Dance Me to the End of Love
Leonard Cohen Lyrics


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Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic 'til I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love

Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

Overall Meaning

Leonard Cohen's "Dance Me to the End of Love" is a poignant love song that speaks to the enduring power of dance to connect us to each other across time and space. The song is an evocative ballad that uses rich metaphorical language to evoke both the pain and joy of human connection. The first verse, "Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin" seems to be a reference to the idea of the world as a stage, with the violin representing the instrument of creation. As the song progresses, the dancer and their partner are moved forward by a sense of urgency, with the final verse "Dance me to the end of love" indicating an almost feverish desire to experience the fullness of their connection before life comes to its inevitable close.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and desire that runs strong. The singer calls for the dance to continue "through the panic" and beyond the curtains of their kisses. They implore their partner to show them the beauty that exists beyond the eyes of others, to dance with them tenderly and lovingly. The final verses of the song speak to the deeper meaning behind the dance, as it becomes a way of creating new life and sheltering those who are yet to be born.


Overall, "Dance Me to the End of Love" is a complex and moving song that speaks to the incredible power of connection that exists between two people who are deeply in love.


Line by Line Meaning

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Take me to your exquisite beauty with the sounds of a passionate violin.


Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Guide me through the nerve-racking chaos until I am safely collected.


Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove
Carry me up like an olive branch and be my guide back home, like a caring dove.


Dance me to the end of love
Lead me, dance with me until we reach the end of love.


Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone
Allow me to witness your beauty when we are in privacy, without any onlookers.


Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon
Dance with me intensely, like the people do in Babylon.


Show me slowly what I only know the limits of
Reveal to me gradually, things I previously did not think were possible or imaginable.


Dance me to the end of love
Expire with me, after we have danced until the end of love.


Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on
Accompany me to the wedding, then keep dancing with me incessantly.


Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long
Dance with me delicately and for a great amount of time.


We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above
We are both submerged in our love and above it, at the same time.


Dance me to the end of love
Move with me until the end of our love.


Dance me to the children who are asking to be born
Lead me to the unborn children that want to come into being.


Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn
Take me beyond the cloth affected by our kissing.


Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn
Set up a tent of security with me, even if only damaged threads keep it up.


Dance me to the end of love
Move with me until our love dies together.


Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Guide me to your attractive beauty with the help of an intense violin.


Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in
Steer me through the panic until I am rescued and secure.


Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Contact me with your bare hand or covered one, whichever way you choose.


Dance me to the end of love
Lead me into the death of our love.


Dance me to the end of love
Guide me to the end of our love through dance.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@donnydoit7678

Leonard Cohen's music is known for its poetic lyrics, deep voice, and emotional resonance. Some of his most famous songs include:

- "Hallelujah"
- "Suzanne"
- "Famous Blue Raincoat"
- "Everybody Knows"
- "I'm Your Man"
- "Dance Me to the End of Love"

His songs often explore themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition. 🙏



@nikolaivishnevsky4221

🙏🙏🙏
❤❤❤❤❤❤💔
at all distances of breaking & blowing up hearts
на всех расстояниях
разрывающихся
сердец


Н.В.

2022-23



@donnydoit7678

Leonard Cohen's music is known for its poetic lyrics, deep voice, and emotional resonance. Some of his most famous songs include:

- "Hallelujah"
- "Suzanne"
- "Famous Blue Raincoat"
- "Everybody Knows"
- "I'm Your Man"
- "Dance Me to the End of Love"

His songs often explore themes of love, spirituality, and the human condition.



All comments from YouTube:

@HelgaPusch

Wanted to dance with this song on my 50th wedding anniversary but my love passed away 4 months prior. All my fav songs are by Lennard Cohen, his poetry grips your heart and soul.
Rest in Piece, Lennard and KP

@E-Kat

Oh, I'm so very sorry. How sad. 😢 I've lost my darling husband too. Life's so cruel ❤

@minahergert5210

@@E-Katпростите меня , но жизнь не жестока… нужно принимать её и благодарить за каждое мгновение данное Богом! Учитесь и вы увидите всё другими глазами … храни вас Господь 🙏🙏🙏

@E-Kat

@@minahergert5210 oh, thank you very much for your kind words. I was able to read your message ( maybe not very precisely) as I know a tiny bit of Russian.😊
It's hard to be on my own when we were married for almost 40 years, so being without him doesn't make sense. I miss him the minute I wake up as he isn't there to bring me my coffee, I miss him when I go downstairs as he's not sitting at the table, waiting with my breakfast, I miss him as I can't hear " I love you darling " which he used to say many times, every day, I miss him hugging me and telling me how beautiful I am. Everything is gone now and it feels like the sun doesn't shine the same way anymore. I dream about him very often and it's only then when I talk to him and when I wake up, I still feel his arms around me.
I wish you all the happiness and I'm sending you my love . ❤️🤗🙏🙏

@Sacred.chords

@@E-Kat I am so sorry for your loss. May God give you beauty for the ashes!

@consueloproietti76

55 More Replies...

@erindgasa5165

My dad has alzheimer and my mother told me he used to like this song. When I played it for him … He got up and started dancing while singing the melody

@donna1948ful

how beautiful Erind..

@Windowman666

Erind what lovely memories to cherish

@maxsmith1655

4 beautiful

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