Leonard Cohen

 

Leonard Cohen was born in Montreal in 1934.

He has accomplished many lifetimes in the creative world, as a poet, novelist, and as a preeminent singer/songwriter of our age. One of the finest tributes to him was the release of the album “Tower of Song,” in which many famous singers recorded his songs (Elton John, Willie Nelson, Peter Gabriel, Suzanne Vega, and others).

He lived as a Buddhist monk at Mt. Baldy in southern California for several years until 1999. He released his new album "Ten New Songs" in October, 2001.

 

I’m Your Man

If you want a lover
I’ll do anything you ask me to
If you want another kind of love
I’ll wear a mask for y ou
If you want a partner
take my hand, or
if you want to strike me
down in anger
here I stand
I’m your man

If you want a boxer
I will step into the ring for you
If you want a doctor
I’ll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver
climb inside
or if you want to take me for a ride
you know you can
I’m your man

    The moon’s too bright
    the chain’s too tight
    the beast won’t go to sleep
    I’ve been running through
    these promises to you
    that I made and I could not keep

But a man never got a woman back
not by begging on his knees
or I’d crawl to you baby
and I’d fall at your feet
and I’d howl at your beauty
like a dog in heat
and I’d claw at your heart
and I’d tear at your sheet
I’d say please
I’m your man

If you want to go to sleep a moment on the road
I will steer for you
and if you want to work the street alone
I’ll disappear for you
If you want a father
for your child
or only want to walk
with me a while
across the sand
I’m your man

Anthem

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again,
I heard them say,
Don’t dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.

The wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

    Ring the bells that still can ring.
    Forget your perfect offering.
    There is a crack in everything.
    That’s how the light gets in.
We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed,
the marriage spent;
the widowhood
of every government –
signs for all to see.

Can’t run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they’ve summoned up
a thundercloud
They’re going to hear from me.
    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering.
    There is a crack in everything.
    That’s how the light gets in.
You can add up the parts
but you won’t have the sum
You can strike up the march,
There is no drum.
Every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.
    Ring the bells that still can ring
    Forget your perfect offering.
    There is a crack in everything.
    That’s how the light gets in.