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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Bob Johnston
Bob Johnston
Producer

Lyrics

The door it opened slowly My father he came in I was nine years old And he stood so tall above me Blue eyes they were shining And his voice was very cold Said I've had a vision And you know I'm strong and holy I must do what I've been told So we started up the mountain I was running he was walking And his axe was made of gold Well the trees they got much smaller The lake a lady's mirror We stopped to drink some wine Then he threw the bottle over Broke a minute later And he put his hand on mine Thought I saw an eagle But it might have been a vulture I never could decide Then my father built an altar He looked once behind his shoulder He knew I would not hide You who build the altars now To sacrifice these children You must not do it anymore A scheme is not a vision You never have been tempted By a demon or a god You who stand above them now Your hatchets blunt and bloody You were not there before When I lay upon a mountain And my father's hand was trembling With the beauty of the word And if you call me brother now Forgive me if I inquire Just according to whose plan When it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must I will help you if I can When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must I will kill you if I can Have mercy on our uniform Man of peace or man of war The peacock spreads his fan
Writer(s): Leonard Cohen Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
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