Cohen, Leonard - Master Song Lyrics






I believe that you heard your master sing
when I was sick in bed.
I suppose that he told you everything
that I keep locked away in my head.
Your master took you travelling,
well at least that's what you said.
And now do you come back to bring
your prisoner wine and bread?
You met him at some temple, where
they take your clothes at the door.
He was just a numberless man in a chair
who'd just come back from the war.
And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
and he hands you the apple core.
Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
of all the kisses we put on some time before.

And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
with a collar of leather and nails,
and he never once made you explain or talk
about all of the little details,
such as who had a word and who had a rock,
and who had you through the mails.
Now your love is a secret all over the block,
and it never stops not even when your master fails.

And he took you up in his aeroplane,
which he flew without any hands,
and you cruised above the ribbons of rain
that drove the crowd from the stands.
Then he killed the lights in a lonely Lane
and, an ape with angel glands,
erased the final wisps of pain
with the music of rubber bands.

And now I hear your master sing,
you kneel for him to come.
His body is a golden string
that your body is hanging from.
His body is a golden string,
my body has grown numb.
Oh now you hear your master sing,
your shirt is all undone.

And will you kneel beside this bed
that we polished so long ago,
before your master chose instead
to make my bed of snow?
Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
and you're speaking far too low.
No I can't make out what your master said
before he made you go.

Then I think you're playing far too rough
for a lady who's been to the moon;
I've lain by this window long enough
to get used to an empty room.
And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
who is tapping his foot to a tune,
and your thighs are a ruin, you want too much,
let's say you came back some time too soon.

I loved your master perfectly
I taught him all that he knew.
He was starving in some deep mystery
like a man who is sure what is true.
And I sent you to him with my guarantee
I could teach him something new,
and I taught him how you would long for me
no matter what he said no matter what you'd do.

I believe that you heard your master sing
while I was sick in bed,
I'm sure that he told you everything
I must keep locked away in my head.
Your master took you travelling,
well at least that's what you said,
And now do you come back to bring
your prisoner wine and bread?





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Cohen, Leonard Master Song Comments
  1. H.... H....

    I had the pleasure to meet him....I thank you Leonard for all the moments you light up my darkest moments !

  2. K.... S....

    Dreary crap.

  3. A.... P....

    A beautiful song.I call it,The Trinity--a man,a woman and love/lust.

  4. A.... P....

    A trinity concerning one man,one woman with many lovers.Beautiful.

  5. J.... H....

    He has more talant than most poets. RIP

  6. n.... ....

    Bir türk olarak burda bulunmaktan şeref duyuyorum.

  7. P.... O....

    'Your love is a secret all over the block'...Yup! I have often lived in those apartments too-Len!

  8. R.... K....

    Good song.

  9. E.... ....

    I believe that you heard your master sing
    when I was sick in bed.
    I suppose that he told you everything
    that I keep locked away in my head.
    Your master took you travelling,
    well at least that's what you said.
    And now do you come back to bring
    your prisoner wine and bread?
    You met him at some temple, where
    they take your clothes at the door.
    He was just a numberless man in a chair
    who'd just come back from the war.
    And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
    and he hands you the apple core.
    Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
    of all the kisses we put on some time before.

    And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
    with a collar of leather and nails,
    and he never once made you explain or talk
    about all of the little details,
    such as who had a word and who had a rock,
    and who had you through the mails.
    Now your love is a secret all over the block,
    and it never stops not even when your master fails.

    And he took you up in his aeroplane,
    which he flew without any hands,
    and you cruised above the ribbons of rain
    that drove the crowd from the stands.
    Then he killed the lights in a lonely Lane
    and, an ape with angel glands,
    erased the final wisps of pain
    with the music of rubber bands.

    And now I hear your master sing,
    you kneel for him to come.
    His body is a golden string
    that your body is hanging from.
    His body is a golden string,
    my body has grown numb.
    Oh now you hear your master sing,
    your shirt is all undone.

    And will you kneel beside this bed
    that we polished so long ago,
    before your master chose instead
    to make my bed of snow?
    Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
    and you're speaking far too low.
    No I can't make out what your master said
    before he made you go.

