You Want It Darker

First single from the album of the same name, published on his 82nd birthday. Also featured in the BBC series Peaky Blinders' season 4.

[Verse 1: Leonard Cohen] If you are the dealer I'm out of the game If you are the healer It means I'm broken and lame If thine is the glory then Mine must be the shame You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 2: Leonard Cohen] Magnified, sanctified Be thy holy name Vilified, crucified In the human frame A million candles burning For the help that never came You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Verse 3: Leonard Cohen] There's a lover in the story But the story's still the same There's a lullaby for suffering And a paradox to blame But it's written in the scriptures And it's not some idle claim You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 4: Leonard Cohen] They're lining up the prisoners And the guards are taking aim I struggled with some demons They were middle-class and tame I didn't know I had permission To murder and to maim You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Verse 5: Leonard Cohen] Magnified, sanctified Be thy holy name Vilified, crucified In the human frame A million candles burning For the love that never came You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 6: Leonard Cohen] If you are the dealer Let me out of the game If you are the healer I'm broken and lame If thine is the glory Mine must be the shame You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Outro: Cantor Gideon Zelermyer] Hineni Hineni, hineni Hineni