Leaving Green Sleeves
Leonard Cohen · Complete Studio Albums Collection [2011]
To cast me out discourteously,
For I have loved you so long,
Delighting in your very company.
Now if you intend to show me disdain,
Don't you know it all the more enraptures me,
For even so I still remain your lover in captivity.
Green sleeves, you're all alone,
The leaves have fallen, the men have gone.
Green sleeves, there's no one home,
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves.
I sang my songs, I told my lies,
To lie between your matchless thighs.
And ain't it fine, ain't it wild
To finally end our exercise
Then I saw you naked in the early dawn,
Oh, I hoped you would be someone new.
I reached for you but you were gone,
So lady I'm going too.
Green sleeves, you're all alone,
The leaves have fallen, the men have gone.
Green sleeves, there's no one home,
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves.
Green sleeves, you're all alone,
The leaves have fallen, the men have all gone home.
Green sleeves, it's so easily done,
Leaving the Lady Green Sleeves.
Leaving Green Sleeves
Leonard Cohen's "Leaving Green Sleeves" stands as a haunting centerpiece within his expansive discography, exemplifying the poet's signature blend of biblical imagery and melancholic introspection. Recorded for the comprehensive "Complete Studio Albums Collection," the track reflects the spiritual depth and lyrical complexity that defined Cohen's career spanning decades. The song's slow, deliberate pacing and Cohen's distinctive vocal delivery create an atmosphere of quiet resignation, characteristic of his later works where themes of mortality and faith intertwine with personal narrative. As part of this curated retrospective, the recording serves as a testament to his enduring influence on art song and folk music, capturing a moment of profound stillness that resonates with listeners seeking emotional authenticity.