Diamonds in the Mine – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen
• Album: Songs of Love and Hate

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a profound way to connect with its culture, and Leonard Cohen's 'Diamonds in the Mine' offers a unique and powerful lesson in English. Through this song, you can explore the raw and visceral expression of complex emotions like anger and disillusionment. The lyrical depth, filled with stark imagery and metaphor, provides a rich vocabulary for expressing profound feelings. What makes this song special for learners is its passionate, almost-spoken delivery, which can help in understanding the cadence and emotional weight of the words, making the learning process both challenging and deeply rewarding.

[English]

The woman in blue, she's asking for revenge

The man in white, that's you, says he has no friend

The river's swollen up with rusty cans

And the trees are burning in your promised land

And there are no letters in the mailbox

And there are no grapes upon the vine

And there are no chocolates in the boxes anymore

And there are no diamonds in the mine

(And there are no diamonds in the mine)

Well, you tell me that your lover has a broken limb

You say you're kind of restless now and it's on account of him

Well, I saw the man in question, it was just the other night

He was eating up a lady where the lions and Christians fight

And there are no letters in the mailbox

And there are no grapes upon the vine

And there are no chocolates in your boxes anymore

And there are no diamonds in the mine, you tell them now

(And there are no diamonds in the mine)

Ah, there is no comfort in the covens of the witch

Some very clever doctor went and sterilized the bitch

And the only man of energy, yes, the revolution's pride

He trained a hundred women just to kill an unborn child

And there are no letters in the mailbox

Oh no, there are no, no grapes upon your vine

And there are, there are no chocolates in your boxes anymore

And there are no diamonds in your mine

And there are no letters in the mailbox

And there are no grapes upon the vine

And there are no chocolates in your boxes anymore

And there are no diamonds in your mine

(And there are no diamonds in the mine) that's all I got to say

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
woman /ˈwʊmən/ A1	noun - an adult female human being
man /mæn/ A1	noun - an adult male human being
river /ˈrɪvər/ A2	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another river
trees /triːz/ A2	noun - a woody perennial plant, typically having a single stem or trunk growing to a considerable height and bearing branches and leaves
burning /ˈbɜːrnɪŋ/ B1	verb - produce flames and heat adjective - feeling or causing a sensation of heat
land /lænd/ A2	noun - the part of the earth's surface that is not permanently covered by water
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person who is in love with another
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been damaged and no longer in working order
limb /lɪm/ B2	noun - a large branch of a tree
restless /ˈrestləs/ B2	adjective - unable to rest or relax because of worry or boredom
question /ˈkwɛstʃən/ B1	noun - a sentence worded or expressed to elicit information
eating /ˈiːtɪŋ/ A1	verb - put (food) into the mouth and chew and swallow it
lions /ˈlaɪənz/ B1	noun - a large wild cat
comfort /ˈkʌmfərt/ B2	noun - a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint
clever /ˈklɛvər/ B2	adjective - quick to understand, learn, and devise or apply ideas; intelligent
energy /ˈɛnərdʒi/ B1	noun - the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity
revolution /ˌrɛvəˈluːʃən/ C1	noun - a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new one
kill /kɪl/ B1	verb - cause the death of (a living being)