Leonard Cohen
Story of Isaac
The door it opened slowly. My father he came in
I was nine years old
And he stood so tall above me
His blue eyes they were shining and his voice was very cold
He said "I've had a vision, you know I'm strong and holy
I must do as I've been told."
So we started up the mountain
I was running, he was walking
And his axe was made of gold
The trees they got much smaller
The lake a lady's mirror
We stopped and drank some wine
Then he threw the bottle over
It broke a minute later
And he put his hand on mine
I'd thought I'd saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
- I never could decide
Then my father built an altar
He looked once behind his shoulder
He knew I would not hide
And you who build these altars now
To sacrifice these children
You must not do it anymore
A scheme is not a vision
And you never have been tempted
By a demon or a God
You that stand above them now
Your hatchet's blunt and bloody
You were not there before
When I lay upon the mountain
And my father's hand was trembling
With the beauty of the word
And if you call me brother now
Forgive me if I enquire just according to who's plan
When it all comes down to dust
I will kill you if I must
I will help you if I can
When it all comes down to dust
I will help you if I must
I also kill you if I can
Have mercy on our uniform
Man of peace or man of war
The peacock spreads his fan