Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
You can hear the boats go by, you can spend the night beside her
And you know that she's half-crazy but that's why you wanna to be there
And she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
And just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her
Then she gets you on her wavelength
And she lets the river answer that you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And then you know that she will trust you
For you've touched her perfect body with your mind

And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water
And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower
And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him
He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them
But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open
Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him, and you want to travel blind
And then you think maybe you'll trust him
For he's touched your perfect body with his mind

Now, Suzanne takes your hand and she leads you to the river
She's wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters
And the sun pours down like honey on our Lady of the harbor
And she shows you where to look among the garbage and the flowers
There are heroes in the seaweed, there are children in the morning
They are leaning out for love and they will lean that way forever
While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her, and you want to travel blind
And then you know that you can trust her
For she's touched your perfect body with her mind


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by heidismells, Striglit, smallwonderrobot, HouseStark, TharpaPawo, yankl, frankie3791

Suzanne Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Suzanne song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment

    This song brings love as a door to connect with divinity. It's god see through love, so you can recognize there salvation and mysticism When Suzanne has a mirror, then the children can love. This could refer to the discovering of the beauty of self soul through love. Suzanne is a reflection of Cohen's love and it works in both directions. You discover and you are discovered. When you realize the power inside your love you recognize God. Jesus is the spiritual explanation of love between them and, in last instance, is through life and nature and god that we feel love. And maybe, only through pain and suffering begins the looking for meaning.

    Maritereon April 14, 2013   Link

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