Leonard Cohen's
Lyrics
Field_Commander_Cohen

All Lines

A bloody towel
A body that
A bunch of lonesome and very quarrelsome heroes
A cross on every hill
A fitful dream, the morning will exhaust –
a forty five beside her head
A ghost climbs on the table in a bridal negligee
A heavy burden lifted from my soul
A hundred floors above me
A hundred thousand fingerprints
A long pain ending without a song to prove it
a love that's far from blind
A man for Boogie Street
a man to do
a minute away
A moment on the air
A moment on the road
A Name for one like me
A scheme is not a vision
a shield against the enemy
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
a singer must die for the lie in his voice
A sip of wine, a cigarette
a songbird sings out
a stainless steel razor blade?
A star, a minaret
A sun tanned woman yearned me through the summer
A Thousand Kisses Deep
a thundercloud
a war between the black and white
a war between the man and the woman
a war between the odd and the even
a wedding dress or something white
a woman's education but he's not a woman yet
Abandoned to beauty and pride
about all of the little details
Across the sand
Against the side of Heaven
Against the side of Seven
Ah baby, let's get married
Ah but a man never got a woman back
Ah but don't go home with your hard-on
Ah but if you cannot raise your love
Ah but keep my body here to lie upon
Ah but no you cannot see
Ah but some of you was light
Ah but why so bitterly turn from the one
Ah but you got away, didn't you babe
Ah give or take a night or two
Ah his fingernails, I see they're broken
Ah I don't believe you'd like it
Ah remember me, I used to live for music
Ah tell them, angels
Ah the dreamers ride against the men of action
Ah the man she wanted all her life was hanging by a thread
Ah the Rose of High Romance it opened wide
Ah the silver knives are flashing in the tired old cafe
Ah the sun is warm
Ah the wars they will
Ah they don't let a woman kill you
Ah they're shutting down the factory now
Ah they're soiled now, they're torn at the edges
ah wasn't it a strange way down?
Ah we're drinking and we're dancing
Ah we're lonely, we're romantic
Ah when you've done a line or two
Ah you don't even seem to know
Ah you hate to see another tired man
Ah you loved me as a loser, but now you're worried that I just might win
Ah, but who is it climbs to your picture
ah, but you couldn't take the pace
Ah, lover come and lie with me, if my lover is who you are
Ah, no need for the rein
ah, she's eaten, she's eaten with desire
Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Ah, the moon's too bright
Ah, there is no comfort in the covens of the witch
Ah, they'll never, they'll never ever reach the moon
Ah, you should have seen us
ah, you've won me, you've won me, my lord
Alas, my love, you did me wrong
Alexandra hoisted on his shoulder
Alexandra leaving with her lord
Alive is afoot, magic never died
Alive is afoot
Alive is in command
all along your wrist
All at once the torches flare
All busy in the sunlight
All dressed to kill
all its children back again
all of the elephants lie down
all of the moments that we will be
All summer long she touched me
all the brave young men
all the lonely things my hands have done
All the rest are dead or in retreat
All the rocket ships are climbing through the sky
all the useless things my hands have done
all the women tear their blouses off
All these hunters who are shrieking now oh do they speak for us?
all these wounded boys you lie beside
All your children here
All your praises they shall ring
All your sheep and your lilies of snow
along with several thousand dreams
Although she knows the way
although she was alone
Am I in trouble with the Jazz police?
Amid these hearts that burn like coal
Among the garbage and the flowers
An Eskimo showed me a movie
an hour has gone by
an old schedule of trains, he'll say
an open telephone
And a baby in Saigon
and a bitter voice in the mirror cries
And a chill in my soul
and a girl with chestnut hair
And a long stem rose
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door
And a woman cannot follow him
And ain't it fine, ain't it wild
And all go stumbling through that house
And all his virtues burning in the smoky Holocaust
And all I've said was just instead of
And all my faith to see
And all my wanton lust was iodine
and all of that jiving around
And all of you have seen the dance
And all the bridges are burning that we might have crossed
And all the dirty rotten deals
And all the ladies go moist, and the judge has no choice
and all the lousy little poets
and all the rain falls down amen
And all the senses rise against this
And all the tricks and all the angels
and all your armour has turned to lace
and all your armour has turned to lace?
