A Singer Must Die
Leonard Cohen · Complete Studio Albums Collection [2011]
Is it true you betrayed us? The answer is Yes.
Then read me the list of the crimes that are mine,
I will ask for the mercy that you love to decline.
And all the ladies go moist, and the judge has no choice,
A singer must die for the lie in his voice.
And I thank you, I thank you for doing your duty,
You keepers of truth, you guardians of beauty.
Your vision is right, my vision is wrong,
I'm sorry for smudging the air with my song.
Oh, the night it is thick, my defences are hid
In the clothes of a woman I would like to forgive,
In the rings of her silk, in the hinge of her thighs,
Where I have to go begging in beauty's disguise.
Oh goodnight, goodnight, my night after night,
My night after night, after night, after night,
After night, after night.
I am so afraid that I listen to you,
Your sun glassed protectors they do that to you.
It's their ways to detain, their ways to disgrace,
Their knee in your balls and their fist in your face.
Yes and long live the state by whoever it's made,
Sir, I didn't see nothing, I was just getting home late.
A Singer Must Die - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen's 'A Singer Must Die' stands as a haunting centerpiece within his extensive discography, reflecting the introspective and often melancholic tone characteristic of his later work. Recorded for the comprehensive studio collection released in 2011, the track exemplifies Cohen's mastery of blending poetic lyricism with a somber, folk-inflected musical arrangement. The song explores themes of mortality and the inevitable passage of time, themes that permeate his broader body of work and have cemented his status as a profound voice in contemporary music. Its enduring appeal lies in its ability to evoke deep emotional resonance through minimalistic instrumentation and Cohen's distinctive, gravelly vocal delivery, making it a definitive example of his artistic evolution.
