If It Be Your Will

Leonard Cohen · Live

If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing

If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well

And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will

If it be your will.

If It Be Your Will

Leonard Cohen's "If It Be Your Will" stands as a haunting centerpiece of his live performances, capturing the raw spiritual intensity characteristic of his later work. Recorded during his extensive touring career, the track exemplifies Cohen's mastery of blending folk sensibilities with profound theological inquiry. The song's narrative explores themes of divine will and human submission, delivered through his distinctive baritone and sparse, atmospheric instrumentation. As part of his broader discography, this recording reinforces his status as a poet-prophet whose music transcends genre boundaries to address universal existential questions. The live version often features a stripped-down arrangement that highlights the emotional weight of the lyrics, cementing its place in the canon of Cohen's most revered compositions.