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Lover, Lover, Lover Lyrics
I asked my father,
I said, "Father change my name."
The one I'm using now it's covered up
with fear and filth and cowardice and shame.
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
He said, "I locked you in this body,
I meant it as a kind of trial.
You can use it for a weapon,
or to make some woman smile."
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
"Then let me start again," I cried,
"please let me start again,
I want a face that's fair this time,
I want a spirit that is calm."
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
"I never never turned aside," he said,
"I never walked away.
It was you who built the temple,
it was you who covered up my face."
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
And may the spirit of this song,
may it rise up pure and free.
May it be a shield for you,
a shield against the enemy.
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
Yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me,
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
I said, "Father change my name."
The one I'm using now it's covered up
with fear and filth and cowardice and shame.
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
I meant it as a kind of trial.
You can use it for a weapon,
or to make some woman smile."
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
"please let me start again,
I want a face that's fair this time,
I want a spirit that is calm."
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
"I never walked away.
It was you who built the temple,
it was you who covered up my face."
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
may it rise up pure and free.
May it be a shield for you,
a shield against the enemy.
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
yes and lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover, lover come back to me.
Song Info
Submitted by
hosimosi On Mar 20, 2002
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This song was produced by Mati Caspi, one of the iconic Israeli rock stars. Interestingly enough Mati Caspi also had songs which dealt with theological and philosophical aspects. His lyrics are similar to Cohen in a way, although it's hard to compare Hebrew songs to American. At the end of each verse Cohen sings with very much pronounce Yiddish melody, which makes this song very Jewish in my eyes.
The lyrics deal with Jewish identity, and more so with Jewish identity in the State of Israel. If I can interpret the text, the new face - is the new way of relating to Jewish culture, to being a Jew in new times when there is finally a state which didn't exist before, the state which needs protection. Old stereotypes about Jews unable to defend themselves must be destroyed. And the reply as I see it, God says that Jews already have everything they need to protect themselves, "you can use it as a weapon", and to multiply "or make some woman smile" in order to build their state. God also says that he always protected his people and will do it again if needed.
This is such a powerful and proud song, I can see how fitting it is in the context of war. Sheer brilliance.
@iliadav Hi. Thank you. Now I understand more. Originally I thought it was about Jewish self-hatred, but that didn't make sense because LC has a strong and positive Jewish identity. However, doesn't your interpretation portray diaspora Jews in a very negative light - fear, filth, cowardice, shame - ? And who is the lover? I think it was an Israeli mother or spouse or brother or sister who is seeing the soldier go off to war. And of course the idea is "come back to me" from the war. I think he was very moved by what he saw there....
@iliadav
Hi. Thank you. Now I understand more. Originally I thought it was about Jewish self-hatred, but that didn't make sense because LC has a strong and positive Jewish identity. However, doesn't your interpretation portray diaspora Jews in a very negative light - fear, filth, cowardice, shame - ? And who is the lover? I think it was an Israeli mother or spouse or brother or sister who is seeing the soldier go off to war. And of course the idea is "come back to me" from the war. I think he was very moved by what he saw there.
@Mikohns. You're making a very interesting point. I don't think the diaspora Jews are portrayed in a negative light - the stereotypes associated with diaspora Jews are. That's what Cohen refers to when he sings "my name" in my opinion. 'Lover come back to me" doesn't really fit any of the verses, but maybe, just maybe, if we look at this song as a prayer or a psalm rather, then, it would make sense as something LC asks from God in addition to the main request to give him a new identity. I agree that "lover" most likely refers to...
@Mikohns. You're making a very interesting point. I don't think the diaspora Jews are portrayed in a negative light - the stereotypes associated with diaspora Jews are. That's what Cohen refers to when he sings "my name" in my opinion. 'Lover come back to me" doesn't really fit any of the verses, but maybe, just maybe, if we look at this song as a prayer or a psalm rather, then, it would make sense as something LC asks from God in addition to the main request to give him a new identity. I agree that "lover" most likely refers to a soldier. So, yes, it's a war song from a pacifist point of view.
@iliadav
@iliadav
The lover is Israel! All through the books of Moses and the prophets, the Lord asks Israel to return to him. The 'he' in 'And he said, Lover, lover, lover come back to me.' is the Lord of hosts.
The lover is Israel! All through the books of Moses and the prophets, the Lord asks Israel to return to him. The 'he' in 'And he said, Lover, lover, lover come back to me.' is the Lord of hosts.
I forgot to tell you that the 'And he said' is in the text of 'Lover, lover, lover' on the album 'New skin for the old ceremony.'
I forgot to tell you that the 'And he said' is in the text of 'Lover, lover, lover' on the album 'New skin for the old ceremony.'
@Haarajot your explanation fits makes sense!
@Haarajot your explanation fits makes sense!
It's like a conversation with God. The instrumentation of the song makes it a sort of chant (listen to the rhythmic guitar and primitive percussion), especially in the chorus where Cohen repeats "lover, lover." I had a dream where a cult in robes was chanting this song outside their "savior's" home. Weird. I really like this song.
@mrmister I believe it actually is a conversation with God, and the lines 'Lover, lover, lover, come back to me' are God's answer.
@mrmister I believe it actually is a conversation with God, and the lines 'Lover, lover, lover, come back to me' are God's answer.
Leonard Cohen wrote this while singing for Isreali soldiers during the Yom Kippur war
@nic-ck not during the Yom Kippur war, during the sinai war in '56. He tell that explicitly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bosJS9AcLM
@nic-ck not during the Yom Kippur war, during the sinai war in '56. He tell that explicitly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bosJS9AcLM
This song is gorgeous and Leonard Cohen's lyrics (and poetry) have been consistently brilliant.
He's a master storyteller. Those who are able to speak from their heart and capture raw human emotion turn what would otherwise be music into poetry.
He's a master storyteller. Those who are able to speak from their heart and capture raw human emotion turn what would otherwise be music into poetry.
The chorus is a plea of an abandoned lover but all the rest of the words are clearly a conversation with God. My interpretation is that the feeling of the abandoned lover is a metaphor for being apart from God.\n\nThe Song of Solomon is interpreted as a metaphor of the relationship between Israel and God as between lovers who are sometimes estranged "I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.". (Song of Solomon 5)\n\nIn Jewish tradition there is a concept of "Hester Panim", which is the estrangement from God which is revealed as earthly disasters (like war), according to Deuteronomy 31 ".. many evils and troubles will befall them, and they will say on that day, \'Is it not because our God is no longer in my midst, that these evils have befallen me?\' And I will hide My face on that day ..."\nThis is echoed in the song in the words "it was you who covered up my face"