leonard cohen

you want it darker

 1. you want it darker

2. treaty

3. on the level

4. leaving the table

5. if i didnt have your love

6. traveling light

7. it seemed the better way

8. steer your way

9. string reprise / treaty

produced by adam cohen

YOU WANT IT DARKER
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard
If you are the dealer
Im out of the game
If you are the healer
Im broken and lame
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Magnified and sanctified
Be Thy Holy Name
Vilified and crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the help that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Hineni Hineni
Im ready, my Lord
Theres a lover in the story
But the story is still the same
Theres a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But its written in the scriptures
And its not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Theyre lining up the prisoners
The guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle-class and tame
Didnt know I had permission
To murder and to maim
You want it darker
Hineni Hineni
Im ready, my Lord
Magnified and sanctified
Be Thy Holy Name
Vilified and crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
If you are the dealer
Im out of the game
If you are the healer
Im broken and lame
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Hineni Hineni
Im ready, my Lord
TREATY
words and music by Leonard Cohen
I seen you change the water into wine
I seen you change it back to water too
I sit at your table every night
I try but I just dont get high with you
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
Im angry and Im tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
Theyre dancing in the street its Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now were free
Im so sorry for the ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real and that was me.
I havent said a word since youve been gone
That any liar couldnt say as well
I just cant believe the static coming on
You were my ground - my safe and sound
You were my aerial
The fields are crying out its Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love but now were free
Im so sorry for the ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real and that was me.
I heard the snake was baffled by his sin
He shed his scales to find the snake within
But born again is born without a skin
The poison enters into everything
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes the bloody hill
Im angry and Im tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
Its over now, the water and the wine
We were broken then, but now were borderline
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
ON THE LEVEL
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Sharon Robinson

I knew that it was wrong Now Im living in this temple

I didnt have a doubt Where they tell you what to do
I was dying to get back home Im old and Ive had to settle
And you were starting out On a different point of view

I said I best be moving on I was fighting with temptation

You said, we have all day But I didnt want to win
You smiled at me like I was young A man like me dont like to see
It took my breath away Temptation caving in

Your crazy fragrance all around Your crazy fragrance all around
Your secrets all in view Your secrets in my view
My lost, my lost was saying found My lost, my lost was saying found
My dont was saying do My dont was saying do

Lets keep it on the level Lets keep it on the level

When I walked away from you When I walked away from you
I turned my back on the devil I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too Turned my back on the angel too

They ought to give my heart a medal They ought to give my heart a medal
For letting go of you For letting go of you
When I turned my back on the devil When I turned my back on the devil
Turned my back on the angel too Turned my back on the angel too
LEAVING THE TABLE
words and music by Leonard Cohen
Im leaving the table
Im out of the game
I dont know the people
In your picture frame
If I ever loved you
Its a crying shame
If I ever loved you
If I knew your name
You dont need a lawyer
Im not making a claim
You dont need to surrender
Im not taking aim
I dont need a lover
The wretched beast is tame
I dont need a lover
So blow out the flame
Theres nobody missing
There is no reward
Little by little
Were cutting the cord
Were spending the treasure
That love cannot afford
I know you can feel it
The sweetness restored
I dont need a reason
For what I became
Ive got these excuses
Theyre tired and lame
I dont need a pardon
Theres no one left to blame
Im leaving the table
Im out of the game
IF I DIDNT HAVE YOUR LOVE
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard
If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
Thats how it would be
What the world would seem to me
If I didnt have your love
To make it real
If the stars were all unpinned
And a cold and bitter wind
Swallowed up the world
Without a trace
Well thats where I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I couldnt lift the veil
And see your face
If no leaves were on the tree
And no water in the sea
And the break of day
Had nothing to reveal
Thats how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didnt have your love
To make it real
If the sun would lose its light
And we lived an endless night
And there was nothing left
That you could feel
If the sea were sand alone
And the flowers made of stone
And no one that you hurt
Could ever heal
Thats how broken I would be
What my life would seem to me
If I didnt have your love
To make it real
TRAVELING LIGHT
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard and Adam Cohen

