Heart With No Companion
Leonard Cohen · Live
Of sorrow and despair
With a love so vast and so shattered
It will reach you everywhere
And I sing this for the captain
Whose ship has not been built
For the mother in confusion
Her cradle still unfilled
For the heart with no companion
For the soul without a king
For the prima ballerina
Who cannot dance to anything
Through the days of shame that are coming
Through the nights of wild distress
Though your promise count for nothing
You must keep it nonetheless
You must keep it for the captain
Whose ship has not been built
For the mother in confusion
Her cradle still unfilled
For the heart with no companion
For the soul without a king
For the prima ballerina
Who cannot dance to anything
Now I greet you from the other side
Of sorrow and despair
Ah with a love so vast and so shattered
It will reach you everywhere
And I sing this for the captain
Whose ship has not been built
For the mother in confusion
Her cradle still unfilled
For the heart with no companion
For the soul without a king
For the prima ballerina
Who cannot dance to anything
About Heart With No Companion
Leonard Cohen's "Heart With No Companion," captured on his 1991 live album, exemplifies the mature, introspective style that defined his later career. Recorded in a raw, acoustic setting, the track reflects the artist's enduring ability to distill complex emotional landscapes into simple, haunting melodies. Cohen's signature vocal delivery, characterized by a gravelly, conversational tone, delivers a narrative of profound loneliness and spiritual yearning without relying on theatrical embellishment. This recording stands as a testament to his mastery of the folk and art song genres, where the focus remains on lyrical depth and the intimate connection between performer and listener. The piece serves as a poignant reminder of his capacity to explore themes of isolation and faith through understated musical arrangements, cementing his legacy as a poet of the voice.