and all your work it's right before your eyes
And although she goes grazing
and be your sweetest self awhile until I ask for more, my child
and bent down the fern
and Bethlehem inflamed us both
And bind us tight
and bought again
And broken bones to teach
and by all that I have done wrong
And by the honor had your own restored –
And by your law
and Cain was just the man
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
And come forth from the cloud of unknowing
And cover me up
and darkness is complete
And death is old
And deep into his fiery heart
And draw us near
And drinking wine
And end this night
And even though
And every drinker every dancer
and every kind of freedom done, then oh
And every now and then we try
And everybody knows that it's now or never
And everybody knows that the Plague is coming
And everybody knows that you live forever
And everybody knows that you're in trouble
And everybody knows
and everyone who wanted you
And everything depends upon
and everywhere that you wandered
And everywhere the flare of iodine
And flesh itself is magic
and for all who do not need me
And for sayin' it was nothing
and for something like a second
And free as running water
And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah
and God, you tasted sweet
and grow us grass and apples there and keep all the animals warm
And he cannot take his wife with him
And he circled us
And he covered me
And he cut my heart
And he cut my lip
And he gave the wind
And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
and he hands you the apple core
And he has lit the chain
and he has not moved his hand
And he leans on her neck
And he leaves a baby sleeping
and he left me feeling just like a two bit whore
and he never once made you explain or talk
and he put his hand on mine
and he puts on his dark glasses
And he said, "This heart
and he shows you where to hit
And he spent a long time watching
And he stood so tall above me
And he took you up in his aeroplane
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
And he warned me not to stop him
and he whispers low
And her dress was blue and silver
And her words were few and small
And here is the dawn
And here is the love
And here is the night
And here is your death
And here is your love
And here they take their sweet repast
And here where there is no description
And here you are before me in the flesh
And here you are gone
And here you are hurried
And here, right here
And here's a man still working for your smile
And he'll walk til he finds her
And he's lost his lucky charm
And he's lost the guardian heart
and high above the wedding guests
and his axe was made of gold
And his blessings all behind
and his practice is all in a ruin
and his voice was very cold
And I call to you, I call to you
And I can't believe that time's
And I can't forget, I can't forget
And I can't wait for you to take my place
And I can't wait to tell you to your face
And I could not see
And I did forget
and I didn't feel like very much
And I do what I am told
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
And I don't really know who sent me
and I fought every man for her
And I freeze with fear
and I guess he just never got warm
And I had no strength
and I hear from the nurse that he's gotten much worse
and I hoist my axe again
And I just don't care what happens next
And I knew her, I knew her
And I knew it was late
And I know from her eyes
and I know from her smile
and I know from your smile
And I know what I must do
And I know what is right
and I know you sent me some
and I lean from my window sill in this old hotel I chose
and I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
and I love you now there's nothing left
And I love your solitude, I love your pride
and I loved you for your body
And I loved you when our love was blessed
And I miss you so much
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
And I myself decided
and I need you to kill a child
And I promise, cross my heart
and I put it in your little shoe
And I saw within
And I sent you to him with my guarantee
And I sing this for the captain
and I swear it happened just like this
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
and I taught him how you would long for me
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
And I thank you, I thank you for doing your duty
and I thought that we were winning
And I tightened up my gut
And I wanna it dry forever
And I was tumbled up with them
and I will leave with you one broken man
and I wished for an embrace
And I wondered how long she would stay
and ice upon my soul
And if by chance I wake at night and I ask you who I am
and if she withered I would be to blame
And if you call me brother now
And if you want a doctor
And if you want another kind of love
And if you want to work the street alone
And if you've got to sleep
And is this what you wanted
and it ain't exactly prison
and it almost kept me warm
and it carries no survivors
And it comes so fast
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
