You Want It Darker

Album: You Want It Darker (2016)
Play Video
  • If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
    If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
    If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
    Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
    A million candles burning for the help that never came
    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    There's a lover in the story
    But the story's still the same
    There's a lullaby for suffering
    And a paradox to blame
    But it's written in the scriptures
    And it's not some idle claim
    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    They're lining up the prisoners
    And the guards are taking aim
    I struggled with some demons
    They were middle class and tame
    I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni

    Hineni
    Hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    Hineni, hineni
    I'm ready, my lord
    I'm ready, my lord

    Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
    Vilified, 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, let me out of the game
    If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
    If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame

    You want it darker
    We kill the flame Writer/s: Leonard Cohen, Patrick Leonard
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • George from Vancouver, Canada"Hineini" is Hebrew for "Here I am," sung by a cantor on the eve of Yom Kippur.

    In this song, so close to Cohen's death, it seems like he was speaking it to the angel of Death.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright IIISongwriter Interviews

"Dead Skunk" became a stinker for Loudon when he felt pressure to make another hit - his latest songs deal with mortality, his son Rufus, and picking up poop.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)

Chad Channing (Nirvana, Before Cars)Songwriter Interviews

Chad tells tales from his time as drummer for Nirvana, and talks about his group Before Cars.

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"

Dean Friedman - "Ariel"They're Playing My Song

Dean's saga began with "Ariel," a song about falling in love with a Jewish girl from New Jersey.