Going Home
Leonard Cohen · Other Songs - Leonard Cohen
He's a sportsman and a shepherd
He's a lazy bastard
Living in a suit
But he does say what I tell him
Even though it isn't welcome
He just doesn't have the freedom
To refuse
He will speak these words of wisdom
Like a sage, a man of vision
Though he knows he's really nothing
But the brief elaboration of a tube
Going home
Without my sorrow
Going home
Sometime tomorrow
Going home
To where it's better
Than before
Going home
Without my burden
Going home
Behind the curtain
Going home
Without the costume
That I wore
He wants to write a love song
An anthem of forgiving
A manual for living with defeat
A cry above the suffering
A sacrifice recovering
But that isn't what I need him
To complete
I want him to be certain
That he doesn't have a burden
That he doesn't need a vision
That he only has permission
To do my instant bidding
Which is to say what I have told him
To repeat
Going home
Without my sorrow
Going home
Sometime tomorrow
Going home
To where it's better
Than before
Going home
Without my burden
Going home
Behind the curtain
Going home
Without this costume
That I wore
I'm going home
Without my sorrow
Going home
Sometime tomorrow
Going home
To where it's better
Than before
Going home
Without my burden
Going home
Behind the curtain
Going home
Without this costume
That I wore
I love to speak with Leonard
He's a sportsman and a shepherd
He's a lazy bastard
Living in a suit
Going Home - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen's "Going Home" stands as a poignant exploration of spiritual return and existential longing, characteristic of his late-career work. The track exemplifies Cohen's signature blend of poetic lyricism and haunting melody, often delivered with a raw, intimate vocal style that invites deep introspection. While the song lacks a specific album title in public records, it aligns with the themes found in his final studio collections, where he frequently revisited biblical and mythological motifs to address the human condition. The recording captures the essence of Cohen's later period, characterized by a more stripped-down production that allowed the narrative weight of the words to take center stage. It remains a staple in discussions of his discography, reflecting his enduring ability to transform personal melancholy into universal art.