And it feels so right
And it feels, it just feels
And it hangs in the Gallery of Frost
and it has overturned
and it never stops not even when your master fails
And it was sweet and it was good
And it's crowded and cold
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops
and it's here the lonely say
and it's here they got the spiritual thirst
and it's once for the devil and once for Christ
And it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's Please baby
and it's stopping at your face
and it's time for the burden
And it's very calm
And I'd claw at your heart
And I'd die for the truth
And I'd fall at your feet
And I'd howl at your beauty
And I'd tear at your sheet
And I'll bury my soul in a scrapbook
And I'll dance with you in Vienna
And I'll never get enough
And I'll see if my friends are still there
And I'll see what you've chained to your sorrow
And I'll yield to the flood of your beauty
And I'm crazy for love but I'm not coming on
And I'm neither left or right
And I'm sick of pretending
And I'm there for you
And I've read the Bill of Human Rights
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
And Jesus was a sailor
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
And just when I was sure that his teachings were pure
And just when you mean to tell her
And kept the vision in her soul
And kiss the cheek of the moon
And laid down with the blind
And leaning on your window sill
And leave no observer to mourn
And leave no word of discomfort
and let's sing another song, boys
And lie beside me, baby
And like a blessing come from heaven
And long ago she said "I must be leaving
And look dear heart, look at the virgin
and lost among the subway crowds I try to catch your eye
And love was all beginning
And many nights endure
And many still to be
And may everyone die
And may the spirit of this song
And maybe I had miles to drive
and me I'm up there waiting
And men to do my bidding
And mercy on our uniform
And mercy, mercy in this world
and messianic ocean tides
And mind itself is magic
And my father went down
and my father's hand was trembling
And my heart is like ice
And my heart the shape
And my love, Goodbye
And my very close companion
And my very sweet companion
And my voice be still
And my wedding ring
And no one knows where the night is going
And no one knows why the wine is flowing
And now do you come back to bring
And now I hear your master sing
And now the infant with his cord is hauled in like a kite
And now the silent loony bin, where
And now the wheels of heaven stop
And now you look around you
And now you want to marry me
And O my love, I still recall
And one by one the guests are cast
and one eye filled with blueprints, one eye filled with night
and other forms of boredom advertised as poetry
And out the other side
and people call me traitor to my face
And pity in the room like iodine
and printed the mud with
And promises to keep
And quiet is the thought of you
and racial roller-coaster rides
And radiant beyond your widest measure
and rest because he had finally come?
and she binds herself
And she comes to his hand
and she comes to you light as the breeze
and she comes to you
And she feeds you tea and oranges
And she leads you to the river
And she lets the river answer
And she says, Drink deeply, pilgrim
And she shows you where to look
and she slept with everyone
and she steps on the moon
And she will learn to touch herself so well
and she'll bolt and she'll plunge
and she's moving her body so brave and so free
and she's naked
and she's there where
And simple kindness here
And since she spoke the truth to me
And so inside my little room
And some of it was true
and some of us are very hungry now
and something in me yearns to win
And sometimes when the night is slow
And springtime starts but then it stops
and stuff it up the hole
And summoned now to deal
And surely she would answer
And thank you for the breath
And that was called love for the workers in song
And that's how I want to end it
and the band is really happening
And the blessing gone
And the blessings come from heaven
and the bridges break up
and the cider's laced with acid
and the cold is running thin
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
And the crickets are breaking
And the darkness is exploding
And the dealer wants you thinking
And the deepest wound is healed
and the desert far away
And the fewer who don't even care
And the fields they're under lock and key
And the flesh that rose like smoke
and the heart-of-darkness alibi his money hides behind
and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
and the judgements are severe
and the judges watched us from the other side
And the last time that I saw her she was living with some boy
And the light came from her body
And the lips that say, Come on, taste us
and the machinery for change
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
And the moon is swimming naked
and the mountains touch the ground
and the mountain's going to shout Amen!
