Field Commander Cohen

Field Commander Cohen, he was our most important spy: wounded in the line of duty; parachuting acid into diplomatic cocktail parties; urging Fidel Castro to abandon fields and castles; leave it all, and like a man, come back to nothing special such as waiting rooms and ticket lines, and silver bullet suicides, and messianic ocean tides, and racial roller-coaster rides, and other forms of boredom advertised as poetry. I know you need your sleep now. I know your life’s been hard, but many men are falling where you promised to stand guard.

I never asked but I heard you cast your lot along with the poor; that you be this and nothing more than just some grateful, faithful woman’s favourite singing millionaire, the patron saint of envy and the grocer of despair, working for the Yankee Dollar. “Drinkin’ rum and Coca-Cola. Go down Point Koomahnah. Both mother and daughter. Working for the Yankee dollar.” I know you need your sleep now. I know your life’s been hard, but many men are falling where you promised to stand guard.

Lover, come and lie with me, if my lover is who you really are. And be your sweetest self a while, until I ask for more, my child. Then let the other selves be wrung; let them manifest and come, ‘til love is pierced and love is hung and every taste is on the tongue, and every kind of freedom done, then oh my love, oh my love, oh my love

The Window

Oh, why do you stand by the window,

abandoned to beauty and pride?

The thorn of the night in your bosom,

the spear of the age in your side;

lost in the rages of fragrance,

lost in the rags of remorse,

lost in the waves of a sickness

that loosens the high silver nerves.

O chosen love, O frozen love

O tangle of matter and ghost.

O darling of angels, demons and saints

and the whole broken-hearted host –

Gentle this soul.

And come forth from your cloud of unknowing

and kiss the cheek of the moon;

the New Jerusalem glowing,

why tarry all night in this ruin?

And leave no word of discomfort,

oh, leave no observer to mourn,

but climb on your tears and be silent

like a rose on its ladder of thorn.

O chosen love, O frozen love

O tangle of matter and ghost.

O darling of angels, demons and saints

and the whole broken-hearted host –

Gentle this soul.

Then lay your rose on the fire;

the fire give up to the sun;

the sun give over to splendour

in the arms of the High Holy One;

for the Holy One dreams of a letter,

ah, dreams of a letter’s death –

bless the continuous stutter

of the word being made into flesh.

O chosen love, O frozen love

O tangle of matter and ghost.

O darling of angels, demons and saints

and the whole broken-hearted host –

Gentle this soul,

gentle this soul.

O chosen love, O frozen love

O tangle of matter and ghost.

O darling of angels, demons and saints

and the whole broken-hearted host –

Gentle this soul,

gentle this soul.

The Smokey Life

I’ve never seen your eyes so wide.

I’ve never seen your appetite quite

this occupied.

Elsewhere is your feast of love,

I know.

Long ago we agreed to keep it light.

So let’s be married one more night.

It’s light, light enough

to let it go.

It’s light enough to let it go.

Remember when the scenery started fading;

I held you ‘til you learned to walk on air.

So don’t look down, the ground is gone,

there’s no one waving anyway.

The smokey life is practiced

everywhere.

So set your restless heart at ease.

Take a lesson from these autumn leaves.

They waste no time waiting

for the snow.

Don’t argue now, or you’ll be late.

There is nothing to investigate.

It’s light enough, light enough

to let it go.

Light enough to let it go.

Remember when the scenery started fading;

I held you ‘til you learned to walk on air.

So don’t look down, the ground is gone,

there’s no one waving anyway.

The smokey life is practiced

everywhere.

Come on back when the moment lends.

You can look up all my very closest friends.

It’s light, light enough

to let it go.

It’s light enough to let it go.

The Gypsy’s Wife

And where where where

is my gypsy wife tonight?

I’ve heard all the wild reports;

they can’t be right.

But whose head is this she’s dancing with

on the threshing floor?

Whose darkness deepens in her arms

just a little more?

And where

where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Where where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Ah the silver knives are flashing

in that tired old café.

A ghost climbs on the table

in a bridal negligee.

She says, “My body is the light,”

she says, “My body is the way.”

I raise my arm against it all

and I catch the bride’s bouquet.

So where

where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Where where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Too early for the rainbow,

too early for the dove.

