My appreciation post for L Cohen

[media=https://youtu.be/74DYI51B94o]

Say a prayer for the cowgirl, her horse ran away
She'll walk 'til she finds him, her darling, her stray
But the river's in flood and the roads are awash
And the bridges break up in the panic of loss
And there's nothing to follow, nowhere to go
He's gone like the summer, gone like the snow
And the crickets are breaking her heart with their song
As the day caves in and the night is all wrong
Did she dream? Was it he who went galloping past?
And bent down the fern, broke open the grass
And printed the mud with the well-hammered shoe
That she nailed to his speed in the dreams of her youth
And although he goes grazing a minute away
She tracks him all night, she tracks him all day
And she's blind to his presence except to compare
Her injury here with his punishment there
Then at home on a branch on a high stream
A songbird sings out so suddenly
And the sun is warm and the soft winds ride
On a willow tree by the riverside
Ah the world is sweet and the world is wide
And he's there where the light and the darkness divide
And the steam's coming off him, he's huge and he's shy
And he steps on the moon when he paws at the sky
And he comes to her hand, but he's not really tame
He longs to be lost, she longs for the same
And he'll bolt and he'll plunge through the first open pass
To roll and to feed in the sweet mountain grass
Or he'll make a break for the high plateau
Where there's nothing above and nothing below
It's time for their burden, the whip and the spur
Will she ride with him or will he ride with her?
So she binds herself to her galloping steed
And he binds himself to the woman in need
And there is no space, just left and right
And there is no time, but there is day and night
Then she leans on his neck and whispers low
Whither thou goest, I will go
And they turn as one and they head for the plain
No need for the whip, oh no need for the rein
Now the clasp of this union who fastens it tight
Who snaps it asunder the very next night
Some say it's him, some say it's her
Some say love's like smoke beyond all repair
So my darling, my darling, just let it go by
That old silhouette on the great western sky
And I'll pick out a tune and they'll move right along
And they're gone like smoke and they're gone like this song
Say a prayer for the cowgirl

A different emotion, but we all know love comes with all of ours thrown back at each ourselves, a mirror. So while without more words fortnight, I'm appending to include this... as this is an appreciation post of mine.

[media=https://youtu.be/FYkJuAb0mMk]

[Verse 1]
I asked my father
I said, "Father, change my name
The one I'm using now it's covered up
With fear and filth and cowardice and shame."

[Chorus]
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me
[Verse 2]
He said, "I locked you in this body
I meant it as a kind of trial
You can use it for a weapon
Or to make some woman smile."

[Chorus]
Yeah and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me

[Verse 3]
"Then let me start again," I cried
"Please let me start again
I want a face that's fair this time
I want a spirit that is calm."

[Chorus]
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover
Come back to me

[Verse 4]
"I never turned aside," he said
"I never walked away
It was you who built the temple
It was you who covered up my face."

[media=https://youtu.be/LXvG0SMP7tw]

Baby, I've been waiting
I've been waiting night and day
I didn't see the time
I waited half my life away
There were lots of invitations
And I know you sent me some
But I was waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come
I know you really loved me
But, you see, my hands were tied
And I know it must have hurt you
It must have hurt your pride
To have to stand beneath my window
With your bugle and your drum
And me I'm up there waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come
Ah I don't believe you'd like it
You wouldn't like it here
There ain't no entertainment
And the judgments are severe
The Maestro says it's Mozart
But it sounds like bubble gum
When you're waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come
Waiting for the miracle
There's nothing left to do
I haven't been this happy
Since the end of World War II
Nothing left to do
When you know that you've been taken
Nothing left to do
When you're begging for a crumb
Nothing left to do
When you've got to go on waiting
Waiting for the miracle to come
I dreamed about you, baby
It was just the other night
Most of you was naked
Ah but some of you was light
The sands of time were falling
From your fingers and your thumb
And you were waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come
Ah baby, let's get married
We've been alone too long
Let's be alone together
Let's see if we're that strong
Yeah let's do something crazy,
Something absolutely wrong
While we're waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come
Nothing left to do
When you know that you've been taken
Nothing left to do
When you're begging for a crumb
Nothing left to do
When you've got to go on waiting
Waiting for the miracle to come
When you've fallen on the highway
And you're lying in the rain,
And they ask you how you're doing
Of course you'll say you can't complain
If you're squeezed for information,
That's when you've got to play it dumb
You just say you're out there waiting
For the miracle, for the miracle to come

