Suzanne

leonard cohen

 

From his first album "Songs of Leonard Cohen" (1967). Until then, Cohen had been a novelist and poet, releasing "The Favourite Game"(1963), "Flowers for Hitler"(1964) and "Beautiful Losers"1966). In 1966 he also released "Parasites of Heaven", a book of poetry containing the poem "Suzanne Takes You Down". Then he took to his guitar, and the rest is history.

This is neighter a fiction nor a dream. The scenes are from Montreal, and the lady is Suzanne Verdal, a professional dancer Cohen had a platonic relationship with. She was the girlfriend of sculptor, painter and performance artist Armand Vaillancourt, one of his many friends.

Judy Collins befriended Cohen and caught interest for his early songs. She was the first one to record this one, in November 1966, for her album "In My Life". At the same time, she also cut "Dress Rehearsal Rag", which Cohen didn't release until his third album.

"Suzanne" is Cohen in a nutshell: his harmony ways, the magical lyrics inspired by religion and penetrated by intense feelings brought him first cult status, then gradually world wide fame. Together with the later "Halleluja" this song will stand forever as a signature - though there are dozens that would have done as well.

I never mess with Cohen's songs. This is straight forward from his own version; even the key suits me, and I've adapted his simple fingerpicking as well.

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 want 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 wavelenght 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 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 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 is wearing rags and feathers from Salvation Army counters
and the sun pours down like honey on our lady from the harbour
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 you know that you can trust her
for she's touched your perfect body with her mind

For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.

E
Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river
         F#m
you can hear the boats go by : you can spend the night beside her
          E
and you know that she's half crazy but that's why you want to be there
          G#m                                A
and she feeds you tea and oranges that come all the way from China
           E                                 F#m
and just when you mean to tell her that you have no love to give her
          E                                  F#m
then she gets you on her wavelenght and she lets the river answer
             E
that you've always been her lover

         G#m                             A
and you want to travel with her and you want to travel blind
         E
and you know that she will trust you
            F#m                                E
for you've touched her perfect body with your mind