Im traveling light I know youre right I guess Im just

Its au revoir About the blues Somebody who
My once so bright You live some life Has given up
My fallen star Youd never choose On the me and you
Im not alone
Im running late Im just a fool Ive met a few
Theyll close the bar A dreamer who Traveling light like
I used to play Forgot to dream We used to do
One mean guitar Of the me and you
I am not alone But if the road
I guess Im just Ive met a few Leads back to you
Somebody who Traveling light like Must I forget
Has given up We used to do The things I knew
On the me and you When I was friends
Im not alone Traveling light With one or two
Ive met a few Its au revoir Traveling light like
Traveling light like My once so bright We used to do
We used to do My fallen star Im traveling light

Goodnight goodnight Im running late

My fallen star Theyll close the bar
I guess youre right I used to play
You always are One mean guitar
IT SEEMED THE BETTER WAY
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard

It seemed the better way

When first I heard him speak
But now its much too late
To turn the other cheek

Sounded like the truth

Seemed the better way
Sounded like the truth
But its not the truth today

I wonder what it was

I wonder what it meant
At first he touched on love
But then he touched on death

I better hold my tongue

I better take my place
Lift this glass of blood
Try to say the grace
STEER YOUR WAY
words and music by Leonard Cohen
Steer your way through the ruins
of the Altar and the Mall
Steer your way through the fables
of Creation and The Fall
Steer your way past the Palaces
that rise above the rot
Year by year
Month by month
Day by day
Thought by thought
Steer your heart past the Truth
you believed in yesterday
Such as Fundamental Goodness
and the Wisdom of the Way
Steer your heart, precious heart,
past the women whom you bought
Year by year
Month by month
Day by day
Thought by thought
Steer your way through the pain
that is far more real than you
That has smashed the Cosmic Model,
that has blinded every View
And please dont make me go there,
tho there be a God or not
Year by year
Month by month
Day by day
Thought by thought
They whisper still, the injured stones,
the blunted mountains weep
As he died to make men holy,
let us die to make things cheap
And say the Mea Culpa which
youve probably forgot
Year by year
Month by month
Day by day
Thought by thought
Steer your way, O my heart,
tho I have no right to ask
To the one who was never
never equal to the task
Who knows hes been convicted,
who knows he will be shot
Year by year
Month by month
Day by day
Thought by thought
YOU WANT IT DARKER TRAVELING LIGHT
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard words by Leonard Cohen, music Patrick Leonard and Adam Cohen
produced by Adam Cohen produced by Adam Cohen
Rob Humphreys : drums Zac Rae : octaphone, mandolins, nylon string guitar,
Patrick Leonard : keyboard bass, b3 organ wurlitzer, melllotrons and floor tom
Neil Larsen : b3 organ Patrick Leonard : drum programing, keyboards
Michael Chaves : keys Michael Chaves : drum programing
choral arrangement : Ro Azoulay , Conor Oneil , Adam Cohen Mai Bloomfield : cello bass
Cantor Gideon Y. Zelermyer - soloist David Davidson : violin
Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir Tom Hemby : bouzouki
Ro Azoulay - conductor Athena Andreadis : background vocals
engineers : Howard Bilerman, Bill Bottrell, Michael Chaves engineers : Bruce Gaitsch, Zac Rae, Michael Chaves
mixed by Michael Chaves mixed by Michael Chaves

