Cohen Continues to Amaze

Leonard Cohen makes music amazing. Here is one from his latest album that does nothing but amaze and dazzle. His voice gets your attention; the music supports the lyric without making any demands, just carrying them along; then you see the lyrics printed on the screen and he uses the Orthodox Jewish standard of not spelling out the Creator (G-d), and you know you are in the midst of someone who takes the Spiritual seriously.

Cohen, of course, is the surname of the priestly clan of the Hebrew Bible. Leonard was born Jewish which undoubtedly informs his views of G-d, has also spent years with Eastern religions.

Cohen: the priestly class of the Hebrew Bible;
Leonard: a Cohen (priest) for the 21st Century.

I saw some people starving

There was murder, there was rape

Their villages were burning

They were trying to escape

I couldn’t meet their glances

I was staring at my shoes

It was acid, it was tragic

It was almost like the blues

It was almost like the blues

I have to die a little

between each murderous plot

and when I’m finished thinking

I have to die a lot

There’s torture, and there’s killing

and there’s all my bad reviews

The war, the children missing, lord

It’s almost like the blues

It’s almost like the blues

Though I let my heart get frozen

to keep away the rot

my father says I’m chosen

my mother says I’m not

I listened to their story

of the gypsies and the Jews

It was good, it wasn’t boring

It was almost like the blues

It was almost like the blues

There is no G-d in heaven

There is no hell below

So says the great professor

of all there is to know

But I’ve had the invitation

that a sinner can’t refuse

It’s almost like salvation

It’s almost like the blues

It’s almost like the blues