http://diariopocometodico.blogspot.com/2008/05/leonard-cohen.html
http://www.leonardcohen.com
It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
who said they were through with dealing
every time you gave them shelter.
I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender,
who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter.
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
And then leaning on your window sill
he'll say one day you caused his will
to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter.
And then taking from his wallet
an old schedule of trains, he'll say:
"I told you when I came I was a stranger".
"I told you when I came I was a stranger".
But now another stranger seems
to want you to ignore his dreams
as though they were the burden of some other
O you've seen that man before
his golden arm dispatching cards
but now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
and he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter.
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.
Ah you hate to see another tired man
lay down his hand
like he was giving up the holy game of poker.
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
you notice there's a highway
that is curling up like smoke above his shoulder.
It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder.
You tell him to come in sit down
but something makes you turn around.
The door is open you can't close your shelter.
You try the handle of the road
It opens do not be afraid.
It's you my love, you who are the stranger.
It's you my love, you who are the stranger.
"Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
we'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
I think it's time to board another.
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
to get me to the heart of this
or any other matter".
When he talks like this you don't know what he's after.
When he speaks like this you don't know what he's after.
"Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
upon the shore, beneath the bridge
that they are building on some endless river".
Then he leaves the platform
for the sleeping car that's warm.
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter.
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger.
And you say ok the bridge or someplace later.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
you find he did not leave you very much not even laughter.
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
that is so high and wild
he'll never need to deal another.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
And then leaning on your window sill
he'll say one day you caused his will
to weaken with your love and warmth and shelter.
And then taking from his wallet
an old schedule of trains, he'll say:
"I told you when I came I was a stranger".
"I told you when I came I was a stranger".
L.P. "Songs of Leonard Cohen", 1967.
Written by Leonard Cohen, Project Seven Music (BMI)
