Leonard Cohen's 'Anthem' by Michel Griffin

http://itunes.com/MichelGriffin or http://www.MichelGriffin.com to download more from Michel Griffin, seen here delivering a spirited rendition of Leonard Cohen's 'Anthem' at the March 2010 session of the Cahors Folk Club in SW France.

Here are the lyrics, copyright © Leonard Cohen & Sony - it's the futility of 'and they're going to hear from me' that I especially love :

The birds they sang at the break of day
Start again, I seemed to hear them say
Do not dwell on what has passed away
or what is yet to be.

Ah the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove She will be caught again
Bought and sold and bought again -
The dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack, a crack, in everything.
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up a thundercloud, and they're going to hear from me.

You can add up the parts but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march, on your little broken drum
Every heart, every heart to love will come but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

And here they are in French :

Les oiseaux chantaient à l'aube; "Tout est à recommencer", il me semble
qu'ils disaient -
Ne nous attardons pas sur le passé, ni sur ce qui est encore à venir."

Il y aura de nouveau des guerres, la colombe sacrée va de nouveau être attrapée
Achetée, revendue et rachetée encore - la colombe n'est jamais libre.

Sonnez les cloches qui peuvent encore sonner
Oubliez vos offrandes parfaites;
Il y a une fissure dans chaque chose - mais c'est par là qu'arrive la lumière.

Nous avons demandé des signes, et des signes nous ont étés envoyées:
La naissance trahie, le mariage épuisé;
Le veuvage de chaque gouvernement - oui, des signes par tous visibles.

Je ne veux plus frayer avec ces gens dévoyés,
Alors que les tueurs ...

Category:

Music

Tags:

• anthem
• leonard
• cohen
• michel
• griffin
• cahors
• folk
• club
• marcel
• frenchie
• degre
• alan
• walton
• how
• light

[PoeMax777]

Wanted to say "thank you". This song is SPLENDED and doesn't get covered often. And it was very good!

[KaresndaN]

I'm impressed...Not the easiest song to sing, I assume!

[YrendenQ]

cool

[bv19421]

well done...

If you are going to cover someone, it might as well be Leonard.

5*

[FORSATKEY]

wonderful song ..

[RedKruzer]

Great cover of this amazing prolific song man.

Congratulations,btw, I will be the 1000 hit on this video...

[barbettemroe]

Wonderful performance Michel, thumbs up!

[M4P1NG]

คุณดูมีความสุขจัง เมื่อได้ร้องเพลงนี้ 

[frenchie46360]

Comme d'habitude Michel, tu es au "top".J'adore cette interprétation. Encore un clip que je vais transférer vers mes "favoris".

[Francesca20007]

Belle chanson - belle presentation !