The Third Invention
Leonard Cohen · Other Songs - Leonard Cohen
(Angels) Blindly he worked
At his third invention
Taking the chances
Of one who is lost
Feeling his way
To a cleaner expression
Of whatever it was
He stumbled across
All for the sake
Of a possible woman
He goaded himself
With a technical hope
For the sake of his longing
We came to the window
He put on his cloths
And he walked through the smoke
All for the sake
Of an interested woman
Riding to him
On a flicker of hope
Some tourist of beauty
In full disappointment
Ready to fall
In love with a ghost
And here was his ghost
With his third invention
The usual claim
To the highest reward
And now it was ready
His third invention
Ready to fall
In love with the world
And he falls back
And she comes forward
The eye of his labour
Measures them both
And she lies in the arms
Of his third invention
And back in his room
He commences the fourth
This is the work
Of the highest pretension
An automatic
Ode to the world
O deep in comfort
O full employment
He's lost to the fourth
He's lost to the third.
The Third Invention - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen's "The Third Invention" stands as a poignant exploration of spiritual longing and the search for divine connection. Recorded during the artist's later period, the track exemplifies his signature blend of folk, jazz, and spiritual themes, characterized by a haunting vocal delivery and atmospheric instrumentation. The song reflects Cohen's enduring interest in mysticism and the human condition, often drawing from biblical and philosophical traditions to craft lyrics that resonate with universal themes of redemption and faith. As part of his extensive discography, the recording maintains the introspective depth and poetic narrative that defined his career, offering listeners a contemplative journey through the complexities of the soul.