Lyrics Suzanne

Suzanne is one of Leonard Cohens most famous songs, inspired by Suzanne Verdal, a friend and muse to Cohen in the 1960s. The song reflects the platonic relationship between them, with references to her beauty and free-spirited nature, as well as exploring themes of religion and humanity.

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half-crazy, but that's why you wanna be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength, and she lets the river answer
That you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know she will trust you for you've touched her perfect body
With your mind

And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said: "All men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them"
But he himself was broken long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom
Like a stone

And you want to travel with him, and you want to travel blind
And you think maybe you'll trust him for he's touched your perfect body
With his mind

Now Suzanne takes your hand, and she leads you to the river
She is wearing rags and feathers from the Salvation Army counter
And the sun pours down like honey on Our Lady of the Harbour
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love, and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And you know that you can trust her for she's touched your perfect body
With her mind