Suzanne

• By: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics:

Vocabulary in this song:

Vocabulary	Meanings
river /ˈrɪvər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea, a lake, or another such stream.
boats /boʊts/ A1	noun - a small vessel propelled on water by oars, sails, or an engine.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ B1	adjective - mentally deranged, especially as manifested in a wild or aggressive way.
tea /tiː/ A1	noun - a hot drink made by infusing the dried crushed leaves of the tea bush in boiling water.
oranges /ˈɔːrɪndʒɪz/ A1	noun - a round citrus fruit with a thick reddish-yellow skin and sweet juicy pulp.
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - an intense feeling of deep affection.
answer /ˈænsər/ A2	verb - saying something in response to a question. noun - a thing that is said, written, or done to deal with or as a reaction to a question, statement, or situation.
lover /ˈlʌvər/ B1	noun - a person who is in love with someone.
travel /ˈtrævl/ A2	verb - make a journey, typically of some length.
blind /blaɪnd/ B1	adjective - unable to see.
trust /trʌst/ B1	verb - believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
body /ˈbɒdi/ A1	noun - the physical structure of a person or animal, including the bones, flesh, and organs.
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - the element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought.
sailor /ˈseɪlər/ A2	noun - a person who works as a member of the crew of a ship or boat.
water /ˈwɔːtər/ A1	noun - a colorless, transparent, odorless, and tasteless liquid, the main constituent of streams, lakes, and oceans, and the fluid of most living organisms.
tower /ˈtaʊər/ A2	noun - a tall, narrow building, especially one forming part of a castle, church, or town hall.
drowning /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/ B2	verb - die through submersion in and inhalation of water.
sea /siː/ A1	noun - the expanse of salt water that covers most of the earth's surface and surrounds its landmasses.
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ B1	adjective - having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order.
sky /skaɪ/ A1	noun - the region of the atmosphere and outer space seen from the earth.
wisdom /ˈwɪzdəm/ B2	noun - the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement; the quality of being wise.
stone /stoʊn/ A1	noun - hard, solid nonmetallic mineral matter of which rock is made, especially as a building material.
hand /hænd/ A1	noun - the end part of a person's arm beyond the wrist, including the fingers and thumb.
rags /ræɡz/ B1	noun - old clothes in poor condition.
feathers /ˈfeðərz/ A2	noun - one of the horny outgrowths that form the external covering of birds.
sun /sʌn/ A1	noun - the star that provides light and heat to Earth.
honey /ˈhʌni/ A1	noun - a sweet, sticky, yellowish-brown fluid made by bees and other insects from the nectar of flowers.
garbage /ˈɡɑːrbɪdʒ/ A2	noun - waste material; refuse.
flowers /ˈflaʊərz/ A1	noun - the seed-bearing part of a plant, consisting of reproductive organs (stamens and carpels) that are typically surrounded by a brightly colored corolla (petals) and a green calyx (sepals).
heroes /ˈhɪroʊz/ A2	noun - a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.
seaweed /ˈsiːwiːd/ A2	noun - a form of large algae growing in the sea or on rocks below the high-water mark.
children /ˈtʃɪldrən/ A1	noun - a young human being below the age of puberty or full physical development.
mirror /ˈmɪrər/ A2	noun - a reflective surface, now typically of glass coated with a metallic substance, that renders an image.
perfect /ˈpɜːrfɪkt/ B1	adjective - having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

Grammar:

• You can hear the boats go by

  ➔ Bare infinitive after verbs of perception (hear, see, feel, watch)

  ➔ Here, 'go' is a bare infinitive (infinitive without 'to') following the verb 'hear'. This construction emphasizes the direct experience of hearing the boats pass by. It is equivalent to 'You can hear the boats *going* by', where going is present participle, suggesting a continous action.

• And you know that she's half crazy

  ➔ Use of contraction "she's"

  ➔ "She's" is a contraction of "she is." Contractions are common in informal speech and writing.

• And just when you mean to tell her

  ➔ Idiomatic use of 'mean to'

  ➔ 'Mean to' followed by a verb indicates intention. It means 'intend to'. In this case, 'you mean to tell her' means 'you intend to tell her'.

• That you've always been her lover

  ➔ Present Perfect Continuous Tense (you have always been)

  ➔ The Present Perfect Continuous ('you've always been') emphasizes that something started in the past and has continued up to the present. It indicates a long-term situation or a repeated action. 'You *have* always *been* her lover' suggests a continuous state from the past until now.

• For you've touched her perfect body with your mind

  ➔ Present perfect tense 'you've touched'

  ➔ The use of the present perfect tense 'you've touched' indicates a completed action in the past that has relevance to the present. It emphasizes the *result* of the touching – the profound connection – rather than the action itself.

• Only drowning men could see him

  ➔ Modal verb 'could' expressing ability in the past.

  ➔ 'Could' is used to express the past ability to see him. It means that only those who were drowning were able to see him.

• Until the sea shall free them

  ➔ Use of 'shall' for future tense (less common than 'will')

  ➔ 'Shall' is an auxiliary verb used to express future tense, especially in formal contexts or with 'I' and 'we'. Although less common than 'will', it adds a sense of determination or prophecy here.