3 Day Lyric Quiz – Day 3 –

Singledust Living on the equator but longing for snow

Has nominated me for a 3 Day Lyric Quiz

Thank you Gina.

A three-day lyrical challenge

The Rules:

1 .Thank the person who nominated you. – Thank you Again, Gina
2 .Share one of your favourite song/lyrics one at a time for three days.
3 .Nominate three other bloggers each day. (or one, one is probably enough)

Day 2, I’m nominating, Jane

Day 3 of my “Three-day Lyrical Challenge”, and for all of my readers that know me well, it was always going to be about Leonard Cohen, whom I unashamedly admit has been the biggest influence on my life. He has been with me since I was a teenager, his music, poetry, books and philosophies, have been my constant companion throughout all of the undulations during my life’s journey. For me to choose one special song is a difficult task, but I shall pick an older tune, that I played often during my days/months/years recovering from a stroke, at a time, I could barely read or write properly. Life was tough, and there were moments of “Do I want to go on”, and Leonard was there in my darkest hours, my saviour. Now to that all important song, “Sisters Of Mercy”, and when you read the lyrics, you might understand the significance of the song, during my time of both physical and mental healing. I’ve also added a footnote with some further information …

Sisters Of Mercy, Lyrics

O the sisters of mercy they are not
Departed or gone,
They were waiting for me when I thought
That I just can’t go on,
And they brought me their comfort
And later they brought me this song.
O I hope you run into them
You who’ve been traveling so long.Yes, you who must leave everything
That you cannot control;
It begins with your family,
But soon it comes round to your soul.
Well, I’ve been where you’re hanging
I think I can see how you’re pinned.
When you’re not feeling holy,
Your loneliness says that you’ve sinned.

Well they lay down beside me
I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes
And I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf
That the seasons tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love
That is graceful and green as a stem.

When I left they were sleeping,
I hope you run into them soon.
Don’t turn on the light
You can read their address by the moon;
And you won’t make me jealous
If I hear that they sweeten your night
We weren’t lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right
We weren’t lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right.

Songwriters: LEONARD COHEN

Sisters Of Mercy lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Footnote.

“It is a mysterious process, it involves perseverance and perspiration and sometimes, by some grace, something stands out and invites you to elaborate or animate it. These are sacred mechanics and you have to be careful analysing them as you would never write a line again. If you looked too deeply into the process you’d end up in a state of paralysis.” –Leonard Cohen, about the process of writing.

Though Cohen would produce dark, funereal imagery at will, all his work is undercut with a wry and playful sense of humour.