song
Leonard Cohen Lyrics


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I believe that you heard your master sing
When I was sick in bed
I suppose that he told you everything
That I keep locked away in my head
Your master took you travelling
Well at least that's what you said
And now do you come back to bring
Your prisoner wine and bread?

You met him at some temple
Where they take your clothes at the door
He was just a numberless man in a chair
Who'd just come back from the war
And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
And he hands you the apple core
Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
Of all the kisses we put on some time before

And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
With a collar of leather and nails
And he never once made you explain or talk
About all of the little details
Such as who had a word and who had a rock
And who had you through the mails
Now your love is a secret all over the block
And it never stops not even when your master fails

And he took you up in his aeroplane
Which he flew without any hands
And you cruised above the ribbons of rain
That drove the crowd from the stands
Then he killed the lights in a lonely lane
And, an ape with angel glands
Erased the final wisps of pain
With the music of rubber bands

And now I hear your master sing
You kneel for him to come
His body is a golden string
That your body is hanging from
His body is a golden string
My body has grown numb
Oh now you hear your master sing
Your shirt is all undone

And will you kneel beside this bed
That we polished so long ago
Before your master chose instead
To make my bed of snow?
Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
And you're speaking far too low
No I can't make out what your master said
Before he made you go

Then I think you're playing far too rough
For a lady who's been to the moon
I've lain by this window long enough
To get used to an empty room
And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
Who is tapping his foot to a tune
And your thighs are a ruin, you want too much
Let's say you came back some time too soon

I loved your master perfectly
I taught him all that he knew
He was starving in some deep mystery
Like a man who is sure what is true
And I sent you to him with my guarantee
I could teach him something new
And I taught him how you would long for me
No matter what he said no matter what you'd do

I believe that you heard your master sing
While I was sick in bed
I'm sure that he told you everything
I must keep locked away in my head
Your master took you travelling
Well at least that's what you said




And now do you come back to bring
Your prisoner wine and bread?

Overall Meaning

The song Master Song by Leonard Cohen is a narrative about an unbalanced love triangle. The singer believes that his lover had an affair with his master, who he taught everything he knew. The lyrics reflect the singer's confusion and pain as he tries to come to terms with what happened between them.


The song begins with the singer acknowledging that his lover may have confided in their mutual master about everything he keeps hidden away in his own head. He questions whether she has returned to their relationship only to bring him "prisoner wine and bread." Throughout the song, Cohen's use of surreal imagery paints a vivid picture of the affair, highlighting the stark contrast between the singer's reality and the fantastical world of his lover and their master.


At the end of the song, the singer appears to speak directly to his lover, questioning whether she will kneel beside their polished bed, where she once lay with their master. The singer confesses that he loved his master perfectly and taught him everything he knew. He agonizes over the power dynamic between them and the fact that his lover will always long for him, no matter what the master says or does. The song is a complex exploration of desire, dominance, and the ways in which past relationships can haunt us.


Line by Line Meaning

I believe that you heard your master sing
I think you heard my lover singing


When I was sick in bed
At the time I was unwell and unable to be with him


I suppose that he told you everything
I assume he confided in you all that I keep hidden in my mind


That I keep locked away in my head
Those secrets and memories that I don't share with anyone


Your master took you travelling
He took you on journeys and adventures


Well at least that's what you said
That's what you claimed to have done with him


And now do you come back to bring
Are you returning here to offer


Your prisoner wine and bread?
Your services and affection to me as a captive


You met him at some temple
You first encountered him at a religious sanctuary


Where they take your clothes at the door
A place where people have to remove their belongings before entering


He was just a numberless man in a chair
He was an anonymous figure seated in a seat


Who'd just come back from the war
He had recently returned from a conflict or battle


And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
You use your hair to cover his weary face


And he hands you the apple core
He gives you the leftover fruit core to hold


Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
He unexpectedly makes contact with your exposed lips


Of all the kisses we put on some time before
All the pecks and embraces we shared in the past


And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
He gave you a dog to care for


With a collar of leather and nails
The dog's neckpiece was made of animal skin and metal spikes


And he never once made you explain or talk
He never asked you to clarify or discuss anything with him


