The Story Of Isaac

THE STORY OF ISAAC- Leonard Cohen

The door it opened slowly, my father he came in

I was nine years old

And he stood so tall above me, blue eyes they were shining

And his voice was very cold

He said, "I've had a vision and you know I'm strong and holy

I must do what I've been told"

So he started up the mountain, I was running, he was walking

And his axe was made of gold

Well, the trees they got much smaller, the lake a lady's mirror

We stopped to drink some wine

Then he threw the bottle ove, broke a minute later

And he put his hand on mine

Thought I saw an eagle but it might have been a vulture

I never could decide

Then my father built an altar,he looked once behind his shoulder

He knew I would not hide

You who build these altars now to sacrifice these children

You must not do it anymore

A scheme is not a vision and you never have been tempted

By a demon or a god

You who stand above them now, your hatchets blunt and bloody

You were not there before

When I lay upon a mountain and my father's hand was trembling

With the beauty of the word

And if you call me brother now, forgive me if I inquire

"Just according to whose plan?"

When it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must

I will help you if I can

When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must

I will kill you if I can

And mercy on our uniform, man of peace or man of war

The peacock spreads his fan

NOTE: use the standard Cohen picking style (see Winter Lady)

(from Songs From a Room, 1968)

(sent by Harlan at harlant@hawaii.edu)