So Long Marianne
Cohen (Leonard) Lyrics

Come over to the window, my little darling
Leonard Cohen invites Marianne to come closer to him, most likely to hold her hand or read her palm.

I'd like to try to read your palm
Leonard Cohen is interested in predicting Marianne's future using palm reading.

I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Leonard Cohen thought of himself as a free-spirited Gypsy boy with no strings attached.

Before I let you take me home
Leonard Cohen met Marianne, and she changed his perception of himself and life.

Now so long, Marianne
It's time to move on from Marianne, but not forget the memories they shared.

It's time that we began to laugh
It's time to cherish the good moments they shared.

And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Leonard Cohen wants to revisit the memories with Marianne, laugh at the good ones, and cry for the missed opportunities.

Well, you know that I love to live with you
Leonard Cohen still loves Marianne and desires to live the rest of his life with her.

But you make me forget so very much
Leonard Cohen's love for Marianne is intense and intoxicating; he loses sight of other important things in life because of her.

I forget to pray for the angels
Leonard Cohen forgets to commit to his spiritual practices and focus on his divine nature.

And then the angels forget to pray for us
When Leonard Cohen stops praying, the connection with God is lost, and their relationship suffers.

We met when we were almost young
Marianne and Cohen met in their youth when life was full of possibilities and opportunities.

Deep in the green lilac park
They met in a beautiful garden where lilacs bloomed.

You held on to me like I was a crucifix
Marianne held onto Leonard Cohen like her life depended on it.

As we went kneeling through the dark
They took a walk through the garden at night, and both of them were vulnerable to each other.

Your letters, they all say that you're beside me now
Marianne is with Leonard in spirit, and she writes about it in her letters.

Then why do I feel alone?
Despite being surrounded by love, Leonard Cohen feels alone without Marianne's physical presence.

I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Leonard Cohen feels trapped by his emotions for Marianne.

Is fastening my ankle to a stone
His emotions are holding him down and don't let him move on.

For now I need your hidden love
Leonard Cohen needs Marianne's love and connection that goes beyond the physical world.

I'm cold as a new razorblade
Leonard Cohen is feeling the sharp pain of loneliness and emptiness.

You left when I told you I was curious
Marianne left Leonard Cohen after he expressed interest in other women.

I never said that I was brave
Leonard Cohen admits he wasn't brave enough to confront his conflicting desires.

Oh, you are really such a pretty one
Leonard Cohen still thinks highly of Marianne's beauty.

I see you've gone and changed your name again
Marianne changed her name, and it symbolizes changes in their relationship.

And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
Leonard Cohen reached a major milestone in his life, but it seems to be happening at the wrong time.

To wash my eyelids in the rain
Leonard Cohen seeks solace and refreshment from nature and spiritual influence.