These are the final days:

this is the darkness, this is the flood.

And there is no man or woman

who can be touched,

but you who come between them,

you will surely be judged.

So where

where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Where where is my gypsy wife tonight?

Lover Lover Lover

I asked my father, I said, “Father, change my name. The one I’m using now it’s covered up with fear and filth and cowardice and shame.” Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

He said, “I locked you in this body, I meant it as a kind of trial. You can use it as a weapon or to make some woman smile.” Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

“Then let me start again,” I cried, “Oh, please let me start again, I want a face that’s fair this time, I want a spirit that is calm.” Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

“I never never turned aside,” he said, “I never ever walked away. It was you who built the temple, it was you who covered up my face.” Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

You may come to me in happiness, or you may come to me in grief. You may come to me in deepest faith, or you may come to me in disbelief. Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me. Yes, and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, come back to me.

Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye

Yes, I loved you in the morning

Our kisses deep and warm

Your hair upon the pillow

like a sleepy golden storm

Many loved before us

I know we are not new

In city and in forest

they smile like me and you

But now it’s come to distances

And both of us must try

Your eyes are soft with sorrow

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye

No, I’m not looking for another

As I wander in my time

Walk me to the corner now

Our steps will always rhyme

You know my love goes with you

As your love stays with me

It’s just the way it changes

Like the shoreline and the sea

Oh, but let’s not talk of love or chains

Or things we can’t untie

Your eyes are soft with sorrow

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye

Yes, I loved you in the morning

Our kisses deep and warm

Your hair upon the pillow

Like a sleepy golden storm

Many loved before us

I know we are not new

In city and in forest

They smile like me and you

But now it’s come to distances

And both of us must try

Your eyes are soft with sorrow

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye

The Stranger Song

It’s true that all the men you knew were dealers who said they were through with dealing every time you gave them shelter. Well, I know that kind of man. It’s hard to hold the hand of anyone who’s reaching for the sky just to surrender, who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind you’ll find he did not leave you very much, no,  not even laughter. Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild he’ll never need to deal another. He was just some Joseph looking for a manger. Just some holy Joseph looking for a manger.

And then leaning on your window-sill he’ll say one day you caused his will to weaken with your love, your warmth and your shelter. And then taking from his wallet an old schedule of trains, he’ll say, I told you when I came I was a stranger. I told you when I came I was a stranger.

Ah, but now another stranger seems to want you to ignore his dreams, as though they were the burden of some other. You’ve seen that man before, his golden arm dispatching cards, but now it’s rusted from the elbow to the finger. And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter. Yes, he wants to trade the song he sings for shelter.

Well, you hate to watch another tired man lay down his hand, like he was giving up the Holy Game of Poker. And while he talks his dreams to sleep, you notice there’s a highway that’s curling up like smoke above his shoulder. And now suddenly you look a little older. Yeah, suddenly you feel a litle older.

Well, you tell him to come in, sit down, but something makes you turn around. The door is open. You cannot close your shelter. You try the handle of the road. It opens. Do not be afraid. It’s you, my love, you, who are the stranger. It is you my love, you who are the stranger.

Well, I’ve been waiting. I was sure we’d meet between the trains we’re waiting for, I think it’s time to board another. Please understand I never had a secret chart to get me to the heart of this, or any other matter. Well, he talks like this, you don’t know what he’s after. Yes, he speaks like this, you don’t know what he’s after.

Ah, let’s meet tomorrow if you choose, upon the shore, beneath the bridge, that they are building on some endless river. Then he leaves the platform for the sleeping car that’s warm, you realize, he’s only advertising one more shelter. And it comes to you, he never even was that stranger. And you say, “OK, the bridge, or someplace later.”

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind, you’ll find he did not leave you very much, no, not even laughter. Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild he’ll never need to deal another. Yeah, just some Joseph looking for a manger.

And then leaning on your window-sill, he’ll say one day you caused his will to weaken with your love, your warmth and your shelter. And taking from his wallet an old schedule of trains, he’ll say, I told you when I came I was a stranger. I told you when I came I was a stranger. I told you when I came I was a stranger.