    Then I think you're playing far too rough
    for a lady who's been to the moon;
    I've lain by this window long enough
    to get used to an empty room.
    And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
    who is tapping his foot to a tune,
    and your thighs are a ruin, you want too much,
    let's say you came back some time too soon.

    I loved your master perfectly
    I taught him all that he knew.
    He was starving in some deep mystery
    like a man who is sure what is true.
    And I sent you to him with my guarantee
    I could teach him something new,
    and I taught him how you would long for me
    no matter what he said no matter what you'd do.

    I believe that you heard your master sing
    while I was sick in bed,
    I'm sure that he told you everything
    I must keep locked away in my head.
    Your master took you travelling,
    well at least that's what you said,
    And now do you come back to bring
    your prisoner wine and bread?

  10. K.... L....

    wow....completely mesmerizing...

  11. j.... p....

    Masterpiece

  12. J.... L....

    Masochism at it's best. 💔

  13. V.... ....

    Vinyl sounded better.

  14. M.... S....

    Young Leonard Cohen reminds me of Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate.

    M.... S....

    Or Al Pacino

  15. S.... C....

    I always thought this was about addiction

  16. G.... C....

    Schöne Zeiten...alles wird niemals so sein
    Nur Erinnerungen bleiben

  17. p.... ....

    Ooh Leo ce que tu m'a donné à plus de valeur que tout... Aucun poète n aura autant de valeur que toi à mes yeux.. Merci d être.. D avoir été et de toujours rester.

  18. F.... M....

    I think this song is to every "Julio Esidro" - the man or women who told you how to begin or continue living. Or just how to live. The "master" is your best "hope" in your personnal life.

  19. F.... M....

    He's not dead .

  20. c.... ....

    Masterpiece.

  21. E.... M....

    you wrap up his tired face in your hair

  22. L.... T....

    He's talking about a demon

  23. F.... ....

    Un album que tout le monde devrait écouter d'un artiste que tout un chacun devrait connaître...
    Reposez en paix M. Cohen.

  24. p.... c....

    That “about” is so Canadian

  25. b.... ....

    My favorite LC song. Hard to describe this but it almost punishes the listener for enjoying it so much. It leaves me both awe-struck and broken hearted every time I hear it.

    b.... ....

    bigbiscuit100 It feels like being in a prison cell - locked up alone in a tall tower, or being an old homeless man with no family and only a cup, asking for change and people walking by and giving none... at least that’s how it makes me feel, yet he makes it seem so familiar and comfortable to take those roles on that I can listen endlessly. A true genius, and a true poet. 🙏🏻

  26. g.... D....

    You are the pilgrim of lovers Leo.

  27. F.... P....

    Sublime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  28. C.... G....

    Leonard para sempre

  29. A.... V....

    Master song,a masterpiece; some say his songs are sad, maybe, but contain so many hidden meanings and undercurrent...........

  30. G.... F....

    What meaning is this to the current awakeness of the political scene.
    "My body has grown numb"

  31. G.... F....

    You're awesome Lisa!

  32. J.... S....

    RIP Leonard. You always inspired me from a young age. Thanks for those inspirational lyrics.

  33. c.... b....

    like a shooting star. make a wish

  34. S.... d....

    Heute habe ich erfahren, dass ein früherer Schulfreund verstorben ist. Er war ein großer Liebhaber von Cohens Musik. Erst durch den Schulfreund bin ich auf Leonard Cohen aufmerksam geworden. Nun sind beide nicht mehr.

  35. J.... S....

    bon voyage Mr cohen

  36. R.... ....

    his greatest

  37. B.... S....

    When I was a 17 year old soon to be woman, I watched the movie that featured Leonard Cohen's first album; It was a western called "McCabe and Mrs Miller", starring Julie Christie and Warren Beatty. I fell in love with the soundtrack and have loved "The Master" ever since. Rest in bliss, my love.

    B.... S....

    yes haunting me every time i hear a song from this album.

    B.... S....

    Great show!

    B.... S....

