Humbled In
Leonard Cohen · Recent Songs [1979]
That we pledged in the passionate night
Ah they're soiled now, they're torn at the edges
Like moths on a still yellow light
No penance serves to renew them
No massive transfusions of trust
Why not even revenge can undo them
So twisted these vows and so crushed
And you say you've been humbled in love
Cut down in your love
Forced to kneel in the mud next to me
Ah but why so bitterly turn from the one
Who kneels there as deeply as thee
Children have takes these pledges
They have ferried them out of the past
Oh beyond all the graves and the hedges
Where love must go hiding at last
And here where there is no description
Oh here in the moment at hand
No sinner need rise up forgiven
No victim need limp to the stand
And you say you've been humbled in love...
And look dear heart, look at the virgin
How she welcomes him into her gown
Yes, and mark how the stranger's cold armour
Dissolves like a star falling down
Why trade this vision for desire
When you may have them both
You will never see a man this naked
I will never hold a woman this close
And you say you've been humbled in love...
Humbled In
Leonard Cohen's "Humbled In" stands as a poignant addition to his late-career output, reflecting the spiritual introspection and poetic depth that defined his final years. Recorded for the 1979 album *Recent Songs*, the track exemplifies Cohen's signature style, blending folk and art music with a contemplative, almost liturgical atmosphere. The song continues his exploration of themes regarding faith, humility, and the human condition, delivered through his distinctive baritone and sparse, evocative instrumentation. As part of his broader discography from this period, "Humbled In" captures the essence of Cohen's transition into a more mature, mystical phase of his artistic journey, resonating deeply with listeners who appreciate his unique fusion of secular and sacred tones.