Sisters of Mercy – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen
• Album: Songs of Leonard Cohen

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the depths of compassion and human connection in Leonard Cohen's timeless song, "Sisters of Mercy." Learn how a chance encounter during a snowstorm led to a profound meditation on kindness and finding solace in moments of despair, all while improving your English vocabulary and comprehension.

[English]

All the Sisters of Mercy, they are not departed or gone

They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on

And they brought me their comfort then later they brought me this song

Oh, I hope you run into them, you, who've been travelling so long

...

Yes, you who must leave everything that you cannot control

It begins with your family but soon it comes around to your soul

Well, I've been where you're hanging, I think I'm can see how you're pinned

When you're not feeling holy your loneliness says that you've sinned

...

Well, they lay down beside me, I made my confession to them

They touched both my eyes, I touched the dew on their hem

If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn

They will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem

...

When I left they were sleeping I hope you run into them soon

Don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon

And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night

We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright

We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Sisters /ˈsɪstərz/ B1	noun - plural of sister; female members of a religious order
Mercy /ˈmɜːrsi/ B2	noun - compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is in one's power to punish or harm.
departed /dɪˈpɑːrtɪd/ B2	adjective - having died; gone away
gone /ɡɒn/ A2	adjective - no longer present; lost or dead.
waiting /ˈweɪtɪŋ/ A1	verb - staying where one is or delaying action until a specified time or until something else happens.
run /rʌn/ A1	verb - move at a speed faster than a walk by moving the legs rapidly
travelling /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/ A2	verb - to go from one place to another.
soul /səʊl/ B2	noun - the spiritual or immaterial part of a person or animal, regarded as immortal.
hanging /ˈhæŋɪŋ/ A2	verb - to be suspended or attached from above
loneliness /ˈləʊnlɪnəs/ B1	noun - the state of being lonely.
sinned /sɪnd/ B2	verb - do something that is against the rules or religious laws.
confession /kənˈfeʃən/ B2	noun - a formal statement admitting that one is guilty of a crime.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - plural of eye; the organ of sight.
dew /djuː/ B1	noun - tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces overnight.
leaf /liːf/ A1	noun - a flattened structure of a higher plant, typically green and blade-like.
seasons /ˈsiːzənz/ A1	noun - each of the four divisions of the year (spring, summer, autumn, and winter)
stem /stɛm/ B1	noun - the main body of a plant or shrub
sleeping /ˈsliːpɪŋ/ A1	verb - be in a state of sleep
address /əˈdres/ A2	noun - the details of a place where someone lives or works and can be contacted.
moon /muːn/ A1	noun - the natural satellite of the earth, visible at night.
night /naɪt/ A1	noun - the period of time between sunset and sunrise.

Key Grammar Structures

• All the Sisters of Mercy, they are not departed or gone

  ➔ Use of 'or' as a correlative conjunction, indicating alternatives.

  ➔ The phrase 'departed **or** gone' presents two options for the state of the Sisters – either they have left, **or** they are no longer alive. It's a stylistic choice for emphasis.

• It begins with your family but soon it comes around to your soul

  ➔ Use of 'but' as a coordinating conjunction to show contrast.

  ➔ The sentence contrasts the initial focus on **family** with the eventual impact on the **soul**. 'But' signals a shift in scope and depth.

• When you're not feeling holy your loneliness says that you've sinned

  ➔ Use of the present continuous ('are not feeling') to describe a temporary state.

  ➔ The phrase 'When you **are not feeling holy**' describes a temporary emotional or spiritual state. It's not a permanent lack of holiness, but a feeling in the moment.

• They will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem

  ➔ Use of 'as...as' for comparative equality.

  ➔ The simile 'green **as** a stem' compares the color and vitality of the love to that of a plant stem. It emphasizes the love's freshness and life-giving quality.

• Don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon

  ➔ Use of the imperative mood ('Don't turn on').

  ➔ The sentence begins with a direct **command** ('Don't turn on the lights'). This creates a sense of mystery and suggests a secret or sacred space.