Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins
Judy Collins describes how she first heard this song by Leonard Cohen:
I was working on my sixth album for Elektra Records, it was called In My Life. I really needed a couple more songs and my friend, who grew up with Leonard in Montreal, had always talked about him. She always said, “You know, he’...
[Verse 1]
Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she's half crazy that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you want to tell her that you have no love to give her
She gets you on her wavelength and lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
[Chorus]
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll maybe trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind
[Verse 2]
And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water
And He spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower
And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him
He said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
But He Himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
[Chorus]
And you want to travel with Him
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll maybe trust Him
For He's touched your perfect body with His mind
[Verse 3]
Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look amid the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love, and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror
[Chorus]
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you trust her
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind
Suzanne was written by Leonard Cohen.
Suzanne was produced by Mark Abramson.
Judy Collins describes her first impression of hearing Leonard Cohen singing this song for her:
What was that like when you heard him sing Suzanne, which is such a signature piece? What effect did it have on you?
I fell right off my chair. I was just blown away. It was so different and so evocativ...