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Sisters of Mercy Lyrics
Oh the sisters of mercy,
They are not departed or gone.
They were waiting for me
When I thought that I just can't go on.
And they brought me their comfort
And later they brought me this song.
Oh I hope you run into them,
You who've been traveling so long.
Yes you who must leave everything
That you cannot control.
It begins with your family,
But soon it comes around to your soul.
Well I've been where you're hanging,
I think I can see how you're pinned:
When you're not feeling holy,
Your loneliness says that you've sinned.
Well they lay down beside me,
I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes
And I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf that the seasons
Tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love that is
Graceful and green as a stem.
When I left they were sleeping,
I hope you run into them soon.
Don't turn on the lights,
You can read their address by the moon.
And you won't make me jealous
if I hear that they sweetened your night:
We weren't lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right,
We weren't lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right.
They are not departed or gone.
They were waiting for me
When I thought that I just can't go on.
And they brought me their comfort
And later they brought me this song.
Oh I hope you run into them,
You who've been traveling so long.
That you cannot control.
It begins with your family,
But soon it comes around to your soul.
Well I've been where you're hanging,
I think I can see how you're pinned:
When you're not feeling holy,
Your loneliness says that you've sinned.
I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes
And I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf that the seasons
Tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love that is
Graceful and green as a stem.
I hope you run into them soon.
Don't turn on the lights,
You can read their address by the moon.
And you won't make me jealous
if I hear that they sweetened your night:
We weren't lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right,
We weren't lovers like that
And besides it would still be all right.
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This was written by Leonard Cohen and performed by Sting on Tower of Song: the songs of Leonard Cohen—1995
I was looking at this as the Cohen material Sting opted to perform for this tribute album—because I’m not really sure if artists get to pick or if someone says, look—this is what we want you to do.
I didn’t think these sisters of mercy were nuns—maybe angels, passions, blisses, Lilith’s incubi, vilas—Cohen doesn’t say but he hopes we run into them. I do too. The sisters seem to be those who relieve the religion-weary or life-weary person of their burdens, refreshing them with love.
Now since they weren’t lovers, I guess this rules out the incubi ….