The birds, they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars
They will be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in


Lyrics submitted by lypsyl, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Anthem song meanings
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    General Comment

    While some of Leonard Cohen's songs may be a little pessimistic and concerned with the trivial pursuits of the flesh, this one is lyrically optimistic and I like that. I think Cohen has some insight into spiritual things but struggles with hope. So this song it quite refreshing in it's hopefulness.

    There are some really good lines, aside from the crack in everything, which is a great line I like;

    "while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud. "

    It is Christian to say your prayers in private(Matthew6:5-6), so this line highlights the fact that those in 'high places' or positions of power in the world are acting in a hypercritical way when they pray out loud to be seen as righteous people.

    "Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering "

    We need to get active spreading the truth now, and not to worry that we have to first become perfect to do so. If we wait for perfection we will never get round to it.

    "every heart to love will come but like a refugee. "

    Everyone that desires love (the divine type, not romantic) will come together to the truth, but they will be like refugee's in a foreign land. As the place of Truth (with a capital T) is very foreign to the way the world is.

    That is just the way I take the song anyway.

    bobuon April 16, 2010   Link

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