LEONARD COHEN : DEMOCRACY (1992)

Αυτή η δροσερή αύρα αισιοδοξίας έρχεται από το άλμπουμ του Leonard Cohen, The Future, των early ‘90s. Η έμπνευση για το τραγούδι είχε πηγάσει από το πρόσφατο τότε γκρέμισμα του Τείχους του Βερολίνου. Πρόκειται για μια από τις κορυφαίες στιγμές στην καριέρα του μεγάλου singer songwriter και αυτό τα λέει όλα.

This cool aura of optimism comes from
Leonard Cohen’s early ’90s album The Future. The inspiration for the song came from the recent fall of the Berlin Wall. This is one of the highlights in the great singer songwriter’s career, and that says it all.

It’s coming through a hole in the air
From those nights in Tiananmen Square
It’s coming from the feel
That this ain’t exactly real
Or it’s real, but it ain’t exactly there
From the war against disorder
From the sirens night and day
From the fires of the homeless
From the ashes of the gay
Democracy is coming to the USA
It’s coming through a crack in the wall
On a visionary flood of alcohol
From the staggering account
Of the Sermon on the Mount
Which I don’t pretend to understand at all
It’s coming from the silence
On the dock of the bay
From the brave, the bold, the battered
Heart of Chevrolet
Democracy is coming to the USA
It’s coming from the sorrow in the street
The holy places where the races meet
From the homicidal bitchin’
That goes down in every kitchen
To determine who will serve and who will eat
From the wells of disappointment
Where the women kneel to pray
For the grace of God in the desert here
And the desert far away
Democracy is coming to the USA
Sail on, sail on
O mighty ship of state
To the shores of need
Past the reefs of greed
Through the squalls of hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on
It’s coming to America first
The cradle of the best and of the worst
It’s here they got the range
And the machinery for change
And it’s here they got the spiritual thirst
It’s here the family’s broken
And it’s here the lonely say
That the heart has got to open
In a fundamental way
Democracy is coming to the USA
It’s coming from the women and the men
Oh baby, we’ll be making love again
We’ll be going down so deep
The river’s going to weep
And the mountain’s going to shout, “Amen”
It’s coming like the tidal flood
Beneath the lunar sway
Imperial, mysterious
In amorous array
Democracy is coming to the USA
Sail on, sail on
O mighty ship of state
To the shores of need
Past the reefs of greed
Through the squalls of hate
Sail on, sail on, sail on, sail on
I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean
I love the country but I can’t stand the scene
And I’m neither left or right
I’m just staying home tonight
Getting lost in that hopeless little screen
But I’m stubborn as those garbage bags
That time cannot decay
I’m junk but I’m still holding up this little wild bouquet
Democracy is coming to the USA
To the USA

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10 Comments

  1. Dale June 12, 2024 at 3:33 pm

    Leonard Cohen had a natural cool aura about him, didn’t he?

    Reply
    1. Oannes June 12, 2024 at 6:31 pm

      Certainly! And a tremendous talent.

      Reply
      1. Dale June 12, 2024 at 6:38 pm

        That is for sure!

        Reply
  2. Liz Gauffreau June 12, 2024 at 5:34 pm

    The poor man must be spinning in his grave right about now.

    Reply
    1. Oannes June 12, 2024 at 6:32 pm

      You can say that again …and again.

      Reply
      1. Liz Gauffreau June 12, 2024 at 9:49 pm

        Recent events have made a mockery of the song. It’s painful to listen to it now.

        Reply
        1. Oannes June 12, 2024 at 10:35 pm

          Stick to the mood! That’s what I do anyway. 🙂

          Reply
          1. Liz Gauffreau June 13, 2024 at 12:48 am

            That’s good advice. I don’t need to go looking for yet another doom spiral.

            Reply
  3. Resa June 13, 2024 at 4:19 am

    He’s so unique. Great piece for this series. Thank you!
    I think the words can be viewed from various perspectives.
    As many poets, the insights are endless.

    Reply
    1. Oannes June 13, 2024 at 7:13 am

      I also think of this song as a masterpiece from any perspective. Thank you!

      Reply

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