Leonard Cohen - Leaving Green Sleeves

Now if you intent to show me disdain
Don't you know it all the more enraptures me;
For even so I still remain
Your lover in captivity.

Green Sleeves you're all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men have gone.
Green Sleeves there's no-one home
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves.

I sang my song, I told my lies
To lie between your matchless thighs;
And ain't it fine, ain't it wise
To finally end our exercise.

Then I saw you naked in the early dawn
Oh, I hoped you would be someone new;
I reached for you, but you were gone
So, Lady, I'm going too.

Green Sleeves you're all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men are gone.
Green Sleeves there's no-one home
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves.

Green Sleeves you're all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men have all gone home.
Green Sleeves so easily gone
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves.

From: New skin for the old ceremony (1974).

This is an "alternative" version of the well known song Greensleeves, the lyrics of which may have been written by King Henry VIII. That song has been performed by many artists. The version of Loreena McKennitt is the most beautiful I've ever heard.

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last modified: 26 May 2001