Cohen, Leonard - The Guests Lyrics






One by one, the guests arrive
The guests are coming through
The open-hearted many
The broken-hearted few
And no one knows where the night is going
And no one knows why the wine is flowing
Oh love I need you
I need you
I need you
I need you
Oh . . . I need you now

And those who dance, begin to dance
Those who weep begin
And "Welcome, welcome" cries a voice
"Let all my guests come in."

And no one knows where the night is going ...

And all go stumbling through that house
in lonely secrecy
Saying "Do reveal yourself"
or "Why has thou forsaken me?"

And no one knows where the night is going ...

All at once the torches flare
The inner door flies open
One by one they enter there
In every style of passion

And no one knows where the night is going ...

And here they take their sweet repast
While house and grounds dissolve
And one by one the guests are cast
Beyond the garden wall

And no one knows where the night is going ...

Those who dance, begin to dance
Those who weep begin
Those who earnestly are lost
Are lost and lost again

And no one knows where the night is going ...

One by the guests arrive
The guests are coming through
The broken-hearted many
The open-hearted few

And no one knows where the night is going ...





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Cohen, Leonard The Guests Comments
  1. M.... D....

    Do you know what he's singing about? The guests are the souls born into the world.
    When the guests are
    cast beyond the garden wall that's the people being cast into the world.(This vale of tears). Some dance and some weep. (Some have good lives but most don't.) Etc. Etc.. I saw a video of COHEN performing this song and that's how he explained it. 🍀🎶

  2. E.... o....

    It's 21.9.2019 today, 85 years since Leonard Cohen's birth.

  3. P.... W....

    Wow! One of his best. The violin backing and the Webb Sisters perfect counterpoint really make this a great piece of Contemporary Folk.

  4. S.... R....

    This is kind of amazing. The talents of Jennifer Warnes need not go unnoticed here.

  5. J.... K....

    This is a fabulous song, as many others but this one is kind of special. The violinist is great.

  6. S.... O....

    FreedomNeverSaid Please translate for me what you wrote under the video. (Not the song lyrics but the other).⚘🌹

  7. P.... B....

    haunting

  8. M.... G....

    RIP Master

  9. t.... ....

    First Cohen song I ever heard The Sisters Of Mercy in 68 -69 from the compilation album The Rock Machine Turns you on.That classic turned me on to Cohen. God bless Leonard Cohen

  10. J.... F....

    I want this played at my Funeral very symbolic

  11. d.... S....

    the guests are the disciples

  12. d.... S....

    last supper/ garden of gethsamanie

  13. S.... D....

    One of many favorite jams by Leonard Cohen!

  14. E.... W....

    I think THIS song is about the gates of heaven some enter in others are cast beyond the garden wall. Beautiful

  15. M.... P....

    Great photos for a remarkable song, from a remarkable man.

  16. s.... v....

    SONG ABOUT INVASION OF ROMANIA

  17. 1.... ....

    a great summary of life on earth and what an incredible array of images accompanying it

  18. V.... M....

    that kiss at 1.33,i wonder what happened to them?.

  19. G.... ....

    Beautiful - thank you so much.

  20. �.... �....

    Αθανατος. Με τοσα που μας αφησε πως να τον ξεχασουμε?

  21. D.... A....

    The open-hearted many
    The broken-hearted few
    And no one knows where the night is going......cos tomorrow we may all die in this thermonuclear war!!

  22. T.... G....

    discovered Mr Cohen many years ago and although a punk at heart loved this man's music. I took my wife to see him live when he was well over 70 she knew nothing about him or his music but at the end of the night she had fallen in love with him. The world seems so empty without Mr Cohen R I P

  23. O.... ....

    Magnificent marriage of this haunting song by Leonard Cohen & the haunted images of Bresson. Beautifully done.

  24. I.... F....

    I Need You ;:))) !!!

  25. I.... F....

    wonderful ;:)

  26. L.... G....

    Did he actually play that while singing life? Must be demaning as hell singing while fingerpicking like this.

    L.... G....

    I've done both, for decades.  Singing to a recorded guitar track is much harder that singing while playing.  For me anyway.  Frank Zappa would disagree.

  27. S.... B....

    we never heard of him, until the day after he died. It wasn't on the news, just popped up on you tube. We was listening to Janis Joplin, he had a song about her. Then we found, the most, incredibly romantic songs, ever. A couple days later, we found an old news paper. As if he reached up from the grave, to touch our hearts. Life will never be the same.

    S.... B....

    grazie Leonard per tutte le tue ballate che ti prendono il cuore,I love you

  28. m.... G....

    me gusta el cha cha cha

  29. A.... A....

    this being human is a guest house
    Every morning a new arrival
    A joy, a depression, a meanness
    Some momentary awareness comes
    As an unexpected visitor
    Welcome and entertain them all!
    Be grateful for whoever comes
    Because each has been sent as a guide (By Rumi, Translation by Coleman Barks)

  30. M.... R....

    Evocative as always! Love your poetry, Leonard.

