Beautiful Song (#02) - Suzanne

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Keith Jordan
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Beautiful Song (#02) - Suzanne

Post by Keith Jordan »

I also love this song that I just heard for the first time today!! Leonard Cohen's "Suzanne". Beautiful and imagery-rich lyrics. Almost as powerful for Wordsworth's Daffodils poem!! :-)

What do you think of this one?

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.
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nosaj
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Post by nosaj »

I don't know if I like it because it reminds me of an ex-girlfriend; which is good and bad to remember. Her name was Michelle and I wanted to be with her, but I didn't. We would her this song, I would look in her eyes and feel a little sad...but I had to go to europe, just because, and I left, but missed her. But had to go. Oh Michelle...it's ok, I'm over it, we're still kinda friends (christmas and birthdays) - it really probably wouldn't have worked out. The sex was good though. :-({|=
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Powderfinger
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Post by Powderfinger »

A very beautifull song indeed, a dutch singer made a translation once, which I like even more:


Suzanne Herman Van Veen

Suzanne neemt je mee,
naar een bank aan het water,
duizend schepen gaan voorbij
en toch wordt ?t maar niet later,
en je weet dat zij gijn gek is,
want daarom zit je naast haar
en ze geeft je pepermuntjes,
want ze geeft je graag iets tastbaars
en net als je haar wilt zeggen:
?ik kan jou geen liefde geven?
komt heel de stad tot leven en hoor
je meeuwen schreeuwen,
je hebt steeds van haar gehouden,
en je wilt wel met haar meegaan,
samen naar de overkant
en je moet haar wel vertrouwen,
want ze houdt al jouw gedachten in haar hand

en Jezus was een visser,
die het water zo vertrouwde,
dat Hij zomaar over zee liep,
omdat Hij had leren houden
van de golven en de branding,
waarin niemand kan verdrinken,
Hij zei: ? Als men blijft geloven,
kan de zwaarste steen niet zinken?.
Maar de hemel ging pas open,
toen Zijn lichaam was gebroken
en hoe Hij heeft geleden,
dat weet alleen die Visser aan ?t kruis
en je wilt wel met Hem meegaan,
samen naar de overkant
en je moet Hem wel vertrouwen,
want Hij houdt al jouw gedachten in Zijn hand.

Suzanne neemt je mee,
naar een bank aan het water,
je onthoudt waar ze naar kijkt,
als herinnering voor later
en het zonlicht lijkt wel honing,
waaraan kinderen zich te goed doen
en het grasveld ligt bezaaid met wat de
mensen zoal weg doen,
in de goot liggen de helden,
met een glimlach op de lippen
en de meeuwen in de lucht,
lijken net verdwaalde stippen,
als Suzanne je lachend aankijkt
en je wilt wel met haar meegaan,
samen naar de overkant
en je moet haar wel vertrouwen,
want ze houdt al jouw gedachten in haar hand.
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Prkl
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Post by Prkl »

Great song, and Leonard Cohen of course has one of the best voices ever!