Music: Leonard Cohen / The Old Revolution

In response to a request for some lyrics from Leonard Cohen, I present for your enjoyment the lyrics of Leonard Cohen's The Old Revolution. For those who are not acquainted with the musical style and depth of Mr Cohen, it would be best described as "music to slash your wrists by".

Cohen's own comment on himself:

“I don't consider myself a pessimist. I think of a pessimist as someone who is waiting for it to rain. And I feel soaked to the skin.”
In many ways - images, language, musical style - Cohen and Dylan are similar.

The following has always been one of my favourites and can be heard at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNN0804olxw


The Old Revolution

I finally broke into the prison,
I found my place in the chain.
Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows,
all the brave young men
they're waiting now to see a signal
which some killer will be lighting for pay.
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture,
you whom I cannot betray.

I fought in the old revolution
on the side of the ghost and the King.
Of course I was very young
and I thought that we were winning;
I can't pretend I still feel very much like singing
as they carry the bodies away.
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture,
you whom I cannot betray.

Lately you've started to stutter
as though you had nothing to say.
To all of my architects let me be traitor.
Now let me say I myself gave the order
to sweep and to search and to destroy.
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture,
you whom I cannot betray.

Yes, you who are broken by power,
you who are absent all day,
you who are kings for the sake of your children's story,
the hand of your beggar is burdened down with money,
the hand of your lover is clay.
Into this furnace I ask you now to venture,
you whom I cannot betray.