Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
I've seen you change the water into wine
I've seen you change it back to water too
I sit at your table every night
I try, but I just don't get by with you
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
Ah, they're dancing in the street, it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love, but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real
And that was me
I haven't said a word since you've been gone
That any liar couldn't say as well
I just can't believe the static coming on
You were my ground, my safe and sound
You were my Ariel
Oh, the fields are crying out, it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love, but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real
And that was me
I heard the snake was baffled by his sin
He shed his scales to find the snake within
But born again is born without a skin
The poison enters into everything
And I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
I've seen you change it back to water too
I sit at your table every night
I try, but I just don't get by with you
I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
Ah, they're dancing in the street, it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love, but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real
And that was me
I haven't said a word since you've been gone
That any liar couldn't say as well
I just can't believe the static coming on
You were my ground, my safe and sound
You were my Ariel
Oh, the fields are crying out, it's Jubilee
We sold ourselves for love, but now we're free
I'm so sorry for that ghost I made you be
Only one of us was real
And that was me
I heard the snake was baffled by his sin
He shed his scales to find the snake within
But born again is born without a skin
The poison enters into everything
And I wish there was a treaty we could sign
I do not care who takes this bloody hill
I'm angry and I'm tired all the time
I wish there was a treaty
I wish there was a treaty
Between your love and mine
Lyrics submitted by bloodangel
Treaty Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Cohen's allusions are always complex and this nod to Ariel is no exception. I think you'll find your answer in Shelley's poem With a guitar. To Jane. Then again, maybe not, but that's my take on it.
@mpg48 I just saw this comment today, I don't get notified if it's not tied to the thread. Very well said, they are always complex. Thank you for the tip I will check it out.
@mpg48 Aeriel is known as the Lion of Judah. Gender neutral Archangel, guardian of all the created nature, of all the immanence of God. Treaty is a Psalm to God. A psalm of disorientation tinged with regret at end of life. We are gifted life and the angels watch over us, but we are free to fail.<br /> “We sold ourselves for love but now we’re free.” Aligns with line in You want it Darker, “I didn’t know I had permission to murder and to maim” . We are free, but we have conscience and sense of duty to live in a higher way, but we often fall short. So there is remorse, felt deeply at end of life