DEAR HEATHER


(2004)


The Songs:

1. Go No More A-Roving (3:40)
2. Because Of (3:00)
3. The Letters (4:44)
4. Undertow (4:20)
5. Morning Glory (3:28)
6. On That Day (2:04)
7. Villanelle For Our Time (5:55)
8. There For You (4:36)
9. Dear Heather (3:41)
10. Nightingale (2:27)
11. To A Teacher (2:32)
12. The Faith (4:17)
13. Tennessee Waltz (live track, 4:05)

Total timing:

Click on the song title to see the lyrics, or just scroll down.
Lyrics posted here by permission of Leonard Cohen.





1. Go No More A-Roving


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)



2. Because Of


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)



3. The Letters


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)




4. Undertow


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)



5. Morning Glory


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)



6. On That Day


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)




7. Villanelle For Our Time


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




8. There For You


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)




9. Dear Heather


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)


10. Nightingale


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)




11. To A Teacher


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)



12. The Faith


(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)



Tennessee Waltz


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)


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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