  31. z.... 0....

    i love this man's music,i don't think i had ever heard him until some months back,now i listen to him almost everyday.

  32. N.... ....

    "All at once the torches flare, the Inner door flies open. One by one they enter there in ever style and passion..."

    "The open hearted many. The broken hearted few."
    "The broken hearted many. The open hearted few."

    And this is why he will always be a remembered as a timeless mystic for humanity, for a very deep chord of poetic truth and beauty of collective human consciousness

  33. j.... s....

    Magnifique!! R. I. P. DEAR LEONARD

  34. s.... ....

    I just heard this song for the very first time. What beautiful songs Cohen wrote. And the melodies...

  35. P.... B....

    One by one, the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The open-hearted many
    The broken-hearted few

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh love I need you
    I need you
    I need you
    I need you
    Oh . . . I need you now

    And those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    And "welcome, welcome" cries a voice
    "let all my guests come in."

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

    And all go stumbling through that house
    In lonely secrecy
    Saying "do reveal yourself"
    Or "why has thou forsaken me? "

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

    All at once the torches flare
    The inner door flies open
    One by one they enter there
    In every style of passion

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

    And here they take their sweet repast
    While house and grounds dissolve
    And one by one the guests are cast
    Beyond the garden wall

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

    Those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    Those who earnestly are lost
    Are lost and lost again

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

    One by the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The broken-hearted many
    The open-hearted few

    And no one knows where the night is going ...

  36. m.... s....

    Sublime...sempre, até ao fim da linha!!!

  37. C.... G....

    Ses mélodies , ses paroles , sa façon de les interpréter nous manqueront ! Salut à toi !

  38. D.... K....

    Thanks for another great song

  39. S.... ....

    What a beautiful poem this! ..Thanks Leonard, you're my special Nobel

    S.... ....

    the noble is shit its all politics

  40. W.... P....

    One by one, the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The open-hearted many
    The broken-hearted few
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    And those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    And "welcome, welcome" cries a voice
    "Let all my guests come in"
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    And all go stumbling through that house
    In lonely secrecy
    Saying "do reveal yourself"
    Or "why has thou forsaken me?"
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love…

  41. P.... C....

    merci de tout coeur Léonard

  42. p.... ....

    You almost do not need to listen to the words because he has created a sound poem whose tones weave their way through your mind.

    p.... ....

    puppiefaces and through your heart

    p.... ....

    through your mind and soul!

  43. V.... L....

    Amazing

  44. M.... ....

    Tu auras bercé toute ma vie d'homme, merci et à bientôt...

  45. M.... M....

    The Guests
    Leonard Cohen
    One by one, the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The open-hearted many
    The broken-hearted few
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    And those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    And "welcome, welcome" cries a voice
    "Let all my guests come in"
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    And all go stumbling through that house
    In lonely secrecy
    Saying "do reveal yourself"
    Or "why has thou forsaken me?"
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    All at once the torches flare
    The inner door flies open
    One by one they enter there
    In every style of passion
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    And here they take their sweet repast
    While house and grounds dissolve
    And one by one the guests are cast beyond the garden wall
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    Those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    Those who earnestly are lost
    Are lost and lost again
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now
    One by the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The broken-hearted many
    The open-hearted few
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    M.... M....

    Misha M.

  46. M.... P....

    Obrigada por tão bela canção! Ficarás em nossos corações eternamente!

  47. F.... O....

    Tu restes avec nous! Merci Leonard.

  48. M.... ....

    Repose en paix ami, un grand merci pour tout, je ne t'oublierai jamais,
    tes si belles chansons je les écouterai toujours

  49. J.... H....

    Thank heavens for some one who says it.

  50. N.... C....

    Thank You !

  51. W.... P....

    our steps will always rhyme....I've lost part of my young adult life today....

    W.... P....

    That song is exquisite - "That's no way to say goodbye"......I hear it and long for the closure I never got from a 30 year marriage.......

  52. g.... u....

    The Pool is leaking ...I´m your man...1st we take Manhattan ---the best Pop songs

  53. E.... o....

    One of my most favourite. R.I.P., Mr. Cohen.

  54. R.... R....

    Thank you Leonard! R.I.P.

  55. F.... V....

    Mister Leonard Cohen , thank you for your music ! It is a enormous legacy for us human beings ! We will never forget you or your music ! Thank you very,very mutch for everything

  56. M.... M....

    R.I.P. We will never forget you... Thank you for your music...

  57. E.... K....

    His music will never die !!!

  58. l.... ....

    RIP Leonard Cohen

  59. U.... ....

    What a beautiful way to visualize this song, thank you, it's one of my favorites. RIP Mr. Cohen

  60. J.... T....

    Gracias por tu música Leonard Cohen

  61. p.... ....

    Hang on, I'm just going to take another listen...

