leonard cohen
From Cohen's second album "Songs from a Room" (1969). A story taken directly from the Bible, and added some anti-war philosophy and the narrator Isac's attitude to "power".
In fact, Judy Collins released this one first ...how come I don't know, but it appears on her album "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" from December 1968. Cohen's album was released in April the year after.
Conclusion after listening to a fistful of covers: never try to do anything "better" than the man himself.
the door it opened slowly : my father he came in
I was nine years old
and he stood so tall above me : his blue eyes they were shining
and his voice was very cold
he said "I've had a vision and you know I'm strong and holy
I must do what I've been told"
so he started up the mountain • I was running : he was walking
and his axe was made of gold
well the trees they got much smaller • the lake a lady's mirror
we stopped to drink some wine
then he threw the bottle over • broke a minute later
and he put his hand on mine
thought I saw an eagle but it might have been a vulture
I never could decide
then my father built an altar • he looked once behind his shoulder
he knew I would not hide
you who build these altars now to sacrifice these children
you must not do it anymore
a scheme is not a vision and you never have been tempted
by a demon or a god
you who stand above them now : your hatchets blunt and bloody
you were not there before
when I lay upon a mountain and my father's hand was trembling
with the beauty of the word
and if you call me brother now : forgive me if I inquire
"just according to whose plan?"
when it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must
I will help you if I can
When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must
I will kill you if I can
and mercy on our uniform • man of peace or man of war
the peacock spreads his fan
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
Am F Am F the door it opened slowly my father he came in G F E I was nine years old Am F Am F and he stood so tall above me his blue eyes they were shining G F E and his voice was very cold C he said I've had a vision and you know I'm strong and holy D C B I must do what I've been told Am Gm Am Gm so he started up the mountain I was running he was walking C G A ...Am and his axe was made of gold
