Different Sides – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen
• Album: Old Ideas

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

We find ourselves on different sides

Of a line nobody drew

Though it all may be one in the higher eye

Down here where we live it is two

I to my side call the meek and the mild

You to your side call the Words

By virtue of suffering I claim to have won

You claim to have never been heard

Both of us say there are laws to obey

Yeah, but frankly I don't like your tone

You want to change the way I make love

(But) I want to leave it alone

...

The pull of the moon, the thrust of the sun

Thus the ocean is crossed

The waters are blessed while a shadowy guest

Kindles a light for the lost

Both of us say there are laws to obey

But frankly I don't like your tone

You want to change the way I make love

(But) I want to leave it alone

...

Down in the valley the famine goes on

The famine up on the hill

I say that you shouldn't, you couldn't, you can't

You say that you must and you will

...

You want to live where the suffering is

I want to get out of town

Come on, baby, give me a kiss

Stop writing everything down

Both of us say there are laws to obey

Yeah, but frankly I don't like your tone

You want to change the way I make love

(But) I want to leave it alone

...

Both of us say there are laws to obey

But frankly I don't like your tone

You want to change the way I make love

(But) I want to leave it alone

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
different /ˈdɪfərənt/ A1	adjective - not the same as another or each other; separate.
sides /saɪdz/ A1	noun - a position or direction with respect to a central point, line, or area. One of two or more opposing groups or teams.
line /laɪn/ A1	noun - a long, narrow mark or band. A conceptual boundary or division.
suffering /ˈsʌfərɪŋ/ B1	noun - the state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.
laws /lɔːz/ A2	noun - the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
tone /təʊn/ B1	noun - a general character, attitude, or mood expressed by a person or group.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection. A person or thing that one loves.
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the earth, visible (chiefly at night) by reflected light from the sun.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star around which the earth orbits.
ocean /ˈəʊʃən/ A2	noun - a very large expanse of sea, in particular, each of the main areas into which the sea is divided geographically.
famine /ˈfæmɪn/ B2	noun - extreme scarcity of food.
meek /miːk/ B2	adjective - quiet, gentle, and easily imposed on; submissive.
shadowy /ˈʃædəʊi/ B2	adjective - full of shadows; dark. Mysterious or ill-defined.
lost /lɒst/ A2	adjective - unable to find one's way; having gone astray. No longer possessed or retained.
claim /kleɪm/ B1	verb - state or assert that something is the case, typically without providing evidence or proof. noun - an assertion of the truth of something, typically one that is disputed or in doubt.
obey /əʊˈbeɪ/ B1	verb - comply with the command, direction, or request of (an authority figure or an abstract principle).
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ A1	verb - make or become different. noun - the act or process of becoming different.
leave /liːv/ A1	verb - go away from. Allow or cause to remain in a specified state or condition.
blessed /blɛsɪd/ B2	adjective - (especially of a person's soul) in heaven or enjoying happiness. Revered or sacred. verb - consecrate or make holy. Invoke divine favour on.
kindles /ˈkɪndl/ B2	verb - light or set on fire. Arouse or inspire (an emotion or feeling).

Key Grammar Structures

• We find ourselves on different sides

  ➔ Present Simple Tense

  ➔ The verb 'find' is in the present simple tense, indicating a habitual or general truth.

• Though it all may be one in the higher eye

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood

  ➔ The phrase 'may be' is in the subjunctive mood, expressing a hypothetical or wishful situation.

• I to my side call the meek and the mild

  ➔ Object Pronoun

  ➔ The pronoun 'I' functions as the subject, while 'my' is an object pronoun modifying 'side'.

• By virtue of suffering I claim to have won

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase 'have won' is in the present perfect tense, indicating an action completed in the past with results relevant to the present.

• You want to change the way I make love

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The infinitive 'to change' indicates the purpose of the action 'want'.

• The pull of the moon, the thrust of the sun

  ➔ Noun + of + Noun

  ➔ This structure is used to show possession or relationship between two nouns.

• Both of us say there are laws to obey

  ➔ Present Simple Tense with 'to be'

  ➔ The verb 'are' is in the present simple tense, used with 'to be' to describe a general truth.

• Come on, baby, give me a kiss

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The verb 'give' is in the imperative mood, used to give a direct command or request.