Words and music by Leonard Cohen
A/c# B/d# C# C#m
C#m
Steer your way past the ruins of the Altar and the Mall
F#m
Steer your way through the fables of Creation and The Fall
C#m
Steer your way past the Palaces that rise above the rot
G# A/f# B C# C#m
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 don't make me go there, tho' there be a God or not Year by year, month by month, day by day, thought by thought
A E
They whisper still, the injured stones, the blunted mountains weep
A E
As he died to make men holy, let us die to make things cheap
B A
And say the Mea Culpa, which you've probably forgot
G# A B C# C#m
Year by year, month by month, day by day, thought by thought
Steer your way, Oh my heart, tho' I have no right to ask To the one who was never never equal to the task Who knows he's been convicted, who knows he will be shot 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 your Mea Culpa, which you gradually forgot
Year by year, month by month, day by day, thought by thought