    Yes, I first heard of LC when I saw the Warren Beatty movie only because it was a Western. I went the second time to see the movie and to find out who was singing and playing the music. Both movie and music are not understood by ALL. Even today. You are a gift to the earth our friend . Keep writing, singing and playing wherever you may be.

  38. l.... l....

    RIP Leonard ... one of my favorite Cohen songs from my childhood.

  39. T.... B....

    What a song.

  40. j.... N....

    Thank you so much

  41. f.... m....

    The most beautiful song of Leonard Cohen. So long, Leonard...

  42. G.... K....

    My favorite Cohen song.Rest in peace.

  43. S.... d....

    Und wieder ist einer der ganz Großen gegangen.

  44. N.... ....

    Rest in paradise, Leonard. You've given us so much. You will always live on.

    N.... ....

    Nick i believe you missed the point of his music..
    "On nights when i would write for one, like myself..."
    Leonard Cohen (Poem)

    N.... ....

    And you have "The Point" ? You interpret the story as you see fit. Or shut TFU to how others enjoy the music.

  45. N.... T....

    Goodbye Leonard, I think I knew you although we never met, funny how you can miss people you never met. Still, you live on in your songs

    N.... T....

    We all live on in each others life's. Just like we see ourselves in our children's eyes.

  46. R.... P....

    RIP, Master.

  47. J.... B....

    This song is about the Janis Joplin, Kris Kristofferson and Leonard Cohen love triangle!

    J.... B....

    More likely Nico and Jim Morrison, whom she loved. Janis Joplin was just a passing fling, a one-night stand for both of them. But he was obsessed by Nico.

    J.... B....

    Are we talking about the Isle of Wright concert where Leonard comes out of his trailer and says get me a piano

    J.... B....

    So because you interpret it as that, so that then makes it a fact. You smoke a lot of wacky wacky still/again ?

    J.... B....

    Really?

    J.... B....

    "I like to sing a song which is called the 'Master Song' and it's about the Trinity. Leave that for the scholars: It's about three people." -- Leonard Cohen, The BBC Sessions, 1968

    The three people are never identified. Guessing who is pure speculation.

  48. J.... Z....

    --So... Today, early after midday I was studying while listening to this record. I had to take it out due to the fact that I was getting lost in the music and not really being able to concentrate.
    --Now it's almost 1 am (So I guess that makes my "Today" a day before.) and, as I'm still studying, this song came back floating in my head, growing louder and growing stubborn inside that jelly filled skull of mine, and forcing me to give it a break and hit this track once more.
    --Leonard's beauty strucks me with awe. It's not a "You only live once" kind of awe that hits me with euphoria while listening Master Song, but a sad one, that fills me with a sense of self-awareness and helps me contemplate where there is beauty; helps me know that decisions weigh eventually...
    --
    --I'll point out that I've never seen a video that having so many views, has so little comments, so few dislikes, and not a comment went by without displaying deep feelings from whoever wrote it. I believe the reason for this lies in the fact that after listening to this song, one might want to express gratitude, but can't find the words. So thank's, Leonard, and thank you Lisa Dueling.
    Greetings from Argentina, barrio Once.

    J.... Z....

    Thanks Carl. Will be checking it

    J.... Z....

    Shorty falls in love is the name of that Dan Hicks song it's on where is the money

    J.... Z....

    It's the speed at which he's playing that's so captivating and locks you in. Like hittin' 7th gear riding shotgun in a bugatti chiron doin' 180mph. Leonard's crankin @ over 182bpm.

    J.... Z....

    Julian Zaltron your babbling

    J.... Z....

    Julian Zaltron Your babbling

  49. L.... L....

    Thanks to my father for showing me this wonderful artist

  50. b.... ....

    Haunting, fascinating & so clever, a wonderful song, I love it !

  51. S.... O....

    Makes me think of my bro Paul... Rip xx x

  52. G.... ....

    Any day is always the right day for the wisdom of Mr. Cohen.

    G.... ....

    Today seems especially right.

    G.... ....

    Goblintrain Excellent comment! The Blessing of The Great Spirit of Mr. Cohen light your path to success, as i see my own destiny unwinding.