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

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 can’t go on

And they brought me their comfort

and later they brought me this song

Oh I hope you run into them

you who’ve been travelling so long

Yes, 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

I think I can see where you’re pinned

When you’re not feeling holy

your loneliness says that you’ve sinned

Well, they lay down beside me

I made my confession to them

They touched both my eyes

and I touched the dew on their hem

If your life is a leaf that

the seasons tear off and condemn

they will bind you with love

that is graceful and green as a stem

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

We weren’t lovers like that

and besides it would still be all right

We weren’t lovers like that

and besides it would still be all right

So Long, Marianne

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

(Now) So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

Well, 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

(Oh) 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

deep in the green lilac park

You held on to me like I was a crucifix

as we went kneeling through the dark

(Oh) So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

Your letters they all say that you’re beside me now

Then why do I feel alone?

I’m standing on this ledge and your fine spider web

is fastening my ankle to a stone

(Now) 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

I never said that I was brave

(Oh) So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

O you are really such a pretty one

I see you’ve gone and changed your name again

And just when I climbed this whole mountainside

to wash my eyelids in the rain!

(Oh) So long, Marianne

it’s time that we began

to laugh and cry and cry and laugh

about it all again

Bird On The Wire

Like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in a midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

Like a worm on a hook

Like a knight from some old-fashioned book

I have saved all my ribbons for thee

If I have been unkind

I hope that you can just let it go by

If I have been untrue

I hope you know it was never to you

Like a baby stillborn

Like a beast with his horn

I have torn everyone who reached out for me

But I swear by this song

And by all that I have done wrong

I will make it all up to thee

I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch

He said to me “You must not ask for so much”

And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door

She cried to me “Hey, why not ask for more?”

Oh like a bird on the wire

Like a drunk in a midnight choir

I have tried in my way to be free

Lady Midnight

I came by myself to a very crowded place. I was looking for someone who had lines in her face. I found her there, but she was past all concern. I asked her to hold me; I said: Lady, unfold me, but she scorned me and she told me I was dead and I could never return.

Well, I argued all night, like so many have before, saying: Whatever you give me, seem to need so much more. Then she pointed at me where I kneeled on her floor. She said: Don’t try to use me, or slyly refuse me, just win me or lose me – it is this that the darkness is for!

I cried, O, Lady Midnight, I fear that you grow old; the stars eat your body and the wind makes you cold. If we cry now, she said, it will just be ignored. So I walked through the morning, the sweet early morning, I could hear my lady calling: You’ve won me, you’ve won me, my lord. You’ve won me, you’ve won me, my lord. Yes, you’ve won me, you’ve won me, my lord. Ah you’ve won me, you’ve won me, my lord.

The Partisan

Anna Marly/Hy Zaret

When they poured across the border

I was cautioned to surrender,

this I could not do;

I took my gun and vanished.

I have changed my name so often,

I’ve lost my wife and children

but I have many friends,

and some of them are with me.

An old woman gave us shelter,

kept us hidden in the garret,

then the soldiers came;

she died without a whisper.

There were three of us this morning

I’m the only one this evening

but I must go on;

the frontiers are my prison.

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,

through the graves the wind is blowing,

freedom soon will come;

then we’ll come from the shadows.

Les Allemands e’taient chez moi, [The Germans were at my home]

ils me dirent, “Signe toi,” [They said, “Sign yourself,”]

mais je n’ai pas peur; [But I am not afraid]

j’ai repris mon arme. [I have retaken my weapon.]

J’ai change’ cent fois de nom, [I have changed names a hundred times]

j’ai perdu femme et enfants [I have lost wife and children]

mais j’ai tant d’amis; [But I have so many friends]

j’ai la France entičre. [I have all of France]

Un vieil homme dans un grenier [An old man, in an attic]

pour la nuit nous a cache’, [Hid us for the night]

les Allemands l’ont pris; [The Germans captured him]

il est mort sans surprise. [He died without surprise.]

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,

through the graves the wind is blowing,

freedom soon will come;

then we’ll come from the shadows.

Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye

I loved you in the morning

Our kisses deep and warm

Your hair upon the pillow

like a sleepy golden storm

Yes many loved before us

I know that we are not new

In city and in forest

they smiled 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

I’m not looking for another

As I wander in my time

Walk me to the corner

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

But let’s not talk of love or chains

And things we can’t untie

Your eyes are soft with sorrow

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye

I loved you in the morning

Our kisses deep and warm

Your hair upon the pillow

Like a sleepy golden storm

Yes many loved before us

I know that we are not new

In city and in forest

They smiled like me and you

But let’s not talk of love or chains

And things we can’t untie

Your eyes are soft with sorrow

Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye

Famous Blue Raincoat

It’s four in the morning, the end of December. I’m writing you now just to see if you’re better. New York is cold but I like where I’m living. There’s music on Clinton Street all through the evening. I hear that you’re building your little house deep in the desert. You’re living for nothing now. I hope you’re keeping some kind of record. Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair. She said that you gave it to her that night that you planned to go clear. Did you ever go clear?
 

(Ah) The last time we saw you you looked so much older. Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder. You’d been to the station to meet every train but (then) you came home without Lili Marlene. And you treated my woman to a flake of your life. And when she came back she was nobody’s wife. (Well) I see you there with the rose in your teeth, one more thin gypsy thief. Well, I see Jane’s awake. She sends her regards.

And what can I tell you my brother my killer? What can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you. I guess I forgive you. I’m glad (that) you stood in my way. If you ever come by here for Jane or for me, well, your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free. Yes, and thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes. I thought it was there for good, so I never tried.

And Jane came by with a lock of your hair. She said that you gave it to her that night that you planned to go clear.

Sincerely, L. Cohen.

Last Year’s Man

The rain falls down on last year’s man,

that’s a jew’s harp on the table,

that’s a crayon in his hand.

And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled

far past the stems of thumbtacks

that still throw shadows on the wood.

And the skylight is like skin for a drum I’ll never mend

and all the rain falls down amen

on the works of last year’s man.

I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark

oh one by one she had to tell them

that her name was Joan of Arc.

I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while;

I want to thank you, Joan of Arc,

for treating me so well.

And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight;

all these wounded boys you lie beside,

goodnight, my friends, goodnight.

I came upon a wedding that old families had contrived;

Bethlehem the bridegroom,

Babylon the bride.

Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me,

and Bethlehem inflamed us both

like the shy one at some orgy.

And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil

that I had to draw aside to see

the serpent eat its tail.

Some women wait for Jesus, and some women wait for Cain

so I hang upon my altar

and I hoist my axe again.

And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began

when Jesus was the honeymoon

and Cain was just the man.

And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin

that the wilderness is gathering

all its children back again.

The rain falls down on last year’s man,

an hour has gone by

and he has not moved his hand.

But everything will happen if he only gives the word;

the lovers will rise up

and the mountains touch the ground.

But the skylight is like skin for a drum I’ll never mend

and all the rain falls down amen

on the works of last year’s man.

Chelsea Hotel #2

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.

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 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 shall I say is calling?

And who by brave ascent? 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 shall I say is calling?

Take This Longing

Many men have loved the bells

you fastened to the rein;

and everyone who wanted you,

they found what they

will always want again –

your beauty lost to you yourself,

just as it was lost to them –

Oh take this longing from my tongue,

whatever useless things

these hands have done;

let me see your beauty broken down,

like you would do

for one you love.

Your body like a searchlight.

My poverty revealed.

I would like to try your charity,

until you cry:

“Now you must try my greed.”

And everything depends upon

how near you sleep to me –
 

Just take this longing from my tongue,

whatever useless things

these hands have done;

let me see your beauty broken down,

like you would do

for one you love.
 

Hungry as an archway

through which the troops have passed,

I stand in ruins behind you,

with your winter clothes,

your broken sandal strap.

I love to see you naked over there

especially from the back.

Oh take this longing from my tongue,

all the useless things

my hands have done;

untie for me your hired blue gown,

like you would do

for one that you love.

You’re faithful to the better man.

I’m afraid that he left.

So let me judge your love affair

in this very room where I have

sentenced mine to death.

I’ll even wear these old laurel leaves

that he’s shaken from his head –

Oh take this longing from my tongue,

whatever useless things

these hands have done;

let me see your beauty broken down,

like you would do

for one you love.

Like you would do

for one you love.

(c) 1975 Leonard Cohen and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company

The Partisan” (c) Anna Marly & Hy Zaret, MCA Music

Courtesy of Menart, an exclusive Sony dealer for Croatia

Reprinted here with written permission