About all of the little details
Particulars such as gossip or specifics from your travels or experiences


Such as who had a word and who had a rock
Example subjects like who spoke up and who defended themselves


And who had you through the mails
And who sent you messages or letters


Now your love is a secret all over the block
Your affair is now widely known among the people in the neighborhood


And it never stops not even when your master fails
The desire and passion between you two continues, even if your lover is unsuccessful or absent


And he took you up in his aeroplane
He flew you in a plane


Which he flew without any hands
He piloted the craft without using his hands


And you cruised above the ribbons of rain
You floated past the drizzle and precipitation


That drove the crowd from the stands
The weather was causing the audience to leave their seats


Then he killed the lights in a lonely lane
He shut off the vehicle's lighting in an isolated road


And, an ape with angel glands
And, acting like a primitive creature with divine properties


Erased the final wisps of pain
He made the last traces of agony disappear


With the music of rubber bands
With the strange sound that rubber bands make when plucked or struck


And now I hear your master sing
Now you are paying attention to your lover's voice


You kneel for him to come
You are waiting and eager for him to arrive


His body is a golden string
His body is the ultimate attraction and holds deep significance


That your body is hanging from
It's your source of support and sustenance


His body is a golden string
His physical presence is a crucial part of your life


My body has grown numb
I can't feel anything physically or emotionally


Oh now you hear your master sing
Finally, you are concerned with your lover's voice


Your shirt is all undone
Your clothing is quite disheveled


And will you kneel beside this bed
And will you prostrate yourself near my sleeping space


That we polished so long ago
That we prepared and maintained for some time


Before your master chose instead
Before your lover elected to not care about it anymore


To make my bed of snow?
To have me lying in a cold and stark grave instead?


Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
You are agitated and your fists are clenched


And you're speaking far too low
And you're whispering too quietly


No I can't make out what your master said
No, I can't understand the sounds or phrases your lover spoke


Before he made you go
Before he made you leave me


Then I think you're playing far too rough
Then I think you're taking undue risks or pushing your boundaries too far


For a lady who's been to the moon
Especially for a woman who's experienced a great adventure or feat


I've lain by this window long enough
I've spent a considerable amount of time sitting by this window


To get used to an empty room
To become accustomed to being in an environment without anyone else present


And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
And your affection or devotion is as insignificant as a speck of particle in an elderly person's cough


Who is tapping his foot to a tune
Who is moving his feet rhythmically to a piece of music


And your thighs are a ruin, you want too much
And your legs are damaged, you're asking for too many things or sensations


Let's say you came back some time too soon
Let's say you returned earlier than expected


I loved your master perfectly
I felt an intense affection or devotion to my lover


I taught him all that he knew
I instructed him in everything he understands


He was starving in some deep mystery
He was starving in a profound riddle or enigma


Like a man who is sure what is true
Like a man who is confident in the certainty of his beliefs


And I sent you to him with my guarantee
And I authorized you to be with him, with my assurance or warranty


I could teach him something new
I could offer him something fresh or different


And I taught him how you would long for me
And I made him realize how you'd always yearn for me


No matter what he said no matter what you'd do
Regardless of the words or actions coming from either of you




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen

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

g s

0:00 Everybody Know
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you



Богдан Гордасевич

0:00 Everybody Knows
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you



All comments from YouTube:

g s

0:00 Everybody Know
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you

Cow~EL

Thank you for this

legato1016

Thanks!!👍🏻👍🏻

Esther Cohen

ק11¹1¹¹¹

vacatio

Danke! Very kind!

aebalc

And thank you for spelling correctly. Hallelijah and Watting for the Miracle on the the video drove me nuts.

34 More Replies...

Julie Gonzaga

Thank you for sharing...love LC his music his poems his voice 1:00:54 ❤️ 💕 💜

nadine pierce

He was and always will be one of the most talented men of all time. His music is timeless... with love and affection 💕

Bonnie Johnson

He was a genius. Uniquely able to combine the light with the dark, the deep sensuality with the broken heart, the sacred with the mundane. The voice of a prophet.

Daniel Appleton

@Bonnie Johnson That gravelly voice sounds like he's addressing the listener directly. It's spiritual which is somewhat overused, but it serves

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