Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom

for trying to change the system from within;

I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens,

I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin,

I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

Chorus:

I'd really like to live beside you, baby,

I love your body and your spirit and your clothes,

but you see that line there moving through the station?

I told you, I told you, told you: I was one of those.

Ah, you loved me as a loser,

but now you're worried that I just might win,

you know the way to stop me,

but you don't have the discipline.

How many nights I prayed for this,

to let my work begin:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

I don't like your fashion business mister

and I don't like these drugs that keep you thin,

I don't like what happened to my sister:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

Chorus

And I thank you for those items that you sent me, ha ha,

the monkey and the plywood violin;

I practiced every night, now I'm ready:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

Ah, remember me, I used to live for music,

remember me, I brought your groceries in;

well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded:

First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin!

• Artist:Leonard Cohen