Come Healing
Leonard Cohen · Old Ideas [1974]
And bring it to me now
The fragrance of those promises
You never dared to vow
The splinters that you carry
The cross you left behind
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind
And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
Behold the gates of mercy
In arbitrary space
And none of us deserving
The cruelty or the grace
O solitude of longing
Where love has been confined
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind
O see the darkness yielding
That tore the light apart
Come healing of the reason
Come healing of the heart
O troubled dust concealing
An undivided love
The Heart beneath is teaching
To the broken Heart above
O let the heavens falter
And let the earth proclaim:
Come healing of the Altar
Come healing of the Name
O longing of the branches
To lift the little bud
O longing of the arteries
To purify the blood
And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
O let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb
Come Healing
Leonard Cohen's 'Come Healing' stands as a poignant meditation on spiritual renewal and the quiet resilience of the human spirit. Recorded for the 1974 album 'Old Ideas', the track exemplifies Cohen's signature blend of folk and jazz influences, characterized by his distinctive baritone and sparse, atmospheric instrumentation. The song explores themes of recovery and grace, reflecting the introspective nature of his work from this mid-career period. Rather than offering grand declarations, the recording invites listeners into a contemplative space where personal struggle meets divine comfort. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal message, making it a staple of Cohen's discography that continues to resonate with audiences seeking solace and reflection.