This version of Ballad Of The Absent Mare was released by Leonard Cohen in 1979.
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Say a prayer for the cowboy
His mare’s run away
And he’ll walk til he finds her
His darling, his stray
but the river’s in flood
and the roads are awash
and the bridges break up
in the panic of loss.
And there’s nothing to follow
There’s nowhere to go
She’s gone like the summer
gone like the snow
And the crickets are breaking
his heart with their song
as the day caves in
and the night is all wrong
Did he dream, was it she
who went galloping past
and bent down the fern
broke open the grass
and printed the mud with
the iron and the gold
that he nailed to her feet
when he was the lord
And although she goes grazing
a minute away
he tracks her all night
he tracks her all day
Oh blind to her presence
except to compare
his injury here
with her punishment there
Then at home on a branch
in the highest tree
a songbird sings out
so suddenly
Ah the sun is warm
and the soft winds ride
on the willow trees
by the river side
Oh the world is sweet
the world is wide
and she’s there where
the light and the darkness divide
and the steam’s coming off her
she’s huge and she’s shy
and she steps on the moon
when she paws at the sky
And she comes to his hand
but she’s not really tame
She longs to be lost
he longs for the same
and she’ll bolt and she’ll plunge
through the first open pass
to roll and to feed
in the sweet mountain grass
Or she’ll make a break
for the high plateau
where there’s nothing above
and there’s nothing below
and it’s time for the burden
it’s time for the whip
Will she walk through the flame
Can he shoot from the hip
So he binds himself
to the galloping mare
and she binds herself
to the rider there
and there is no space
but there’s left and right
and there is no time
but there’s day and night
And he leans on her neck
and he whispers low
“Whither thou goest
I will go”
And they turn as one
and they head for the plain
No need for the whip
Ah, no need for the rein
Now the clasp of this union
who fastens it tight?
Who snaps it asunder
the very next night
Some say the rider
Some say the mare
Or that love’s like the smoke
beyond all repair
But my darling says
“Leonard, just let it go by
That old silhouette
on the great western sky”
So I pick out a tune
and they move right along
and they’re gone like the smoke
and they’re gone like this song
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About Lyrics and Ballad Of The Absent Mare by Leonard Cohen
The lyrics to Ballad Of The Absent Mare are the words, verses and chorus for the song released by Leonard Cohen in 1979. Elements of the lyrics to Ballad Of The Absent Mare are both direct in meaning and also metaphorical with the real meanings of the song only known by Leonard Cohen and any collaborating writers working on the lyrics for Ballad Of The Absent Mare back when it was created. Some people have an interest in the etymology behind words and phrases. You can take apart the lyrics to Ballad Of The Absent Mare by Leonard Cohen in a number of ways.
More Songs & Lyrics by Leonard Cohen
- Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye (1967)
- Master Song (1967)
- One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong (1967)
- Sisters Of Mercy (1967)
- So Long Marianne (1967)
- Stories Of The Street (1967)
- Stranger Song (1967)
- Suzanne (1967)
- Teachers (1967)
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- Winter Lady (1967)
- A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes (1969)
- Bird On The Wire (1969)
- Lady Midnight (1969)
- Seems So Long Ago, Nancy (1969)
- Story Of Isaac (1969)
- The Butcher (1969)
- The Old Revolution (1969)
- The Partisan (1969)
- Tonight Will Be Fine (1969)
- You Know Who I Am (1969)
- Avalanche (1971)
- Diamonds In The Mine (1971)
- Dress Rehearsal Rag (1971)
- Famous Blue Raincoat (1971)
- Joan Of Arc (1971)
- Last Year’s Man (1971)
- Love Calls You By Your Name (1971)
- Sing Another Song, Boys (1971)
- A Singer Must Die (1974)
- Chelsea Hotel #2 (1974)
- Field Commander Cohen (1974)
- I Tried To Leave You (1974)
- Is This What You Wanted (1974)
- Leaving Green Sleeves (1974)
- Lover Lover Lover (1974)
- Take This Longing (1974)
- There Is A War (1974)
- Who By Fire (1974)
- Why Don’t You Try (1974)
- Death Of A Ladies’ Man (1977)
- Don’t Go Home With Your Hard-On (1977)
- Fingerprints (1977)
- I Left A Woman Waiting (1977)
- Iodine (1977)
- Memories (1977)
- Paper Thin Hotel (1977)
- True Love Leaves No Traces (1977)
- Humbled In Love (1979)
- I Came So Far For Beauty (1979)
- Our Lady Of Solitude (1979)
Visit our Leonard Cohen profile for more Leonard Cohen songs, lyrics & info!
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