MASTER SONG on the following CD: SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN
3/4 Tune the 6th string (lowest sounding ) down to D. Intro Am e:---------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----| B:---------0-----1-----|--------0-----1-----|--------0-----1-----| G:-----2------2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--2------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------| A:---------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------| E:---------------------|--------------------|--------------------| Main Part e:--------0-----0-----||--------0-----0------|--------0-----0-----| B:--------0-----1-----||--------0-----1------|--------0-----1-----| G:-----2-----2-----2--||----2------2---------|-----2-----2--------| D:--2-----------------||---------------------|--------------------| A:--------------------||--0---------------0--|--0--------------0--| E:--------------------||---------------------|--------------------| Bb e:--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----|--------1-----1-----| B:--------0-----1-----|--------0-----1-----|--------3-----3-----| G:-----2-----2--------|-----2-----2-----2--|-----3-----3-----3--| D:--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------| A:--3--------------3--|--------------------|--1-----------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| I be- lieve that you Am e:--------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----| B:--------3-----3-----|--------0-----1-----|--------0-----1-----| G:-----3-----3-----3--|-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--3-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------| A:--------------------|--0-----------------|--------------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| heard your mast-er sing Bb Am e:--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----| B:--------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----|--------1-----1-----| G:-----3-----3-----3--|-----3-----3-----3--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------| A:--1-----------------|--------------------|--0-----------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| when I was sick in bed Bb e:--------0-----0-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| B:--------1-----1-----|--------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----| G:-----2-----2-----2--|-----3-----3-----3--|-----3-----3-----3--| D:--------------------|--------------------|--3-----------------| A:--0-----------------|--1-----------------|--------------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| I sup- pose that he told_ you Am Bb e:--------0-----0-----|--------0-----1-----|-------1-----1-----| B:--------0-----1-----|--------0-----0-----|-------3-----3-----| G:-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--|----3-----3-----3--| D:--------------------|--2-----------------|-------------------| A:--0-----------------|--------------------|--1----------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|-------------------| e-very-thing that I keep locked a-way Am e:--------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----| B:--------3-----3-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| G:-----3-----3-----3--|-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--3-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------| A:--------------------|--0-----------------|--------------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| in my head Your Bb Dm e:--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| B:--------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----| G:-----3-----3-----3--|-----3-----3-----3--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------| A:--1-----------------|--------------------|--------------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--0-----------------| mas-ter took you trav-el-ing F e:--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| B:--------3-----3-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| G:-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--0-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------| A:--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------| E:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| well, at least that's what you G C e:-------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----|---------0-----0-----| B:-------3-----3-----|--------3-----3-----|---------1-----1-----| G:----4-----4-----4--|-----4-----4-----4--|------0-----0-----0--| D:-------------------|--5-----------------|---------------------| A:--5----------------|--------------------|---3-----------------| E:-------------------|--------------------|---------------------| said And now do Em C Em e:--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0------|--------0-----0-----| B:--------0-----0-----|--------1-----1------|--------0-----0-----| G:-----0-----0-----0--|-----0-----0-----0---|-----0-----0-----0--| D:--------------------|---------------------|--------------------| A:--2-----------------|--3------------------|--2-----------------| E:--------------------|---------------------|--------------------| you come back to bring your F e:--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| B:--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----|--------1-----1-----| G:-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--|-----2-----2-----2--| D:--------------------|--3-----------------|--------------------| A:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------| E:--3-----------------|--------------------|--3-----------------| prison-ner E e:--------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----|| B:--------1-----1-----|--------0-----0-----|--------0-----0-----|| G:-----2-----2-----2--|-----1-----1-----1--|-----1-----1-----1--|| D:--3-----------------|--------------------|--2-----------------|| A:--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|| E:--------------------|--2-----------------|--------------------|| wine and bread? Am Bb Am I be-lieve that you heard your master sing Bb Am when I was sick in bed. Bb am I sup-pose that he told you everything Bb Am that I keep locked away in my head. Bb Dm Your master took you travelling, F G well at least that's what you said. C Em C Em And now do you come back to bring F E your prisoner wine and bread? Am Bb ... You met him at some temple, where they take your clothes at the door. He was just a numberless man in a chair who'd just come back from the war. And you wrap up his tired face in your hair and he hands you the apple core. Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare of all the kisses we put on some time before. And he gave you a german shephard to walk with a collar of leather and nails, and he never once made you explain or talk about all of the little details, such as who had a word and who had a rock, and who had you through the mails. Now your love is a secret all over the block, and it never stops not even when your master fails. And he took you up in his aeroplane, which he flew without any hands, and you cruised above the ribbons of rain that drove the crowd from the stands. Then he killed the lights in a lonely Lane and, an ape with angel glands, erased the final wisps of pain with the music of rubber bands. And now I hear your master sing, you kneel for him to come. His body is a golden string that your body is hanging from. His body is a golden string, my body has grown numb. Oh now you hear your master sing, your shirt is all undone. And will you kneel beside this bed that we polished so long ago, before your master chose instead to make my bed of snow? Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red and you're speaking far too low. No I can't make out what your master said before he made you go. And I think you're playing far too rough for a lady who's been to the moon; I've lain by this window long enough to get used to an empty room. And your love is some dust in an old man's cough who is tapping his foot to a tune, and your thighs are a ruin, you want too much, let's say you came back some time too soon. I loved your master perfectly I taught him all that he knew. He was starving in some deep mystery like a man who is sure what is true. And I sent you to him with my guarantee I could teach him something new, and I taught him how you would long for me no matter what he said no matter what you'd do. I believe that you heard your master sing while ...
