A Thousand Kisses Deep – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics & Translation

Delve into the poetic world of Leonard Cohen's “A Thousand Kisses Deep” to experience the beauty of the English language through its rich metaphors and profound reflections on life. This song offers a unique opportunity to explore complex emotions and philosophical ideas, making it a special piece for language learners who appreciate lyrical depth and timeless themes.

[English]

♪ The ponies run, the girls are young ♪

♪ The odds are there to beat ♪

♪ You win a while, and then it's done ♪

♪ Your little winning streak ♪

♪ And summoned now to deal ♪

♪ With your invincible defeat ♪

♪ You live your life as if it's real ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ I'm turning tricks, I'm getting fixed ♪

♪ I'm back on boogie street ♪

♪ You lose your grip, and then you slip ♪

♪ Into the masterpiece ♪

♪ And maybe I had miles to drive ♪

♪ And promises to keep ♪

♪ You ditch it all to stay alive ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ And sometimes when the night is slow ♪

♪ The wretched and the meek ♪

♪ We gather up our hearts and go ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ Confined to sex, we pressed against ♪

♪ The limits of the sea ♪

♪ I saw there were no oceans left ♪

♪ For scavengers like me ♪

♪ I made it to the forward deck ♪

♪ I blessed our remnant fleet ♪

♪ And then consented to be wrecked ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ I'm turning tricks, I'm getting fixed ♪

♪ I'm back on boogie street ♪

♪ I guess they won't exchange the gifts ♪

♪ That you were meant to keep ♪

♪ And quiet is the thought of you ♪

♪ The file on you complete ♪

♪ Except what we forgot to do ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ And sometimes when the night is slow ♪

♪ The wretched and the meek ♪

♪ We gather up our hearts and go ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

♪ The ponies run, the girls are young ♪

♪ The odds are there to beat ♪

♪ You win a while, and then it's done ♪

♪ Your little winning streak ♪

♪ And summoned now to deal ♪

♪ With your invincible defeat ♪

♪ You live your life as if it's real ♪

♪ A thousand kisses deep ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - move quickly by foot
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived for a short time
win /wɪn/ A2	verb - to gain victory
deal /diːl/ B1	verb - to distribute cards verb - to cope with
defeat /dɪˈfiːt/ B1	noun - the act of losing
live /lɪv/ A2	verb - to be alive
trick /trɪk/ B1	noun - a clever act
slip /slɪp/ A2	verb - to slide unintentionally
miles /maɪlz/ B1	noun - a unit of distance
keep /kiːp/ A2	verb - to retain possession
wretched /ˈrɛtʃɪd/ C1	adjective - extremely unhappy or unfortunate
meek /miːk/ B2	adjective - quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on
gather /ˈɡæðər/ B1	verb - to bring together
confine /kənˈfaɪn/ B2	verb - to restrict
press /prɛs/ B1	verb - to apply continuous physical force
limit /ˈlɪmɪt/ B1	noun - the point beyond which something cannot or may not extend
scavenger /ˈskævɪndʒər/ C1	noun - a person who collects and sells discarded items
deck /dɛk/ B1	noun - a floor of a ship

Key Grammar Structures

• You live your life as if it's real

  ➔ as if

  ➔ The phrase "as if" introduces a *simile* expressing a comparison that is hypothetical or unreal.

• And maybe I had miles to drive

  ➔ had to + verb

  ➔ The phrase "had to" expresses *obligation* or *necessity* in the past.

• You ditch it all to stay alive

  ➔ to + verb

  ➔ The phrase "to stay alive" shows *purpose* or *intention* expressed by the infinitive form.

• And sometimes when the night is slow

  ➔ when + clause (time clause)

  ➔ The word "when" introduces a *time clause* indicating the timing of an event.

• The ponies run, the girls are young

  ➔ present simple tense

  ➔ The verbs "run" and "are" are in the *present simple tense*, used for general truths or habitual actions.

• The odds are there to beat

  ➔ there + to + verb (infinitive)

  ➔ The phrase "there to beat" uses an *infinitive of purpose* indicating the *goal* or *target*.