THE BUTCHER
LEONARD COHEN
I came upon a butcher
He was slaughtering a lamb
I accused him there
With his tortured lamb
He said, "Listen to me, child"
"I am what I am"
"And you, you are my only son"
Well, I found a silver needle
I put it into my arm
It did some good
Did some harm
But the nights were cold
And it almost kept me warm
How come the night is long?
I saw some flowers growing up
Where that lamb fell down
Was I supposed to praise my Lord
Make some kind of joyful sound?
He said, "Listen, listen to me now"
"I go 'round and 'round"
"And you, you are my only child"
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
I'm broken down
From a recent fall
Blood upon my body
And ice upon my soul
Lead on, my son, it is your world
He was slaughtering a lamb
I accused him there
With his tortured lamb
He said, "Listen to me, child"
"I am what I am"
"And you, you are my only son"
Well, I found a silver needle
I put it into my arm
It did some good
Did some harm
But the nights were cold
And it almost kept me warm
How come the night is long?
I saw some flowers growing up
Where that lamb fell down
Was I supposed to praise my Lord
Make some kind of joyful sound?
He said, "Listen, listen to me now"
"I go 'round and 'round"
"And you, you are my only child"
Do not leave me now
Do not leave me now
I'm broken down
From a recent fall
Blood upon my body
And ice upon my soul
Lead on, my son, it is your world
