Stories Of The Street
Leonard Cohen · Other Songs - Leonard Cohen
The Spanish voices laugh
The Cadillacs go creeping down
Through the night and the poison gas
I lean from my window sill
in this old hotel I chose.
Yes, one hand on my suicide
And one hand on the rose.
I know you've heard it's over now
And war must surely come,
The cities they are broke in half
And the middle men are gone.
But let me ask you one more time
O children of the dust,
These hunters who are shrieking now
Do they speak for us?
And where do all these highways go
Now that we are free?
Why are the armies marching still
That were coming home to me?
O lady with your legs so fine
O stranger at your wheel
You are locked into your suffering
And your pleasures are the seal.
The age of lust is giving birth
But both the parents ask the nurse
To tell them fairy tales on both sides of the glass
Now the infant with his cord
Is hauled in like a kite
And one eye filled with blueprints
One eye filled with night.
O come with me my little one
And we will find that farm
And grow us grass and apples there
To keep all the animals warm
And if by chance I wake at night
And I ask you who I am
O take me to the slaughter house
I will wait there with the lamb.
With one hand on a hexagram
And one hand on a girl
I balance on a wishing well
That all men call the world
We are so small between the stars
So large against the sky
And lost among the subway crowds
I try to catch your eye.
Stories Of The Street
Leonard Cohen's "Stories Of The Street" stands as a poignant exploration of urban life and human resilience, delivered with his signature baritone and poetic lyricism. Released within the broader context of his extensive discography, the track exemplifies Cohen's ability to weave complex social commentary into accessible melodies. The song reflects the artist's deep engagement with themes of poverty, migration, and the gritty reality of city existence, characteristic of his work from the 1970s through the 1990s. By blending folk sensibilities with a darker, more atmospheric production style, Cohen transforms the narrative into a universal meditation on the struggles of the common person. The recording captures the raw emotional depth that defined his career, offering listeners a glimpse into the socio-political fabric of the era through the lens of an observant and empathetic artist.