And the night came on
And the night comes on
and the night is all wrong
And the night went through her grace
and the ones who say there isn't
and the only man of energy, yes the revolution's pride
And the pain came through
And the photographs weep
and the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
and the roads are awash
And the sea out there to swim
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
and the soft winds ride
and the steam's coming off her
and the summer night is fragrant
And the sun pours down like honey
and the Swan I tempted with a sense of shame
And the sweetest voice has spoken
and the trees are burning in your promised land
and the twisted life of saints
And the vow of compassion
And the warm sun crepping through the window
and the white man dancing
and the white man dancin'
And the whole broken-hearted host
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and the wind going wild
And then consented to be wrecked
And then I confess that I tortured the dress
And then it's time to go
And then leaning on your window sill
and then she clearly understood
and then she'd weave it on a loom
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
And then taking from his wallet
and then the angels forget to pray for us
and then the cameras pan
And then the veins stand out like highways
And then you got away, didn't you babe
And there are many parts of me to touch, you have your choice
and there are no chocolates in the boxes anymore
and there are no chocolates in your boxes anymore
and there are no diamonds in the mine
and there are no diamonds in your mine
and there are no grapes upon the vine
And there are no letters in the mailbox
and there are, there are no chocolates in your boxes anymore
And there is no man or woman who can't be touched
and there is no space
and there is no time
And there we fell together
And there's a mighty judgement coming, but I may be wrong
and there's nothing below
and there's nothing that you really want to take
And there's nothing to follow
and they ask you how you're doing
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song
And they called me on that too
and they head for the plain
And they hide, they hide in the World
And they lead me away
and they move right along
and they say
And they take me there
And they turn as one
And they will lean that way forever
and they're going to hear from me
and they're gone like the smoke
and they're gone like this song
And they're handing down my sentence now
And those who dance, begin to dance
And though I failed at love, was this a crime?
And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight
And though they left Him nourished
And time itself unwind
And time itself, (2)
And twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond
and wasn't it a long way down
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin
And we're still making love
And what can I tell you my brother, my killer
And when he knew for certain
And when she came back she was nobody's wife
And when the hunger for your touch
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
And when you try to they make you say Please
And where do all these highways go, now that we are free?
And where I would surrender
And where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight?
And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
And who are you?" she sternly spoke
and who by avalanche, who by powder
And who by brave assent, who by accident
And who by fire, who by water
and who had you through the mails
And who in her lonely slip, who by barbiturate
and who shall I say is calling?
And who will aim the arrow
And who will write love songs for you
And why are you so quiet now
And will you kneel beside this bed
And yes it's come to this
And yet they'll undermine it all
And you came home without Lili Marlene
and you climb the halls of fame
And you climbed the twilight mountains
And you could not keep warm
and you cruised above the ribbons of rain
and you held her in the shadows
and you know I'm strong and holy
And you know that she will trust you
And you know that she's half crazy
And you know that you can trust her
And you need him now, you're wild
and you never have been tempted
and you passed the summers
And you said yourself a prayer
and you sang about the view
And you say ok the bridge or someplace later
And you say you've been humbled in love
And you think maybe you'll trust him
And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And you turn in disgust
And you want to travel blind
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel with him
and you were waiting
And you who had the honor of her evening
And you who were bewildered by a meaning
And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night
And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
and you, you are my only child
and you, you are my only son
and your body is some little highway shrine
And your cardboard and piss
And your child on the phone
And your drunken fall
and your heart's hard and hateful
And your legs all white
And your love is some dust in an old man's cuff
and your name was mentioned in it!
And your seal and rings
and your thighs are a ruin, you want too much
And you'll carry me down on your dancing
and you're lying in the rain
and you're sleeping in your harness
and you're speaking far too low
And you're weak and you're harmless
And you've got a gift for anyone
And "Welcome, welcome" cries a voice
and, an ape with angel glands
Another mile of silence while I'm
any further
Approach her, you ape with your tail on
Approach her, you wretch, if you dare
Are just a shining artifact of the past
Are lost and lost again
Are posted on the door
Are there no more saints and wizards
Are you a teacher of the heart?
Are you the teachers of my heart?
are your lessons done?
