Avalanche
Leonard Cohen
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Well I stepped into an avalanche, It covered up my soul; When I am not this hunchback that you see, I sleep beneath the golden hill. You who wish to conquer pain, You must learn, learn to serve me well. You strike my side by accident As you go down for your gold. The cripple here that you clothe and feed Is neither starved nor cold; He does not ask for your company, Not at the centre, the centre of the world. When I am on a pedestal, You did not raise me there. Your laws do not compel me To kneel grotesque and bare. I myself am the pedestal For this ugly hump at which you stare. You who wish to conquer pain, You must learn what makes me kind; The crumbs of love that you offer me, They're the crumbs I've left behind. Your pain is no credential here, It's just the shadow, shadow of my wound. I have begun to long for you, I who have no greed I have begun to ask for you, I who have no need. You say you've gone away from me, But I can feel you when you breathe. Do not dress in those rags for me, I know you are not poor You don't love me quite so fiercely now When you know that you are not sure, It is your turn, beloved, It is your flesh that I wear.
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Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
SONG DETAILS"Avalanche" is a song from the third album, "Songs of Love and Hate," by Canadian singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen. This album was released in 1971.
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LYRICSThe lyrics describe a self-loathing man who wishes to isolate himself from the world, a theme recurring in Cohen's works. This song was reportedly inspired by Cohen's depression.
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ALBUMThe album featuring "Avalanche," "Songs of Love and Hate," reached number one in the UK Albums Chart as well as several other countries including France, Canada, and Australia. It was also a huge commercial success in the USA, reaching number 2 in Billboard Top 200.
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COVERS"Avalanche" was covered by both the American band Mountain Goats for their 2002 album "Tallahassee" and later by the singer Nick Cave who is often compared to Cohen for their similar brooding styles.
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TV SHOWSThe song has been featured in several TV series. It's perhaps most famously known as the theme for the TV show "Peaky Blinders." Aside from this, it was also used in the opening credits of the 2015 HBO miniseries "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst."
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SONG RECEPTION"Avalanche" is often commended for its matching of solemn guitars with dark lyrics and Cohen's monotone vocals, creating a melancholic and haunting atmosphere. It is one of his most critically acclaimed songs.
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NICK CAVE'S COMMENTThe singer Nick Cave is reported to have said on record that "Avalanche" was the first song he ever learned to play.
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OLDER SONGDespite its release in 1971, "Avalanche" is considered to capture the essence of the traditional folk blues sound that was prevalent in the 1960s.
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LIVE PERFORMANCESAlthough “Avalanche” isn’t one of Cohen’s most performed songs in concerts, its infrequent appearances made it a special treat for fans during live events.
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RELEVANCEMore than fifty years later, the song remains relevant, with its themes of self-doubt, loneliness and emotional torment as poignant as ever.
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