picture: Cohen with guitar 26 K
german translation by Elisabeth Hannover-Drück Ich glaub du hörtest deinen Meister singen als ich krank im Bett lag Ich glaub er hat dir alles erzählt was ich in meinem Kopf verschließ Dein Meister nahm dich auf Reisen mit das wenigstens hast du geagt Oh Liebste kamst du jetzt zurück Bringst deinem Gefangen Wein und Brot. Du trafst ihn vor einem Tempel wo man die Kleider dir nimmt an der Tür Er war nur einer von vielen kam gerade zurück aus dem Krieg Du hüllst sein stilles Gesicht in dein Haar und er gibt dir den Apfelstrunk und berührt deinen Mund, der nun plötzlich so bar all der Küsse, die du vorher gefühlt. Er schenkte dir einen Schäferhund Das Halsband aus Leder und Nägeln und kein einziges Mal fragte er dich nach all den kleinen Details wer da hatte einen Wurm und wer einen Fels und wer dich gehabt durch die Post Deine Liebe ist ein Geheimnis im ganzen Block und nie hört sie auf, auch wenn er versagt. Er nahm dich in seinem Flugzeug mit das er ganz ohne Hände flog und über dem Regen seid ihr gekreist der das Volk von den Plätzen trieb Dann löscht er das Licht auf einem stillen Weg wo ein Affe mit Engelsdrüsen das letzte Flackern des Schmerzens erstickt mit der Musik von Gummibändern Und ich hör deinen Meister singen jetzt Du betest, daß er kommt sein Körper ist ein goldnes Band an dem dein Körper hängt Sein Körper ist ein goldnes Band Mein Körper wird taub und starr O Liebste ich hör deines Meisters Gesang Du öffnest deine Bluse für ihn Wirst du knien an diesem Bett das wir geglättet vor langer Zeit ehe dein Meister sich dafür entschied mein Bett aus Schnee zu machen Dein Haar ist wild, deine Knöchel rot und du sprichst zu leis, zu leis ich kann nicht verstehen, was dein Meister gesagt bevor er dich gehen hieß Ich glaub du gibst dich viel zu hart für eine Dame, die den Mond hat gesehn Ich lag am Fenster lang genug ans leere Zimmer hab ich mich gewöhnt Deine Liebe ist nicht mehr als ein bißchen Staub am Ärmel eines Alten, der mit dem Fuß zu einem Liedchen wippt und deine Schenkel sind hin und du willst zu viel Sagen wir, du kamst zu bald zurück. Ich liebte deinen Meister ohne Fehl ich lehrte ihn alles, was er weiß Er verzehrte sich in einem Mysterium wie einer, der sich der Wahrheit gewiß Ich schickte dich zu ihm mit meiner Gewähr daß ich etwas Neues ihn lehren könnt' Ich lehrte ihn wie du dich sehnst nach mir was er auch sagen mag, was du auch tust.
earlier version: Parasites of heaven I believe you heard your master sing when I lay sick in bed. I suppose he told you everything I keep locked in my head. Your master took you travelling, well at least that's what you said. O love did you come back to bring your prisoner wine and bread? You met him at a nightclub where they take your clothes at the door. He was just a numberless man of a pair who has just come back from the war. And you wrap his quiet face in your hair and he hands you the apple core. and he touches your mouth now so suddenly bare of the kisses you had on before. He gave you a German Shepherd to walk with a collar of leather and nails, He never once made you explain or talk about all of the little details, such as who had a worm and who had a rock, and who had you through the mails. Now your love is a secret all over the block, and it never stops when he fails. And he took you up in his air-o-plane, which he flew without any hands, and you cruised above the ribbons of rain that drove the crowd from the stands. Then he killed the lights on a lonely Lane where an ape with angel glands, erased the final wisps of pain with the music of rubber bands. And now I hear your master sing, you pray for him to come. His body is a golden string that your body is hanging from. His body is a golden string, my body is growing numb. O love I hear your master sing, your shirt is all undone. Will you kneel beside the bed we polished long ago, before your master chose instead to make my bed of snow? Your hair is wild your knuckles red and you're speaking much too low. I can't make out what your master said before he made you go. I think you're playing far too rough For a lady who's been to the moon; I've lain by the window long enough you get used to an empty room. Your love is some dust in an old man's cuff who is tapping his foot to a tune, and your thighs are a ruin and want too much, Let's say you came back too soon. I loved your master perfectly I taught him all he knew. He was starving in a mystery like a man who is sure what is true. And I sent you to him with my guarantee I could teach him something new, and I taught him how you would long for me no matter what he said no matter what you'd do.