  62. l.... ....

    A great LC song... accompanied by great photos. Thank you.

  63. S.... W....

    Music and poetry like simple pleasures - easy to take and hard to replace. Leonard is the master of simplicity at it's best. I am sorry his era is in the past. The clock has ticked off years but we are still here, saving memories we will forget one day, when old and frail. He will live forever.

  64. R.... M....

    One by one, the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The open-hearted many
    The broken-hearted few
    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    And those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    And "welcome, welcome" cries a voice
    "Let all my guests come in"

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    And all go stumbling through that house
    In lonely secrecy
    Saying "do reveal yourself"
    Or "why has thou forsaken me?"

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    All at once the torches flare
    The inner door flies open
    One by one they enter there
    In every style of passion

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    And here they take their sweet repast
    While house and grounds dissolve
    And one by one the guests are cast beyond the garden wall

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    Those who dance, begin to dance
    Those who weep begin
    Those who earnestly are lost
    Are lost and lost again

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    One by the guests arrive
    The guests are coming through
    The broken-hearted many
    The open-hearted few

    And no one knows where the night is going
    And no one knows why the wine is flowing
    Oh, love I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you, oh
    I need you now

    R.... M....

    Sunt copleșită...la fiecare ascultare sufletul imi plânge si rade in același timp si as putea sa ascult cântecele on and on and on

    R.... M....

    Raven Meadows a

    R.... M....

    inseamna ca esti sanatoasa .........asa trebuie !

    R.... M....

    Mulțumesc

  65. Y.... H....

    Wonderful synchronicity and synergy between the music and the images - thank you for the creativity and work that went into it.

  66. D.... L....

    Stellar in a celestial way...

  67. R.... L....

    I always loved Leonard Cohen's vocal collaborations with Jennifer Warnes.

  68. C.... P....

    Straniu. Si invaluitor. Deloc inspaimantor. Parca ar fi o experienta initiatica

  69. P.... C....

    Gracias, son estas personas y su musica las que hacen mas fácil vivir.

  70. C.... P....

    Corul feminin a capella este angelic

    C.... P....

    +Cristian Popescu me gustan tambien Corul feminin

  71. b.... a....

    MAGNIFIQUE !!!

  72. R.... ....

    Wonderful vocal harmonies. Missing in modern tripe.

  73. R.... A....

    This song always makes me feel sad.

    R.... A....

    It's an exquisite sadness though.

  74. H.... H....

    so anrührend und wunderbar <3

  75. f.... c....

    et robert doisneau, not only cartier bresson,i believe...

    f.... c....

    +francesca cetrullo oui en effet not only Cartier-Bresson

  76. m.... ....

    plus que bien. Bravo !

  77. P.... M....

    Tolle Bilder und Musik, eine Einheit....das Leben.
    Schwarz-Weiß Photografie- Genial ein Künstler

  78. J.... K....

    Merci.FreeNeverSaid. Kiitos

  79. P.... P....

    Danke für dieses schöne Stück!
    Ich hatte es gestern im Radio gehört.
    Und diese Bilder sind so toll ...

  80. N.... D....

    Beautiful.

    N.... D....

    Natasha Duchene

  81. A.... L....

     
    Que du Bonheur, que de l'Amour.
    Il n'est pas ridicule de pleurer.

  82. n.... p....

    Fucking unbelievable. Hi Lenny I am the one that screamed out at your Melbourne concert & told your sound engineers 2 turn up your beautiful voice & music, because we could not hear you up the back. You smiled, towards my voice & said THANk YOU & then they cranked the music up

    n.... p....

    Best comment :)

    n.... p....

    יהי זכרו ברוך.

  83. N.... S....

    those who earnestly are lost
    are lost
    And lost 
    again...

  84. N.... S....

    All at once
    the torch is flared
    the inner door fly's open....

    One by one they enter there
    in every style of passion....

  85. A.... C....

    Capturer un instant de la vie qui s'enfuit.........

  86. C.... S....

    Very impressing combination of pictures and music, I love what you did there. Christian.

  87. M.... M....

    leonard Cohen voice is like breathing!

  88. N.... A....

    Brilliant music & lyrics thanks for posting,Norah

  89. g.... p....

    BEAUTIFUL SONG,POETRY AND STILLS !

  90. B.... ....

    I love this one thanks chiel. Xx Olga

  91. B.... ....

    Xx I love hie

  92. A.... G....

    I remember having bought this album "Recent Songs" one Sunday morning after a night shift in the taxi on the local flea market ... hadn't heard of that album before ... when I came home, put it on the turntable, listened to this song and started to cry ... was so touched ... couldn't stop for minutes ... fantastic song ... thx for uploading it here!

  93. o.... ....

    i think the photos fit the music yes

  94. T.... M....

    @The1980woolf Indeed. From mystery to mystery.

  95. R.... ....

    I don't think these phtos fit the music.