[media=https://youtu.be/N3HbrfV0hJM]

The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well-disguised
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find
The story's told
With facts and lies
I had a name
But never mind
Never mind
Never mind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So never mind
Your victory was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of our little lives
The clothes we wore our spoons our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of these
Expressions of the sweet indifference
Some called love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names more intimate
Names so deep
And names so true
They're blood to me
They're dust to you
There is no need
And this survives
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
Never mind
Never mind
I leave the life
I left behind
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
Never mind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried, I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them whom
You despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well, I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
Never mind
Never mind
I had to leave my life behind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world so never mind
Never mind
Never mind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can't divide
My woman's here
My children too
Their graves are safe from ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life
I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
Across the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well-disguised

[media=https://youtu.be/uITsqA0mLOs]

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.

[media=https://youtu.be/gOq6FFUX2yw]

This was previously unreleased, until a reissue, yet it's one of the more of honest, simple, poetic expressions of his without being shrouded by having to find meaning. I wonder was it too personal?

I remember the promise
That you made in the barn
When the kittens were born
And you could not keep warm
So you moved away the mountain
That the sun rose behind
And you said yourself a prayer
And laid down with the blind
But you lost them in your freedom
And you need him now, you're wild
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child
And the vow of compassion
That you swore through your teeth
When the war began to end
And the photographs weep
Well, nobody blames you
As the train pulls away
With its cargo of snow
For these German paper-weights
But you lost them in your freedom
And you need him now, you're wild
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child
Well, its five in the morning
There's no one home
Except for your wife
And your child on the phone
Somebody's got to listen
To a promise or two
Oh, this room is far too small
For a pilgrim like you
But you lost them in your freedom
And you need him now, you're wild
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child
So, now that you've decided
To follow the sun
Like a shadow of birds
Or a King on the run
Oh, your chains are too dark
For the seas you must swim
You're smiling at the seaweed
But your smile is too grim
But you lost them in your freedom
And you need him now, you're wild
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child
Blessed is the memory
Of everybody's child

[media=https://youtu.be/JTTC_fD598A]

Can't think of a better guide,

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For tryin' to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those

Ah you loved me as a loser, but now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I don't like your fashion business, mister
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to my sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those

And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

(I am guided)

Ah remember me, I used to live for music (baby)
Remember me, I brought your groceries in (ooh baby yeah)
Well it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded (baby)
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

[media=https://youtu.be/2asV-o3dhcU]

This song may be, ringing true, and true for me.

Why do you stand by the window
Abandoned to beauty and pride
The thorn of the night in your bosom
The spear of the age in your side
Lost in the rages of fragrance
Lost in the rags of remorse
Lost in the waves of a sickness
That loosens the high silver nerves
Oh chosen love, Oh frozen love
Oh tangle of matter and ghost
Oh darling of angels, demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
And come forth from the cloud of unknowing
And kiss the cheek of the moon
The New Jerusalem glowing
Why tarry all night in the ruin
And leave no word of discomfort
And leave no observer to mourn
But climb on your tears and be silent
Like a rose on its ladder of thorns
Oh chosen love, Oh frozen love
Then lay your rose on the fire
The fire give up to the sun
The sun give over to splendour
In the arms of the high holy one
For the holy one dreams of a letter
Dreams of a letter's death
Oh bless thee continuous stutter
Of the word being made into flesh
Oh chosen love, Oh frozen love
Gentle this soul

[media=https://youtu.be/BzgUs3c9QHY]

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

[media=https://youtu.be/l2eCWmpGONY]

Did I ever love you
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Or are we still leaning
Across the old table
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees whither
Was I ever someone
Who could love you forever
Did I ever love you
Does it really matter
Did I ever fight you
You don't need to answer
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
And are we still leaning
Across the old table

Beautiful song and the sentiment that goes along with it.