Clap! Clap!

Leonard Cohen · Other Songs - Leonard Cohen

(Mirror Song) (Written By Cohen, Performed In "Night Magic")



(Michael) I never thought I'd get this far



(Audience) We always knew you would



(Michael) I've put a little weight on



(Audience) Not really, it looks good.



(Michael) These lines around my mouth are new



(Audience) They're the lines of wisdom



(Michael) This puffiness around my eyes?



(Audience) The burden of the kingdom!



(Michael) You know I like to talk with you



(Audience) We do too, we never knew

Someone who we could talk to

Who was quite as smart as you.



We would like to hear you talk all night

But tell us if we might

Interrupt you with applause

If you should chance to pause.

We would love to rock the walls

Again and again with curtain calls

And a standing ovation

For your brilliant conversation ...



(Michael) Clap, clap!

Now silence



Have you noticed people wear...



(Audience) Copies of your favourite hat?



(Michael) You have noticed that my dears?



(Audience) O yes we have noticed that.



(Michael) They wear copies of my shoes



(Audience) Two by twos they wear your shoes



(Michael) And they like to sing my blues



(Audience) Echoes of your ah's and ooh's.



(Michael) You know I like to talk with you



(Audience) We do too, we never knew

Someone who we could talk to

Who was quite as smart as you.



(Michael) I'm afraid that I've become

For nearly everyone

A model of behaviour

A devil or a saviour.



(Audience) He's afraid that he's become

For next to nearly everyone

The very latest model of behaviour

He's a devil, he's a saviour



(Michael) They read my news and

they hold their views

On whether I'm the devil

or a saviour



(Audience) He's afraid that he's become

For almost everyone

The very latest model of behaviour

He's a devil, he's a saviour



(Michael) I'm the very latest model of behaviour



But I've paid my dues



(Audience) We know you have!

We hold your views!



(Michael) You read my news?



(Audience) Of course we do!



(Michael) I've been a bum.



(Audience) How very, very, very, very far you've come!



(Michael) I've crossed this country on my thumb.

I've met a lot of people...



(Audience) Good and evil?



(Michael) Good and evil!

I've been up hills



(Audience) You've been down hills.



(Michael) I've been on junk.



(Audience) You've beaten junk.



(Michael) I don't mean pills



(Audience) You don't mean pills!



(Michael) I mean the needle



(Audience) He means the needle

He means the needle!

He means the needle!



(Michael) I've noticed my words on everyone's lips

And women are always leaving me slips

Of paper

I'm supposed to get back to them later

And sometimes I do



(Audience) It's only your due

After all that you've been through

To lie down with some grateful stranger



To think he honours someone's bed

With his wine and with his bread

And his legendary member

It is April in December



It's charity

It's religion

Saint Francis with the birds

Jesus with the leper

Please talk to us forever

And ever and ever



(Michael) Clap, clap

Now silence!



But now I make my confession

Before all the mirrors of history

This power was given to me

It must have been given to me

For something more

Than a star on the door

And a foot in this shabby profession



(Audience) This is surely the sound

Of the most profound

Remark that has ever been made

From the pulpit or the stage

Or even the gates of heaven



(Michael) There's something waiting for me

There's something I must feel

There's something that must bend its knee

And I must see it kneel



There's nothing to be conquered there

A beast that keeps the crown

And marble steps into the air

And one man looking down



(Audience) He's smiling

He's smiling



There is something that is waiting for him

Something that he must feel

Something that must bend its knee

And it's he must see it kneel



There is something to be conquered there

There's a beast that keeps the crown

And marble steps into the air

And one man looking down



Smiling, smiling



(Michael) Clap clap!



(Audience) Smiling, smiling



(Michael) Clap, clap!