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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Suzanne Vega
Performer
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Leonard Cohen
Composer
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
MITCHELL FROOM
Producer
Kelley Lynch
Executive Producer
David Anderle
Executive Producer
Lyrics
The door it opened slowly. My father he came in.
I was nine years old.
And he stood so tall above me,
his blue eyes they were shining and his voice was very cold.
He said "I've had a vision, you know I'm strong and holy,
I must do as I've been told."
So we started up the mountain.
I was running, he was walking.
And his axe was made of gold.
The trees they got much smaller,
The lake a lady's mirror.
We stopped and drank some wine.
Then he threw the bottle over,
it broke a minute later
and he put his hand on mine.
I'd thought I'd saw an eagle,
but it might have been a vulture
- I never could decide.
Then my father built an altar.
He looked once behind his shoulder.
He knew I would not hide.
And you who build these altars now
to sacrifice these children,
you must not do it anymore.
A scheme is not a vision
and you never have been tempted
by a demon or a God.
You that stand above them now,
your hatchet's blunt and bloody.
You were not there before.
When I lay upon the mountain
and my father's hand was trembling,
with the beauty of the word.
And if you call me brother now,
forgive me if I enquire just according to who's plan.
When it all comes down to dust,
I will kill you if I must.
I will help you if I can.
When it all comes down to dust,
I will help you if I must,
I also kill you if I can.
Have mercy on our uniform
man of piece or man of war.
The peacock spreads his fan.
Writer(s): Leonard Cohen
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