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
O chosen love
O frozen love
O tangle of matter and ghost
O 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
Or leave no observer to mourn
But climb on your tears and be silent
Like a rose on its ladder of thorn
O chosen love
O frozen love
O tangle of matter and ghost
O darling of angels
Demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
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
Bless the continuous stutter
Of the word being made into flesh
O chosen love
O frozen love
O tangle of matter and ghost
O darling of angels
Demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
Gentle this soul
O chosen love
O frozen love
O tangle of matter and ghost
O darling of angels
Demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
Gentle this soul
[spoken]
Raffi Hakopian on the violin
Other Leonard Cohen songs:
all Leonard Cohen songs all songs from 2001