Leonard Cohen - Suzanne

Suzanne takes you down
to her place, near the river.
You can hear the boats go by.
You can spend the night beside her.
And you know that she's half crazy
but 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 mean to tell her
that you have no love to give her,
then she gets you on her wavelength
and she lets the river answer
that you've always been her lover.
And you want to travel with her.
And you want to travel, blind.
And you know that she will trust you
for you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

And Jesus was a sailor
when he walked upon the water,
and he spent a long time watching
from his lonely wooden tower.
And when he knew for certain
only drowning men could see him,
he said "All men will 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.
And you want to travel with him.
And you want to travel blind.
And you think maybe you'll trust him
for he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
and she leads you to the river.
She is wearing rags and feathers
from Salvation Army counters.
And the sun pours down like honey
on our lady of the harbour.
And she shows you where to look
among 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.
And you want to travel with her.
And you want to travel blind.
And you know that you can trust her
for she's touched your perfect body with her mind.

Songs of Leonard Cohen, Leonard Cohen. 1967.