Suzanne
Leonard Cohen
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Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night forever And you know that she's half-crazy but that's why you want to be there And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her Then he gets you on her wavelength And she lets the river answer that you've always been her lover And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind And you know that she will trust you For you've touched her perfect body with your mind And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone And you want to travel with him, and you want to travel blind And you think you maybe you'll trust him For he's touched your perfect body with her mind Now, Suzanne takes your hand and she leads you to the river She's wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters And the sun pours down like honey on our lady of the harbor And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning They are leaning out for love and they wil lean that way forever While Suzanne holds her mirror And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind And you know that you can trust her For she's touched your perfect body with her mind
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Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
7 facts about this song
Song Creation and Release"Suzanne" was originally written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen and later covered by Judy Collins.
- Leonard Cohen first published "Suzanne" as a poem in 1966 before recording it as a song.
- Judy Collins recorded the song later in 1966 for her album "In My Life," even before Cohen released his own version.
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Song InspirationThe song was inspired by Cohen's platonic relationship with Suzanne Verdal, the former wife of a friend.
- Suzanne Verdal and Cohen never had a romantic relationship, but their close friendship and shared experiences became the foundation for the lyrics of the song.
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Song Meaning"Suzanne" is known for its deep, poetic lyrics which discuss themes of love, spirituality, and humanity.
- The song is about Suzanne, who shows the singer pieces of beauty and love amid a world that often seems dark and chaotic.
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Impact and RecognitionJudy Collins' version of "Suzanne" catapulted the song into popularity, and it quickly became one of Leonard Cohen's most celebrated songs.
- The song made the Billboard Hot 100 chart and established Cohen's music career.
- Through the years, "Suzanne" has been covered by many other artists, testifying to its enduring appeal and influence.
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Personal RelationsLeonard Cohen and Judy Collins had a close friendship and a musical partnership that spanned decades.
- Collins was one of the most instrumental figures in bringing Cohen's music to a wider audience.
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Song StyleThe song is noted for its folk style and is often regarded as a classic example of the 1960s folk music movement.
- The song features minimalistic instrumentation, with its focus primarily on the vocals and lyrics.
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Legacy"Suzanne" has been covered by numerous artists, including Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, and Neil Diamond, reflecting the song's universal impact.
- The song was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
- "Suzanne" continues to be highly regarded in music circles and remains one of the iconic songs of its era.
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"Suzanne Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/21223905/Leonard+Cohen/Suzanne>.
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