heart with no companion

For the soul without a king

For the prima ballerina

Who cannot dance to anything

Through the days of shame that are coming

Through the nights of wild distress

Though your promise count for nothing

You must keep it nonetheless

You must keep it for the captain

Whose ship has not been built

For the mother in confusion

Her cradle still unfilled

For the heart with no companion

For the soul without a king

For the prima ballerina

Who cannot dance to anything

Now I greet you from the other side

Of sorrow and despair

Ah with a love so vast and so shattered

It will reach you everywhere

And I sing this for the captain

Whose ship has not been built

For the mother in confusion

Her cradle still unfilled

For the heart with no companion

For the soul without a king

For the prima ballerina

Who cannot dance to anything

Suzanne

Suzanne takes you down

to her place near the river

you can hear the boats go by

you can spend the night beside her

And you know that she’s half crazy

but that’s why you want to be there

and she feeds you tea and oranges

that come all the way from China

And just when you mean to tell her

that you have no love to give her

then she gets you on her wavelength

and she lets the river answer

that you’ve always been her lover

And you want to travel with her

and you want to travel blind

and you know that she will trust you

for you’ve touched her perfect body

with your mind

And Jesus was a sailor

when he walked upon the water

and he spent a long time watching

from his lonely wooden tower

and when he knew for certain

only drowning men could see him

he said “All men will be sailors then

until the sea shall free them”

but he himself was broken

long before the sky would open

forsaken, almost human

he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him

and you want to travel blind

and you think maybe you’ll trust him

for he’s touched your perfect body

with his mind

Now Suzanne takes your hand

and she leads you to the river

she is wearing rags and feathers

from Salvation Army counters

And the sun pours down like honey

on our lady of the harbour

And she shows you where to look

among the garbage and the flowers

There are heroes in the seaweed

there are children in the morning

they are leaning out for love

they will lean that way forever

while Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her

and you want to travel blind

and you know that you can trust her

for she’s touched your perfect body

with her mind

(c) 1994 Leonard Cohen and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company

“Everybody Knows” (c) Leonard Cohen, Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company, and Robinhill Music (Sharon Robinson)

Courtesy of Menart, an exclusive Sony dealer for Croatia

Reprinted here with written permission