written by Leonard Cohen
Intro: A.. ...|E.. ...|D.. ...|A.. ...| A.. ...|E.. ...|D.. ...|A.. ...| A.. ...| A E Why do you stand by the window D A Abandoned to beauty and pride A E The thorn of the night in your bosom D A The spear of the age in your side Lost in the rages of fragrance Lost in the rags of remorse Lost in the waves of a sickness D A /a /g# /f# That loosens the high silver nerves
E O chosen love, o frozen love D (D C#m Bm) A O tangle of matter and ghost E O darling of angels, demons and saints D (D C#m Bm) A And the whole broken-hearted host /a /g# /f# E Gentle this soul
And come forth from the cloud of unknowing And kiss the cheek of the moon The new Jerusalem glowing Why tarry all night in the ruin And leave no word of discomfort And leave no observer to mourn But climb on your tears and be silent Like the rose on its ladder of thorns
O chosen love, o frozen love O tangle of matter and ghost O darling of angels, demons and saints And the whole broken-hearted host Gentle this soul
Then lay your rose on the fire The fire give up to the sun The sun give over to splendor In the arms of the High Holy One For the Holy One dreams of a letter Dreams of a letter's death Oh bless the continuous stutter Of the word being made into flesh
O chosen love, o frozen love O tangle of matter and ghost O darling of angels, demons and saints And the whole broken-hearted host /a /g# /f# E D /c# /b A Gentle this soul, gentle this soul