DEAR 
HEATHER 
  
 
 (2004) 
Click on the song title to see the lyrics, or just scroll down.  
Lyrics posted here by permission of Leonard Cohen. 
  
 
  
  
 
	Dedicated to Irving Layton.  
Words by Lord Byron (1788-1824) 
Music by Leonard Cohen 
  
So we'll go no more a-roving 
So late into the night, 
Though the heart be still as loving, 
And the moon be still as bright. 
For the sword outwears its sheath, 
And the soul outwears the breast, 
And the heart must pause to breathe, 
And love itself have rest. 
Though the night was made for loving, 
And the day returns too soon, 
Yet we'll go no more a-roving 
By the light of the moon.
  
 Produced, arranged and  performed by Sharon Robinson  
Vocals: Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson  
Tenor sax: Bob Sheppard
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
 
	Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
  
	
Because of a few songs 
Wherein I spoke of their mystery, 
Women have been 
Exceptionally kind 
to my old age. 
They make a secret place 
In their busy lives 
And they take me there. 
They become naked 
In their different ways 
and they say, 
"Look at me, Leonard 
Look at me one last time." 
Then they bend over the bed 
And cover me up 
Like a baby that is shivering.
  
	
Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen   
Background vocals arranged and   sung by Anjani Thomas
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
 
	Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
and Sharon Robinson 
  
You never liked to get 
The letters that I sent. 
But now you've got the gist 
Of what my letters meant. 
You're reading them again, 
The ones you didn't burn. 
You press them to your lips, 
My pages of concern. 
I said there'd been a flood. 
I said there's nothing left. 
I hoped that you would come. 
I gave you my address. 
Your story was so long, 
The plot was so intense, 
It took you years to cross 
The lines of self-defense. 
The wounded forms appear: 
The loss, the full extent; 
And simple kindness here, 
The solitude of strength. 
You walk into my room. 
You stand there at my desk, 
Begin your letter to 
The one who's coming next. 
  
Produced, arranged and  performed by Sharon Robinson   
Vocals: Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson 
  
© 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI) and Sharon Robinson Songs  (ASCAP)
 
 
  
 
	Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
	
  
I set out one night 
When the tide was low 
There were signs in the sky 
But I did not know 
I'd be caught in the grip 
Of the undertow 
Ditched on a beach 
Where the sea hates to go 
With a child in my arms 
And a chill in my soul 
And my heart the shape 
Of a begging bowl
  Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen   
Solo and background vocals:  Anjani Thomas and Leonard Cohen 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
 
	 Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
   
	
No words this time? No words. No, there are times when
nothing can be done. Not this time. Is it censorship? Is it censorship?
No, it's evaporation. No, it's evaporation. Is this leading
somewhere? Yes. We're going down the lane. Is this going
somewhere? Into the garden. Into the backyard. We're walking
down the driveway. Are we moving towards.... We're in the
backyard. ...some transcendental moment? It's almost light.
That's right. That's it. Are we moving towards some
transcendental moment? That's right. That's it. Do you think
you'll be able to pull it off? Yes. Do you think you can pull
it off? Yes, it might happen. I'm all ears. I'm all ears.
Oh the morning glory!
  
Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen    
Background vocals arranged and  sung by Anjani Thomas 
  
© 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
  
	Words and music by Leonard Cohen  and Anjani Thomas  
  
Some people say 
It's what we deserve 
For sins against g-d 
For crimes in the world 
I wouldn't know 
I'm just holding the fort 
Since that day 
They wounded New York 
Some people say 
They hate us of old 
Our women unveiled 
Our slaves and our gold 
I wouldn't know 
I'm just holding the fort 
But answer me this 
I won't take you to court 
Did you go crazy 
Or did you report 
On that day 
On that day 
They wounded New York
   
Produced by Anjani Thomas   
Vocals and Jew's harp: Leonard Cohen   
Background vocals arranged and  sung by Anjani Thomas   
Piano: Anjani Thomas   Bass: Stan Sargent  
  
© 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI) and Little Fountain Music (BMI)
 
 
  
  
Words by Frank Scott (1899-1985) 
Music by Leonard Cohen  
  
From bitter searching of the heart, 
Quickened with passion and with pain 
We rise to play a greater part. 
This is the faith from which we start: 
Men shall know commonwealth again 
From bitter searching of the heart. 
We loved the easy and the smart, 
But now, with keener hand and brain, 
We rise to play a greater part. 
The lesser loyalties depart, 
And neither race nor creed remain 
From bitter searching of the heart. 
Not steering by the venal chart 
That tricked the mass for private gain, 
We rise to play a greater part. 
Reshaping narrow law and art 
Whose symbols are the millions slain, 
From bitter searching of the heart 
We rise to play a greater part. 
   
Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Vocals: Leonard Cohen   
Background vocals arranged  and  sung by Anjani Thomas 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI) and Estate of F.R. Scott
 
 
 
   
Words and music by Leonard Cohen  and Sharon Robinson   
   
When it all went down 
And the pain came through 
I get it now 
I was there for you 
Don't ask me how 
I know it's true 
I get it now 
I was there for you 
I make my plans 
Like I always do 
But when I look back 
I was there for you 
I walk the streets 
Like I used to do 
And I freeze with fear 
But I'm there for you 
I see my life 
In full review 
It was never me 
It was always you 
You sent me here 
You sent me there 
Breaking things 
I can't repair 
Making objects 
Out of thoughts 
Making more 
By thinking not 
Eating food 
And drinking wine 
A body that 
I thought was mine 
Dressed as Arab 
Dressed as Jew 
O mask of iron 
I was there for you 
Moods of glory 
Moods so foul 
The world comes through 
A bloody towel 
And death is old 
But it's always new 
I freeze with fear 
And I'm there for you 
I see it clear 
I always knew 
It was never me 
I was there for you 
I was there for you 
My darling one 
And by your law 
It all was done
  
Produced, arranged and  performed by Sharon Robinson   
Vocals: Leonard Cohen   
Background vocals: Sharon Robinson 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI) and Sharon Robinson Songs  (ASCAP)
 
 
  
  
Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
   
	
Dear Heather 
Please walk by me again 
With a drink in your hand 
And your legs all white 
From the winter
   
	
	
	Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen   
Background vocals arranged and  sung by Anjani Thomas 
Trumpet: Sarah Kramer 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
  
  
	Dedicated to Carl Anderson (1945-2004)   
Words and music by Leonard Cohen  and Anjani Thomas  
  
I built my house beside the wood 
So I could hear you singing 
And it was sweet and it was good 
And love was all beginning 
Fare thee well my nightingale 
'Twas long ago I found you 
Now all your songs of beauty fail 
The forest closes 'round you 
The sun goes down behind a veil 
'Tis now that you would call me 
So rest in peace my nightingale 
Beneath your branch of holly 
Fare thee well my nightingale 
I lived but to be near you 
Tho' you are singing somewhere still 
I can no longer hear you
   
Produced by Anjani Thomas and Ed Sanders   
Arranged by Anjani Thomas   
Vocals, guitar and Jew's harp: Leonard Cohen   
Vocals and piano: Anjani Thomas   
Bass: Stan Sargent  
 Drums: Johnny Friday 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI) and Little Fountain Music (BMI)
 
 
 
  
	 Dedicated to A. M. Klein (1909-1972)    Words and music by Leonard Cohen  (words from Spice-Box of the Earth)  
   
Hurt once and for all into silence. 
A long pain ending without a song to prove it. 
Who could stand beside you so close to Eden, 
When you glinted in every eye the held-high 
razor, shivering every ram and son? 
And now the silent loony bin, where 
The shadows live in the rafters like 
Day-weary bats, 
Until the turning mind, a radar signal, 
lures them to exaggerate 
Mountain-size on the white stone wall 
Your tiny limp. 
How can I leave you in such a house? 
Are there no more saints and wizards 
to praise their ways with pupils, 
No more evil to stun with the slap 
of a wet red tongue? 
Did you confuse the Messiah in a mirror 
and rest because he had finally come? 
Let me cry Help beside you, Teacher. 
I have entered under this dark roof 
As fearlessly as an honoured son 
Enters his father's house.  
  
Produced by Leanne Ungar   
Arranged and performed by Leonard Cohen 
  © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
 
	 (Based on a Québecois folk song)   
Words and music by Leonard Cohen  
   
The sea so deep and blind 
The sun, the wild regret 
The club, the wheel, the mind, 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
The club, the wheel, the mind 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
The blood, the soil, the faith 
These words you can't forget 
Your vow, your holy place 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
The blood, the soil, the faith 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
A cross on every hill 
A star, a minaret 
So many graves to fill 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
So many graves to fill 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
The sea so deep and blind 
Where still the sun must set 
And time itself unwind 
O love, aren't you tired yet? 
And time itself unwind 
O love, aren't you tired yet?
  
Produced by Leanne Ungar and Henry Lewy   
Vocals: Leonard Cohen.  
Background vocals arranged and  sung  by Anjani Thomas   
Violin: Raffi Hakopian  
Oud: John Bilezikjian  
 Piano: Bill Ginn   
Bass: Roscoe Beck   
Flute: Paul Ostermayer 
Guitar: Mitch Watkins   
Accordion: Garth Hudson   
String arrangements: Jeremy Lubbock 
   © 2004 Old Ideas LLC (BMI)
 
 
  
 
	Written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King   
For more info visit www.reddstewart.com 
 Additional verse: Leonard Cohen  
  
I was dancing with my darlin' 
to the Tennessee Waltz 
When an old friend I happened to see 
Introduced him to my loved one 
and while they were waltzing 
My friend stole my sweetheart from me. 
I remember the night and the Tennessee Waltz 
Now I know just how much I have lost 
Yes I lost my little darlin' 
The night they were playing 
The beautiful Tennessee Waltz. 
She comes dancing through the darkness 
To the Tennessee Waltz 
And I feel like I'm falling apart 
And it's stronger than drink 
And it's deeper than sorrow 
This darkness she's left in my heart.
   
Produced by Leonard Cohen (1985)   
Vocals: Leonard Cohen   
Piano, vocals: Anjani Thomas   Electric guitar, vocals: Mitch Watkins   
Steel guitar, vocals: Ron Getman   
Bass, vocals: John Crowder   
Drums: Richard Crooks 
  © 1948 Sony / ATV Acuff Rose Music (BMI)
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Copyright © 2004 Leonard Cohen, Sharon Robinson, Anjani Thomas   and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company
  
Visit Sharon's website at www.sharonrobinson.net 
and Anjani's website at www.anjani-music.com
  
 
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