 | Leonard Cohen’s Graceful Goodbye |
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If you are the dealer, I’m out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord
There’s a lover in the story
But the story’s still the same
There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame
They’re lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn’t know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want…
Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord
Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni
???
What consolation is there when great men pass, and callow ones are raised up in their place? We wish to see a ladder but life is a wheel.
Brilliant. No one’s song lyrics are as beautiful or as poetic. A person who will be missed.
Memories from coffee houses in college back in the day. As his art was buried by metal, disco, punk and pop I lost track of Cohen’s lyrical poetry. Thanks for sharing this, Angela.
The more you shall honor Me,
the more I shall bless you.
-the Infant Jesus of Prague
(<- Czech Republic, next to Russia)
trustNjesus, bro,
and wiseabove to Seventh-Heaven.
God bless your indelible soul.
Cohen’s death had been alluded to for quite a while, but it still took me by surprise. A poet of incredible depth and beauty. Thank you for honoring him.