Going Home

Album: Old Ideas (2012)
Play Video
  • I love to speak with Leonard
    He’s a sportsman and a shepherd
    He’s a lazy bastard
    Living in a suit

    But he does say what I tell him
    Even though it isn’t welcome
    He just doesn't have the freedom
    To refuse

    He will speak these words of wisdom
    Like a sage, a man of vision
    Though he knows he’s really nothing
    But the brief elaboration of a tube

    Going home
    Without my sorrow
    Going home
    Sometime tomorrow
    Going home
    To where it’s better
    Than before

    Going home
    Without my burden
    Going home
    Behind the curtain
    Going home
    Without the costume
    That I wore

    He wants to write a love song
    An anthem of forgiving
    A manual for living with defeat

    A cry above the suffering
    A sacrifice recovering
    But that isn’t what I need him
    To complete

    I want to make him certain
    That he doesn’t have a burden
    That he doesn’t need a vision
    That he only has permission
    To do my instant bidding
    Which is to say what I have told him
    To repeat

    Going home
    Without my sorrow
    Going home
    Sometime tomorrow
    Going home
    To where it’s better
    Than before

    Going home
    Without my burden
    Going home
    Behind the curtain
    Going home
    Without this costume
    That I wore

    I'm going home
    Without the sorrow
    Going home
    Sometime tomorrow
    Going home
    To where it’s better
    Than before

    Going home
    Without my burden
    Going home
    Behind the curtain
    Going home
    Without this costume
    That I wore

    I love to speak with Leonard
    He’s a sportsman and a shepherd
    He’s a lazy bastard
    Living in a suit Writer/s: LEONARD COHEN, PATRICK LEONARD
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Tj from TorontoI'm not religious and I know this is wacky, but (see similar comments on Hallelujah), a deal with the devil would explain this song, if the devil were writing it about Leonard:

    I love to speak with Leonard
    He’s a sportsman and a shepherd <-- took a gamble ...
    He’s a lazy bastard <-- made a deal to achieve musical success
    Living in a suit

    But he does say what I tell him
    Even though it isn’t welcome
    He just doesn't have the freedom
    To refuse

    He will speak these words of wisdom
    Like a sage, a man of vision
    Though he knows he’s really nothing
    But the brief elaboration of a tube <-- a worm? a pop hit (french)?

    He wants to write a love song
    An anthem of forgiving
    A manual for living with defeat <-- his deal
    A cry above the suffering <-- his suffering
    A sacrifice recovering

    But that isn’t what I need him
    To complete

    I want to make him certain
    That he doesn’t have a burden
    That he doesn’t need a vision
    That he only has permission
    To do my instant bidding
    Which is to say what I have told him
    To repeat
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"

Narada Michael Walden - "Freeway of Love"They're Playing My Song

As a songwriter and producer, Narada had hits with Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Starship. But what song does he feel had the greatest impact on his career?

Tom Keifer of Cinderella

Tom Keifer of CinderellaSongwriter Interviews

Tom talks about the evolution of Cinderella's songs through their first three albums, and how he writes as a solo artist.

U2 Lyrics

U2 LyricsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the lyrics of U2?