The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well
And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will
If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well
And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will
If it be your will
Lyrics submitted by Fistan, edited by traumermusing, Mellow_Harsher
If It Be Your Will Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@Balldozer I agree that the stanza you pointed out really adds a sting to the entire song. The reason I didn't +1 your comment is because I don't know that God is evil. I don't KNOW that God even exists. But I do believe that this song's meaning is most likely the opposite of what the majority of people seem to believe it means. It's like a lot of Leonard Cohen's songs, you must take them all with a grain of salt and realize everything has double or hidden meanings. Hell, half of the meanings are right there in front of our eyes and ears for all to see and hear, but people tend to miss them - just like the stanza you pointed out. I love this song (for that reason), as I do most all of Cohen's songs. His perfect poetic lyricism and bouts with sincerely deep depression give him a gift that most can not, nor will they ever, truly be able to understand. I think the two go hand-in-hand. They make him see both sides of every coin (good/evil, love/hate, etc.) and it gives him poetic license to both relate them to each other and tear them apart at the same time. I also think that's why he's so damn good at the having that pure sexual sadomasochistic edge he tends to throw right there at you in quite a few of his best songs, in my opinion. Okay. I'm done loving up on Lord Cohen tonight. Enjoy.