Recitation
Leonard Cohen · Other Songs - Leonard Cohen
And you handled me like meat
You'd have to be a man to know
How good that feels, how sweet
My mirror twin, my next of kin
I'd know you in my sleep
And who but you would take me in
A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened
Like a lily to the heat
You see I'm just another snowman
Standing in the rain and sleet
Who loved you with his frozen love
His secondhand physique
With all he is and all he was
A thousand kisses deep
I know you had to lie to me
I know you had to cheat
To pose all hot and high
Behind the veils of sheer deceit
Our perfect porn aristocrat
So elegant and cheap
I'm old but I'm still into that
A thousand kisses deep
I'm good at love, I'm good at hate
It's in between I freeze
Been working out but it's too late
(It's been too late for years)
But you look good, you really do
They love you on the street
If you were here I'd kneel for you
A thousand kisses deep
The autumn moved across your skin
Got something in my eye
A light that doesn't need to live
And doesn't need to die
A riddle in the book of love
Obscure and obsolete
And witnessed here in time and blood
A thousand kisses deep
But I'm still working with the wine
Still dancing cheek to cheek
The band is playing Auld Lang Syne
But the heart will not retreat
I ran with Diz, I sang with Ray
I never had their sweet
But once or twice they let me play
A thousand kisses deep
I loved you when you opened
Like a lily to the heat
You see I'm just another snowman
Standing in the rain and sleet
Who loved you with his frozen love
His secondhand physique
With all he is and all he was
A thousand kisses deep
But you don't need to hear me now
And every word I speak
It counts against me anyhow
A thousand kisses deep
Recitation - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen's "Recitation" stands as a hauntingly intimate piece within his expansive discography, reflecting the poet's signature blend of spiritual inquiry and earthly observation. Released alongside other seminal works, the track exemplifies Cohen's mastery of the spoken word and baritone delivery, often serving as a vehicle for exploring themes of mortality, faith, and human connection. The recording captures the raw, unadorned quality characteristic of his later years, where the music functions less as a traditional composition and more as a meditative exercise. Listeners often encounter this song in the context of his broader catalog, which has cemented his status as a profound influence on alternative and folk-rock genres. The piece invites a quiet contemplation, relying on its lyrical depth and atmospheric production to create a lasting emotional resonance that defines Cohen's unique contribution to music.