TREATY IT SEEMED THE BETTER WAY

words and music by Leonard Cohen words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard
produced by Patrick Leonard produced by Adam Cohen
Patrick Leonard : piano and all keyboards. Patrick Leonard : keys, b3 organ and percussion
Sean Hurley : bass Michael Chaves : bass
engineers : Florian Ammon , Michael Chaves David Davidson : violin
mixed by Michael Chaves choral arrangement - Ro Azoulay, Conor Oneil, Jake Smith, Adam Cohen
Cantor Gideon Y. Zelermyer : soloist
ON THE LEVEL Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Sharon Robinson Ro Azoulay - conductor
produced by Adam Cohen engineers : Howard Bilerman, Bruce Gaitsch, Michael Chaves
Brian Macleod : drums mixed by Michael Chaves
Patrick Leonard : bass, piano, organ
Bill Bottrell : electric guitar STEER YOUR WAY
Dana Glover : background vocals words and music by Leonard Cohen
engineers : Florian Ammon, Bill Bottrell, Michael Chaves produced by Adam Cohen
mixed by Michael Chaves Rob Humphreys : drums
Michael Chaves : bass
LEAVING THE TABLE Dana Glover and Alison Kraus : background vocals
words and music by Leonard cohen David Davidson : violin
produced by Adam Cohen Patrick Leonard : percussion,
Rob Humphreys : drums Adam Cohen : nylon string guitar
Michael Chaves : bass Bruce Geitsch : steel string guitar
Adam Cohen : nylon string guitar engineers : Bruce Gaitsch, Florian Ammon, Michael Chaves
Zac Rae : guitar, mellotron, celeste, keys, piano mixed by Michael Chaves
Bill Bottrell : electric guitar, pedal steel guitar
engineers : Bill Bottrell, Zac Rae, Michael Chaves STRING REPRISE/TREATY
mixed by Michael Chaves words and music by Leonard Cohen
produced by Patrick Leonard
IF I DIDNT HAVE YOUR LOVE strings composed and conducted by Patrick Leonard
words by Leonard Cohen, music by Patrick Leonard Luanne Homzy : violin 1
produced by Patrick Leonard Etienne Gara : violin 2
Patrick Leonard : drum programming, keys bass, b3 organ, piano Michelle Hassler : viola
Neil Larsen : b3 organ Yoshika Masuda : cello
Bill Bottrell : electric guitar engineers, Florian Ammon, Michael Chaves
engineers : Florian Ammon, Bill Bottrell, Michael Chaves mixed by Michael Chaves
mixed by Michael Chaves
leonard cohen
you want it darker

Produced by Adam Cohen

Mixed by Michael Don Miguel Chaves
Mastered by Stephen Marcussen at Marcussen Mastering, Los Angeles
Management : Kory & Rice, LLP, Robert Kory and Michelle Rice
Executive Assistant : Kezban zcan
Cover Photo : Adam Cohen
Hummingbird image : Dianne V. Lawrence
Album and booklet design : Sammy Slabbinck

I want to acknowledge, with deep gratitude, the role my son Adam Cohen played in the
making of You Want it Darker. Without his contribution there would be no record. At a
certain point, after over a year of intense labor, both Pat Leonard and I, coincidentally,
broke down with severe back injuries, and other disagreeable visitations. In my case, the
situation was bleak, the discomfort acute, and the project was abandoned. Adam sensed
that my recovery, if not my survival, depended on my getting back to work. He took over
the project, established me in a medical chair to sing, and brought these unfinished songs
to completion, preserving of course, many of Pats haunting musical themes. It is because
of my sons loving encouragement and skillful administration, that these songs exist in
their present form. I cannot thank him enough.

treaty, leaving the table, steer your way, string reprise / treaty copyright 2016 old ideas, llc (socan)
you want it darker, if i didnt have your love, it seemed the better way, copyright 2016 old ideas, llc and two word music (bmi)
traveling light, copyright 2016 old ideas, llc, two word music, and like a man music, llc (ascap)
on the level, copyright 2016 old ideas, llc and sharon robinson songs (ascap)

all rights administred by sony / atv music publishing llc , 8 music square west, nashville, tn 37203
all rights reserved. used by permission
all text , images and photographs
2016 by old ideas, llc. all rights reserved.