Leonard Cohen
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 babe,
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."
And then you got away, didn't you babe...
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.
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 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 shall I say is calling?
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 And 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.
Oh 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 how 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.
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.
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...
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 ...
Your letters they all say that you're beside me now.Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web is fastening my ankle to a stone.
Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began ...
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 ...
Oh, 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 ...
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.