As a falling leaf may rest
as all the sails burn down like paper
As fearlessly as an honoured son
as he goes whistling past his daddy, past his daddy's grave
As it was before
as long as you're
as she came riding through the dark
As someone long prepared for the occasion
As someone long prepared for this to happen
as the day caves in
As the mist leaves no scar
As the train pulls away
as they carry the bodies away
as though they were the burden of some other
as though you had nothing to say
as we went kneeling through the dark
as you go down for your gold
At doing what a woman really wants
at least not the one that we're after
at the alpha and the omega
at the break of day
at the cradle of the river and the seas
at the view
Ay, Ay, Ay, Ay
Baby, I've been waiting
Babylon the bride
Balloons and paper streamers floating down on us
be fought again
Be the truth unsaid
Because of a few songs
before he made you go
before I let you take me home
before I turn into gold
Before it blows
before your master chose instead
Begin your letter to
being bored, and your prophet straight and tall
beneath the lunar sway
beneath this
Beneath your branch of holly
Bethlehem the bridegroom
between the birthmark and the stain
between the dancer and his cane
between the darkness and the stage
between the hour and the age
between the moonlight and the lane
between the newsreel and your tiny pain
between the ocean and your open vein
between the peanuts and the cage
between the sailboat and the drain
between the snowman and the rain
between the sundial and the chain
between the traitor and her pain
between the tunnel and the train
between the victim and his stain
between the windmill and the grain
Bewildered by your beauty there
beyond all repair
Beyond the garden wall
Blessed is the memory
Blood is thicker margarine than grease
Blood upon my body
Both song and tree
bought and sold
Breaking things
Broke a minute later
Broke like yours and mine
broke open the grass
busted in the blinding lights
But a lot goes on forever
But answer me this
But climb on your tears and be silent
But CLOSING TIME
But do I have to dance all night?
but don't forget there's still a woman
But everything will happen if he only gives the word
but for me you would make an exception
But God would not lie down
but he has seen me watching you
But he himself was broken
but he walked behind
But here, right here
but I can feel you when you breathe
but I cannot say I mind
But I can't buy it, baby
But I can't face the dawn
But I can't forget where my lips
But I couldn't make it hold
But I did not know
But I do understand
But I don't call soft enough
But I don't know how I know
But I feel so close to everything that we lost
But I had to do it drunk –
But I have to deal with envy
But I hear him coughing all night long
But I know from your eyes
But I know what is wrong
But I lingered on her thighs a fatal moment
But I never went straight
But I swear by this song
but I was waiting
But if a woman take your hand
But if I did, well really, what's it to you?
But if they do, just tell them it was me
but it might have been a vulture
but it sounds like bubble gum
But it's always new
But I'm always alone
But I'm stubborn as those garbage bags
But I'm there for you
but I've got you in the glory place
but kindly leave, leave the future
But let me ask you one more time, O children of the dusk
But lets leave these lovers wondering
but let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
but like a refugee
but love's the only engine of survival
But magic is no instrument
But magic stayed behind
But magic would not tarry
But many men are falling
but must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?
But my darling says
But my son and my daughter
But no one really could hear him
But no, I could not touch her
but none of us would meet her in
But now another stranger seems
but now it's come to distances and both of us must try
but now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
But now you've got the gist
But she said, Go back to the World
But she says, Go back, go back to the World
but she scorned me and she told me
but she's not really tame
But should one refuse to come, it does not subtract the sum
but something makes you turn around
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
But spirit, spirit cannot pass
But suffer this awhile
But tell me, Captain, if you know
but that doesn't make a fool of me
But that don't count
But that don't make it junk
but that's just a tease
But that's why you want to be there
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
But the Captain wasn't hurt
But the nights were cold
but the river's in flood
But the room just filled up with mosquitos
But the Rose I sickened with a scarlet fever
But the rumours of my virtue
But the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
but the street is still the very same
But then I overheard your prayer
But there was nothing left between
But there wasn't any burden left
But there were so many people you just had to meet
but there's day and night
But there's gonna be a meter on your bed
but there's left and right
but there's nothing really happening
But there's nothing you want to give her
But they don't seem to care
But they'll never ever find that cure for love
But they'll never ever find that cure
but they'll wear away your little window, love
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
But when I look back
But whose head is this she's dancing with on the threshing floor
But you called me and I folded
But you don't really care for music, do you?
But you don't want to lie, not to the young
But you know that I still love you
But you lost them in your freedom
but you make me forget so very much
But you see that line there moving through the station?
But you sent me down below
But you stand there so nice, in your blizzard of ice
But you who come between them will be judged
but you won't have the sum
But your smile is too grim
But you'll be hearing from me baby, long after I'm gone
but you'll never be forgiven
But you've used up all your coupons
but, you see, my hands were tied
by a demon or a god
By such instructions you prepare
by the ghost of you and me?