Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen & Sharon Robinson
Leonard Cohen
In December 5th, 2001, Cohen posted a message on French Leonard Cohen Site:
I am very sorry that I neglected to cite Constantine P. Cavafy, and his great poem, “The God Forsakes Anthony”, as the inspiration for my song “Alexandra Leaving”. Somehow the credit got left out of my liner notes, although...
[Verse 1]
Suddenly the night has grown colder
The god of love preparing to depart
Alexandra hoisted on his shoulder
They slip between the sentries of the heart
Upheld by the simplicities of pleasure
They gain the light, they formlessly entwine
And radiant beyond your widest measure
They fall among the voices and the wine
[Chorus]
It's not a trick, your senses all deceiving
A fitful dream, the morning will exhaust—
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost
[Verse 2]
Even though she sleeps upon your satin
Even though she wakes you with a kiss
Do not say the moment was imagined
Do not stoop to strategies like this
As someone long prepared for this to happen
Go firmly to the window, drink it in
Exquisite music, Alexandra laughing
Your first commitments tangible again
[Chorus]
And you who had the honor of her evening
And by that honor had your own restored—
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving
Alexandra leaving with her lord
[Verse 3]
Even though she sleeps upon your satin
Even though she wakes you with a kiss
Do not say the moment was imagined
Do not stoop to strategies like this
As someone long prepared for the occasion
In full command of every plan you wrecked—
Do not choose a coward's explanation
That hides behind the cause and the effect
[Chorus]
And you who were bewildered by a meaning
Whose code was broken, crucifix uncrossed—
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost
Say goodbye to Alexandra leaving
Then say goodbye to Alexandra lost
Alexandra Leaving was written by Sharon Robinson & Leonard Cohen.
Alexandra Leaving was produced by Sharon Robinson.
Leonard Cohen released Alexandra Leaving on Tue Oct 09 2001.
Interview for the German Magazine “Focus”, 2001:
I began (the song) on Hydra in 1985. The first drafts disappeared into a desk drawer until I discovered them and began working on them again in the late nineties. In the spring of this year the song was ready, from the innumerable original verses onl...