The Guests

One by one the guests arrive

The guests are coming through

The open-hearted many

The broken-hearted few

Ah, but no one knows where the night is going

No one knows why the wine is flowing

Ah love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

Those who dance begin to dance

Those who weep begin

Welcome, welcome, cries a voice

Let all my guests come in

Ah, but no one knows where the night is going

no one knows why the wine is flowing

Ah love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

All go stumbling through that house

In utmost urgency

Saying, Do reveal yourself

Or, Why has thou forsaken me

But no one knows where the night is going

No one knows why the wine is flowing

O love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

All at once the torches flare

The inner door flies open

One by one they enter there

In every style of passion

But no one knows where the night is going

No one knows why the wine is flowing

Ah love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

Those who dance begin to dance

Those who weep begin

Those who earnestly are lost

Ah, they’re lost and lost again

Ah, but no one knows where the night is going

No one knows why the wine is flowing

O love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

One by one the guests arrive

The guests are coming through

The broken-hearted many

The open-hearted few

And no one knows where the night is going

No one knows why the wine is flowing

O love, I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you

O... I need you now

Memories

Frankie Lane he was singing “Jezebel”

I pinned an Iron Cross to my lapel

I walked up to the tallest

and the blondest girl

I said, “Look, you don’t know me now

but very soon you will;

so won’t you let me see,

Won’t you let me see,”

I said, “Won’t you let me see your naked body?”

“Just dance me

to the dark side of the gym

Chances are,

I will let you do most anything

I know you’re hungry

I can hear it in your voice

and there are many parts of me to touch

you have your choice.

Ah, but no, you cannot see,

No you cannot see,”

She said, “No you cannot see my naked body.”

We’re dancing close,

the band is playing “Stardust”

Balloons and paper streamers

they floating down on us

She says, “You’ve got one minute left

to fall in love.”

In solemn moments such as this

I’ve put my trust

and all my faith to see,

All my faith to see,

All my faith to see her naked body.

Why Don’t You Try

Why don’t you try to do without him, why don’t you try to live alone? Do you really need his hands for your passion? Do you really need his heart for your throne? Do you need his labour for your baby? Do you need his beast for the bone? Do you need to hold a leash to be a lady? I know that you can make make it, you can make it on your own.

Why don’t your try to forget him? Just open up your dainty little hand? This life is filled with many sweet companions, many satisfying one-night stands. Do you want to be the ditch around a tower? Do you want to be the moonlight in his cave? Do you want to give your blessing to his power as he goes whistling past his daddy, past his daddy’s grave?

I’d like to take you take you to the ceremony; that is if I remember the way. Jack and Jill, they’re going to join their misery; I’m afraid it’s time for everyone to pray. You can see they’ve finally taken cover. You can see they’re willing to obey. Their vows are difficult, they’re for each other. So let nobody put a loophole, a loophole in their way.

Bird On The Wire

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in some old midnight choir

I’ve tried in my way to be free

Like a worm on a hook

Like a monk bending over the book

it was the shape, the shape of our love twisted me

If I, if I  have been unkind

I hope that you can just let it go round on by

If I, if I  have been untrue

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

Like a little baby stillborn

Like a beast with his horn

I have torn everyone who reached out for me

But I swear, I swear by this song

I swear by all that I have done wrong

I will make it all up to thee

I saw a beggar, he was standing there on his wooden crutch

He cries out to me “Hey, you must learn not to ask for so much”

Another pretty woman, waiting there in her darkened door

She cries out to me “Hey, why not ask for just a little bit more?”

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in some old midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

So Long, Marianne

Won’t you come over to the window, my little darling

I’d like to try to read your palm

I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy

before I let you take me home

So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

You know that I love to live with you

but you make me forget so very much

I forget to pray for the angels

and then the angels forget to pray for us

So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

We met when we were almost young

It was down by the green lilac park

You held on to me like I was a crucifix

as we went kneeling through the dark

So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

For now I need your hidden love

I’m cold as a new razor blade

You left when I told you I was curious

Did I ever said that I was brave?

So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

You are really such a pretty one

I see you’ve gone and changed your name again

And just when I climbed this mountainside

to wash my eyelids in the rain!

So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

(c) 2000 Leonard Cohen and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company

Courtesy of Menart, an exclusive Sony dealer for Croatia

Reprinted here with written permission