Anthem

by Leonard Cohen

Anthem  by Leonard Cohen

The birds they sang at the break of day
“Start again,”  I heard them say:
Don’t dwell on what has passed away
or what is yet to be.

Ah, the wars they will be fought again,
the holy dove, she will be caught again,
bought and sold and bought again
the dove is never free.

We asked for signs, the signs were sent
the birth betrayed, the marriage spent,
Yeah, the widowhood of every government
signs for all to see.

I can’t run no more with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud,
but they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up a thundercloud
and they’re going to hear from me.

You can add up the parts, you won’t have the sum,
you can strike up the march, there is no drum,
Every heart, every heart to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring,
forget your perfect offering,
there is a crack, a crack in everything
that’s how the light gets in.

That’s how the light gets in,
that’s how the light gets in.




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