Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Suzanne

For lack of anything to blog about because I am worn out from Spring Break camp this week, I'll just put this song up. Does anyone remember this Judy Collins song? I used to play this album every night before I went to bed when I was in high school and I have had this stuck in my head all day for some reason. It's weird, I still know the lyrics and yet haven't heard it in years. But I can't remember half the kid's names from camp today. What's that all about?!?

SUZANNE
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by
You can spend the night beside her
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 she 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 maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind.

Now Suzanne takes your hand
And she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers
From Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey
On our lady of the harbour
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 will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the 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.

7 comments:

klineola said...

I always associated this song with Leonard Cohen. I have it on a very old LP. On the back cover there is a women surrounded by flames.

Anonymous said...

I always hear LC's voice singing the song, too. Wonderful lyrics. Thanks for the memories.
Barbara

Hollis Engley said...

Seems to me Leonard wrote it and Judy sang it. He's out touring now with new work. Great voice. Every bit as good as Judy's, but reeeealllll different.

Tracey Broome said...

I completely forgot about the Leonard Cohen version, I'm going to have to look it up. I had heard that he had new work out there, love his music.

Laura Farrow said...

I have tons of Leonard on CD.. want some?

Anonymous said...

i absolutely love the leonard cohen version of this song

Tracey Broome said...

Hey Laura, yes I want some LC. Wes has downloaded some but not enough. Target has a good CD called The Essential Leonard Cohen, I should get that one.