A Singer Must Die Lyrics - New Skin For The Old Ceremony - Leonard Cohen

Now the courtroom is quiet, but who will confess 

Is it true you betrayed us? The answer is "yes" 

Then read me the list of the crimes that are mine 

I will ask for the mercy that you love to decline 

And all the ladies go moist, and the judge has no choice 

A singer must die for the lie in his voice 

And I thank you, I thank you for doing your duty 

You keepers of truth, you guardians of beauty 

Your vision is right, my vision is wrong 

I'm sorry for smudging the air with my song 

Oh, the night it is thick, my defences are hid 

In the clothes of a woman I would like to forgive 

In the rings of her silk, in the hinge of her thighs 

Where I have to go begging in beauty's disguise 

Oh goodnight, goodnight, my night after night 

I am so afraid that I listen to you 

Your sun glassed protectors they do that to you 

It's their ways to detain, their ways to disgrace 

Their knee in your balls and their fist in your face 

Yes and long live the state by whoever it's made 

Sir, I didn't see nothing, I was just getting home late