Suzanne
Collins Judy Lyrics


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Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
And you know that she's half crazy that's why you want to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you want to tell her that you have no love to give her
She gets you on her wavelength and lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover
And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll may be trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind

And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water
And He spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower
And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him
He said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
But He Himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with Him
And you want to travel blind
And you think you'll maybe trust Him
For He's touched your perfect body with his mind

Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
You can hear the boats go by you can spend the night forever
And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her
And you want to travel blind




And you think maybe you trust her
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind

Overall Meaning

The song "Suzanne" by Judy Collins is a poetic tribute to a woman named Suzanne who lives by the river. The lyrics describe how Suzanne takes the singer down to her place by the river, where they watch the boats go by and drink tea made from oranges that come all the way from China. The singer acknowledges that Suzanne is "half crazy," but still wants to be with her.


The song goes on to describe the singer's desire to travel with Suzanne and the longing to trust her. The chorus repeats the phrase "for she's touched your perfect body with her mind," suggesting that Suzanne has a profound impact on the singer's thoughts and feelings.


The song then takes a turn and mentions Jesus, describing him as a sailor who walked on water and spent his time watching from a lonely wooden tower. The lyrics suggest that Jesus saw that only drowning men could see him and that he believed that all men should be sailors until the sea sets them free. The song ends with a reference to Suzanne once again, describing how she shows the singer where to look for love and beauty among the garbage and flowers by the river.


Overall, the lyrics of "Suzanne" are complex and multifaceted, touching on themes of desire, longing, and spirituality.


Line by Line Meaning

Suzanne takes you down to her place by the river
Suzanne brings you to her special spot by the river


You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever
While at the river, you can listen to passing boats and stay for as long as you want


And you know that she's half crazy that's why you want to be there
You are drawn to her unpredictability and find it intriguing


And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
She provides you with exotic, comforting refreshments


And just when you want to tell her that you have no love to give her
You feel like you cannot offer her any love in return


She gets you on her wavelength and lets the river answer
She connects with you deeply and helps you find answers through the serene environment


That you've always been her lover
You realize that you have always had a special connection with her


And you want to travel with her
You want to go on adventures together


And you want to travel blind
You are willing to let her guide you without knowing the destination


And you think you'll may be trust her
You feel like you might be able to trust her


For she's touched your perfect body with her mind
She has a deep understanding of your inner self


And Jesus was a sailor when He walked upon the water
Jesus was a skilled navigator who walked on water


And He spent a long time watching from a lonely wooden tower
He spent time observing from a secluded spot


And when He knew for certain only drowning men could see Him
He realized that only those in dire need would be able to see Him


He said, "All men shall be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
He believed that everyone should be skilled at navigating life's challenges until they are no longer bound by them


But He Himself was broken long before the sky would open
Jesus was emotionally exhausted before He could share His message


Forsaken, almost human He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
He felt abandoned and vulnerable, unable to bear the weight of your thoughts and ideas


And you want to travel with Him
You want to learn from Him and follow His teachings


And you want to travel blind
You are willing to follow Him without knowing where He's taking you


And you think you'll maybe trust Him
You are hopeful that you can trust Him


For He's touched your perfect body with his mind
He has a deep understanding of your inner self


And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor
The sunlight illuminates the beauty of the harbor and Suzanne


And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
Suzanne helps you find meaning in unexpected places


There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
There are people with admirable qualities all around us, just like there are new opportunities every morning


They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
People are always searching for love, and this longing will never fade


While Suzanne holds the mirror
Suzanne helps others see themselves and the world around them more clearly




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@mistayu

Judy Collins and Leonard Cohen...a part of the soundtrack of my angst filled youth while growing up in Boston and NYC....the moody sixties...a time of discovery, sadness, and growth...so many memories. <3

@martinzitter4551

They, Dylan, and a few more; also the refrain of my youth.

@sfwebber7007

One of my all-Time favorite Leonard Cohen songs and Judy Collins sings it better than anyone else. Great to seem teaming up.

@valerietucker80

I adore this song. Leonard and Judy together really make this song come alive.

@GeorgeStar

Their voices blend beautifully.

@PoetMountain

One of my favorite songs of old. Thank You Leonard Cohen for a lifetime of music, poetry, and song. RIP. 🌹

@betahifi

orme96 1 year ago I've heard people say Cohen's voice is lame, because he does not show off or belt or keep himself constrained to precise pitch. Music is about more than showmanship and superficiality, it is about soul, and feeling, and love. His voice is so revealing, and has an intimate beauty to it that should never be ignored. He is a poet, his lyrics and his guitar send his message forward.

@betahifi

Shiverrus 3 years ago God, I had forgotten how beautiful, how ethereal this song was when I heard it at 16 or 17. It still gives me chills.

@homeyginomolly

No one ever sang like Leonard.  Wonderful to see this and hear him, and Judy

@MsRafab1

Would you believe I'd never heard Cohen sing?

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