Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
The third track on Leonard Cohen’s 1979 highly acclaimed album Recent Songs.
The song is an appeal to a woman – the lyrics mixing love and religious allusions – the two main motifs in Leonard Cohen’s writings.
[Verse 1]
Why do you stand by the window?
Abandoned to beauty and pride
The thorn of the night in your bosom
The spear of the age in your side
Lost in the rages of fragrance
Lost in the rags of remorse
Lost in the waves of a sickness
That loosens the high silver nerves
[Chorus]
Oh, chosen love, oh, frozen love
Oh, tangle of matter and ghost
Oh, darling of angels, demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
[Verse 2]
And come forth from the cloud of unknowing
And kiss the cheek of the moon
The New Jerusalem glowing
Why tarry all night in the ruin?
And leave no word of discomfort
And leave no observer to mourn
But climb on your tears and be silent
Like a rose on its ladder of thorns
[Chorus]
Oh, chosen love, oh, frozen love
Oh, tangle of matter and ghost
Oh, darling of angels, demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
[Verse 3]
Then lay your rose on the fire
The fire give up to the sun
The sun give over to splendour
In the arms of the high Holy One
For the Holy One dreams of a letter
Dreams of a letter's death
Oh, bless the continuous stutter
Of the word being made into flesh
[Chorus]
Oh, chosen love, oh, frozen love
Oh, tangle of matter and ghost
Oh, darling of angels, demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
Gentle this soul
Gentle this soul
[Violin Solo]
[Chorus]
Oh, chosen love, oh, frozen love
Oh, tangle of matter and ghost
Oh, darling of angels, demons and saints
And the whole broken-hearted host
The Window was written by Leonard Cohen.
The Window was produced by Leonard Cohen & Henry Lewy.
Leonard Cohen released The Window on Thu Sep 27 1979.