Suzanne – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the poetic beauty of Leonard Cohen's 'Suzanne,' a song that bridges the gap between poetry and music. For language learners, this song offers a unique opportunity to explore rich, evocative imagery and narrative storytelling in English. The lyrics are filled with metaphors and symbolic language that will challenge and expand your understanding of the language, all while being carried by a simple, unforgettable melody. What makes 'Suzanne' special is its ability to create a deeply personal and spiritual world with just a few carefully chosen words, a testament to Cohen's genius as a writer.

[English]

Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river

You can hear the boats go by

You can spend the night beside her

And you know that she's half crazy

But that's why you want to be there

And she feeds you tea and oranges

That come all the way from China

And just when you mean to tell her

That you have no love to give her

Then she gets you on her wavelength

And she lets the river answer

That you've always been her lover

And you want to travel with her

And you want to travel blind

And you know that she will trust you

For you've touched her perfect body with your mind

And Jesus was a sailor

When he walked upon the water

And he spent a long time watching

From his lonely wooden tower

And when he knew for certain

Only drowning men could see him

He said "All men will be sailors then

Until the sea shall free them"

But he himself was broken

Long before the sky would open

Forsaken, almost human

He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

And you want to travel with him

And you want to travel blind

And you think maybe you'll trust him

For he's touched your perfect body with his mind

Now Suzanne takes your hand

And she leads you to the river

She is wearing rags and feathers

From Salvation Army counters

And the sun pours down like honey

On Our Lady of the Harbour

And she shows you where to look

Among the garbage and the flowers

There are heroes in the seaweed

There are children in the morning

They are leaning out for love

And they will lean that way forever

While Suzanne holds the mirror

And you want to travel with her

And you want to travel blind

And you know you can trust her

For she's touched your perfect body with her mind

Key Vocabulary

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.

Key Grammar Structures

• Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ Uses the simple present tense, "takes," to describe a habitual action. It suggests that Suzanne regularly brings people to her place.

• You can hear the boats go by

  ➔ Modal Verb 'can' + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ Uses the modal verb "can" to express ability or possibility, followed by the bare infinitive "hear".

• But that's why you want to be there

  ➔ That's why + clause

  ➔ "That's why" introduces a reason or explanation for a previous statement. The sentence explains the motivation for wanting to be with Suzanne.

• That you have no love to give her

  ➔ Relative Clause with 'that'

  ➔ The clause "that you have no love to give her" is a relative clause modifying an unstated noun (like 'reason' or 'feeling'). It describes the type of thing the speaker doesn't have to offer.

• And she lets the river answer

  ➔ Causative 'let' + Bare Infinitive

  ➔ Uses the causative verb "let" to express permission or allowing something to happen. "Let" is followed by the object "the river" and the bare infinitive "answer".

• Only drowning men could see him

  ➔ Modal Verb 'could' + Conditional Meaning

  ➔ "Could" implies a conditional possibility; it's not just that drowning men *were able* to see him, but that they were the *only ones in a specific circumstance* able to see him.

• He sank beneath your wisdom like a stone

  ➔ Simile using 'like'

  ➔ Uses "like" to create a simile, comparing the way Jesus sank to the way a stone sinks. This emphasizes the suddenness and finality of his descent.

• She is wearing rags and feathers

  ➔ Present Continuous Tense

  ➔ Uses the present continuous tense, "is wearing," to describe an action happening now or around now. It paints a picture of Suzanne's current appearance.

• They are leaning out for love

  ➔ Present Continuous (extended meaning)

  ➔ While seemingly present continuous, it conveys a continuous and habitual action, implying a constant state of yearning for love. "Leaning out" isn't just a moment; it's their ongoing existence.