Leonard Cohen-Last year's man

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.

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[JacobtheGreat111]

Jesus Christ, that is the most beautiful song i have ever heard.

i thought i had heard Cohen's best but this is on a whole new level, is there no limit to this man's talent?

im so proud to be alive at the same time as him

[haloilu]

Some women wait for Jesus, some women wait for Cain...God, that's poetry!

[crystalship40]

The sky light is like skin...for the drum I'll never mend...and all the rain falls down amen...on the works of last years man.

[somefreshgarbage]

This is one of the most beautiful songs ever, yet it speaks to us...to at least act as if we are free! Don't be left in the past...

[somefreshgarbage]

Yes...we have freedom...and as such we create new works...this song is an existential comment on our lives...and as such it is living poetry...

[tsferg]

@blueunikorn You didn't get the context in which my comment was posted. It was a reply.

[blueunikorn]

@tsferg i grew up listening to this! im 24 and have been listening to Leonard Cohen for 15 years :P

[GalaxyHorse]

Meditation on viewing the body of a friend in the city morgue

[somefreshgarbage]

Don't be a last years man...but do we have freedom to be anything but the works of lasts years man?

Such a spiritual song...

[alexj89]

When I grow up I wanna be Leonard Cohen.

[AltheaHekate]

This was the first song I heard from LC and I was sold! The most beautiful song, I love this version with the children singing. You made a great video, love the painting fom LC.

Thank You!

Blessed Be;

Althea

[hammill88]

Una delle mie canzoni preferite...