Take This Longing New Skin For The Old Ceremony -- 1974 Many men have loved the bells you fastened to the rain; and everyone who wanted you, they found what they will always want again -- your beauty lost to you yourself, just as it was lost to them -- Take this longing from my tongue, whatever useless things my hands have done; let me see your beauty broken down, like you would do for one you love. Your body like a searchlight. My poverty revealed. I would like to try your charity, until you cry: "Now you must try my greed." And everything depends upon how near you sleep to me -- Take this longing from my tongue, all the lonely things my hands have done; let me see your beauty broken down, like you would do for one your love. Hungry as an archway through which the troops have passed, I stand in ruins behind you, with your winter clothes, your broken sandal strap. But I love to see you naked there, especially from the back -- Take this longing from my tongue, all the useless things my hands have done; untie for me your high blue gown, like you would do for one you love. You're faithful to the better man. I'm afraid that he left. So let me judge your love affair in this very room where I have sentenced mine to death. I'll even wear these old laurel leaves that he's shaken from his head -- Take this longing from my tongue, all the useless things my hands have done; let me see your beauty broken down, like you would do for one you love. Copyright © Leonard Cohen and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved. <<<Previous Next>>> Songs Home