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If it Be Your Will - Andrew Smith

from This Light Lingers | A Year of Song by A Year of Song curated by Andrew Smith

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lyrics

I first heard this song by Leonard Cohen on his ‘Tower of Song’ album being sung by Jane Arden. Like many of Cohen’s great songs, this one leaves plenty of room for interpretation. What strikes me about it is the powerful images and phrases that surprise you at every turn. The spiritual power comes from an authentic humble voice speaking from the perspective of the great collective 'us' - with the understanding that we are all in this together. There’s a solidarity in our brokenness. The final verse says...

“And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will”

As Leonard Cohen says about the song: 'It's an old prayer ...It's about surrendering'.

If inclined, you can research more about this song and the artist online.

Lyrics
If it be your will
That I speak no more
And my voice be still
As it was before
I will speak no more
I shall abide until
I am spoken for
If it be your will
If it be your will
That a voice be true
From this broken hill
I will sing to you
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
From this broken hill
All your praises they shall ring
If it be your will
To let me sing
If it be your will
If there is a choice
Let the rivers fill
Let the hills rejoice
Let your mercy spill
On all these burning hearts in hell
If it be your will
To make us well
And draw us near
And bind us tight
All your children here
In their rags of light
In our rags of light
All dressed to kill
And end this night
If it be your will

© 1985 Leonard Cohen
and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company

credits

from This Light Lingers | A Year of Song, released July 31, 2017

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A Year of Song curated by Andrew Smith Kelowna, British Columbia

Andrew Smith is a producer and singer/songwriter from Kelowna, BC.

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