Crazy to Love You – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen
• Album: Old Ideas

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the profound poetry of Leonard Cohen through his song "Crazy to Love You." This piece offers a unique opportunity to delve into the nuances of English expression, exploring themes of love, regret, and self-awareness with Cohen's signature lyrical depth. The song's straightforward language, combined with its rich metaphorical layers, makes it an excellent study for language learners looking to appreciate the power of subtle storytelling in song.

[English]

I had to go crazy to love you

Had to go down to the pit

Had to do time in the tower

Begging my crazy to quit

I had to go crazy to love you

You who were never the one

Whom I chased through the souvenir heartache

My braids and my blouse all undone

...

Sometimes I'd head for the highway

I'm old and the mirrors don't lie

But crazy has places to hide in

That are deeper than any goodbye

I had to go crazy to love you

Had to let everything fall

Had to be people I hated

Had to be no one at all

Tired of choosing desire

I've been saved by a blessed fatigue

The gates of commitment unwired

And nobody trying to leave

Sometimes I'd head for the highway

I'm old and the mirrors don't lie

But crazy has places to hide in

That are deeper than any goodbye

Had to go crazy to love you

You who were never the one

Whom I chased through the souvenir heartache

Her braids and her blouse all undone

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A1	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way
love /lʌv/ A1	verb - to feel deep affection for someone
pit /pɪt/ A2	noun - a large hole in the ground
tower /ˈtaʊər/ A1	noun - a tall, narrow building, either free-standing or forming part of a building
beg /bɛɡ/ A1	verb - to ask for something in a desperate or humble manner
quit /kwɪt/ A2	verb - to stop doing something
chase /tʃeɪs/ A2	verb - to follow someone or something in order to catch or attack them
souvenir /ˌsuːvəˈnɪr/ B1	noun - an object kept as a reminder of a place visited or an event
braids /breɪdz/ B1	noun - a length of something, especially hair, folded or twisted into a series of overlapping sections
blouse /blaʊz/ A2	noun - a woman's loose-fitting top
highway /ˈhaɪweɪ/ A1	noun - a main road, especially one connecting major towns or cities
mirror /ˈmɪrər/ A1	noun - a sheet of glass coated with a metal amalgam, which reflects light without refraction
desire /dɪˈzaɪr/ B1	noun - a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen
fatigue /fəˈtiɡ/ B2	noun - extreme tiredness, typically resulting from mental or physical exertion
commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/ B2	noun - the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause or activity
unwired /ʌnˈwaɪərd/ C1	adjective - not connected by wires

Key Grammar Structures

• I had to go crazy to love you

  ➔ Past Perfect Modality

  ➔ The phrase 'had to' expresses necessity in the past, indicating a past obligation or requirement. It is often used with the past perfect tense to show a completed action before another past action.

• You who were never the one

  ➔ Relative Pronoun in Past Tense

  ➔ The relative pronoun 'who' is used to refer to the subject 'you' and is in the past tense 'were' to describe a past state or condition.

• Sometimes I'd head for the highway

  ➔ Past Habit with 'Would'

  ➔ The use of 'would' here indicates a past habit or repeated action. It is a common way to describe actions that were typical in the past but are not necessarily true now.

• But crazy has places to hide in

  ➔ Personification

  ➔ The word 'crazy' is personified as having 'places to hide in,' giving it human-like qualities. This is a figurative language technique to make abstract concepts more tangible.

• That are deeper than any goodbye

  ➔ Comparative Adjective

  ➔ The phrase 'deeper than' is a comparative adjective structure used to compare the depth of 'places to hide in' with 'any goodbye.' It indicates a higher degree of depth.