Lyrics of „Born in Chains“, as far as I can make them out

[Hartmut]

I can finally say that I hear "hammered" cup.

I have to agree, Esther, it's "hammered".

In Florence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYzjWSjEbg&fmt=18
it also sounded like "hammered".

Albert Noonan, blessed be thy name.

But Charley still sings: "in the arms of sense jalusion". - I suspect she's having her fun with us.

[sue7]

The game goes on ...

New lyrics from Florence:

http://baotzebao.tumblr.com/post/1049317875
viewtopic.php?f=44&t=22802

I was fed with the bread of freedom in (/and) its choosing
But I rebelled there and I knelt before the idols in my shame
But in the midst of all this wild confusion
I heard it spoken: Blessed is the name

Hi Hartmut,
Thanks for again blazing the trail
I agree with your first choice in the first line: I think it's "in."
Sue

[Hartmut]

Hi Sue,

I agree with your first choice in the first line: I think it's "in."

Thanks for the confirmation.

[sue7]

Hartmut, shall I go back and edit the post with the lyrics so that it includes these spoken words, so that we keep our best efforts in one place?

[Hartmut]

shall I go back and edit the post with the lyrics so that it includes these spoken words, so that we keep our best efforts in one place?

Yes, good idea.

[sue7]

I couldn't find our last effort at the lyrics on this thread, so I took the version posted by Allan on 1HeckofaGuy at http://1heckofaguy.com/2010/08/07/born- ... cs-videos/, and credited to the collaborative efforts of the group, and am pasting it here, including the new spoken words from Florence on September 1, and transcribed by hartmut.
Since this version, there have been a number of videos and many comments on this thread, so perhaps it's time to clean it up a little, in the places where we have more clarity?

[LEONARD COHEN] [SPOKEN]
I was born in chains but I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden, but the burden it was raised
Oh Lord, I can no longer keep this secret
Blessed is the name, the name be praised.

[LEONARD] [SPOKEN, in place of the verse above, in Florence, September 1, 2010]
I was fed with the bread of freedom in (/and) its choosing
But I rebelled there and I knelt before the idols in my shame
But in the midst of all this wild confusion
I heard it spoken: Blessed is the name

[SHARON ROBINSON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY WEBB]
I was born …

[LEONARD]
I was born in chains but I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden, but the burden it was raised
Oh Lord, I can no longer keep this secret
Blessed is the name, the name be praised.

[SHARON]
I fled to the edge of a mighty sea of sorrow
Pursued by the riders of a cruel and dark regime
But the waters parted and my soul crossed over
Out of Egypt, out of Pharaoh’s dream.

[LEONARD, ROSCOE BECK, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words and the measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I cannot read the rest .

[HATTIE]
I was idled? [___?] with my soul, when I heard that you could use me [idle? resided? battered?]
I followed very closely, but my life remained the same
But then you showed me where you had? [___?] been wounded [have?]
In every atom? [___?], broken is the name.

[CHARLEY]
I was alone on the road, your love was so confusing
And all the teachers told me that I had myself to blame
But in the arms? [___?]of sensual illusion [hours?]
A sweet unknowing? [___?] unified the name. [undoubting?]

[LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words, and the measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I do not know the rest.

[LEONARD]
I’ve heard the soul unfold in the chambers of its longing
And the bitter liquor sweeten in the hammered? [___?] cup [HABA?]
Ah but all the ladders of the night have fallen
Just darkness now, to lift the longing up.

[DINO SOLDO (saxophone), LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
But all the ladders of the night have fallen
Just darkness now, to lift the spirit up.

[LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words, and measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I cannot read the rest .

[SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Cannot read the rest
Shall not read the rest

[sturgess66]

I can finally say that I hear "hammered" cup.

I have to agree, Esther, it's "hammered".

In Florence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzYzjWSjEbg&fmt=18
it also sounded like "hammered".
Albert Noonan, blessed be thy name.

But Charley still sings: "in the arms of sense jalusion". - I suspect she's having her fun with us.

Listening to recent video (over and over again ) - it sounds to me to be "sensed allusion" (not "illusion).

And Hartmut - I see that you agree. You are hearing "jalusion" - not "jillusion".

[sturgess66]

Yes - some of the disputed words in that last draft seem to have become non-issues by now.

Here is a cleanup that I have done. I have removed a couple of non-possibilities, and replaced words where I think there has been agreement above,
i.e., put the more likely option in the body, and moved the alternative in brackets at the end of the line.

Also - I'm making an executive decision here - and making "hammered" a "go."
I think Leonard has done his best to make it clear to us what he is saying.
And it sounds pretty clear on this latest of Albert's videos.

Feel free - anyone - to agree/disagree/change/add/dispute/elaborate - etc.

[LEONARD COHEN] [SPOKEN]
I was born in chains but I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden, but the burden it was raised
Oh Lord, I can no longer keep this secret
Blessed is the name, the name be praised.

[LEONARD] [SPOKEN, in place of the verse above, in Florence, September 1, 2010]
I was fed with the bread of freedom in? its choosing [___] and?
But I rebelled there and I knelt before the idols of my shame
But in the midst of all this wild confusion
I heard it spoken: Blessed is the name

[SHARON ROBINSON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY WEBB]
I was born …

[LEONARD]
I was born in chains but I was taken out of Egypt
I was bound to a burden, but the burden it was raised
Oh Lord, I can no longer keep this secret
Blessed is the name, the name be praised.

[SHARON]
I fled to the edge of a mighty sea of sorrow
Pursued by the riders of a cruel and dark regime
But the waters parted and my soul crossed over
Out of Egypt, out of Pharaoh’s dream.

[LEONARD, ROSCOE BECK, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words and the measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I cannot read the rest .

[HATTIE]
I resided [___?] with my soul, when I heard that you could use me [was idle?]
I followed very closely, but my life remained the same
But then you showed me where you had been wounded
In every atom, broken is the name.

[CHARLEY]
I was alone on the road, your love was so confusing
And all the teachers told me that I had myself to blame
But in the arms? [___?]of sensed allusion [______?] [hours?] [sensual illusion?]
A sweet unknowing unified the name.

[LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words, and the measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I do not know the rest.

[LEONARD]
I'’ve heard the soul unfold in the chambers of its longing
And the bitter liquor sweeten in the hammered cup
Ah but all the ladders of the night have fallen
Just darkness now, to lift the spirit up.

[DINO SOLDO (saxophone), LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
But all the ladders of the night have fallen
Just darkness now, to lift the spirit up.

[LEONARD, ROSCOE, SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Word of words, and measure of all measures
Blessed is the name, the name be blessed
Written on my heart in burning letters
That’s all I know, I cannot read the rest .

[SHARON, HATTIE AND CHARLEY]
Cannot read the rest
Shall not read the rest

[/quote]

[mnkyface]

Thanks Hartmut, Linda, and Sue! And Albert of course for the fanstastic video...

Bear with me as I make a case for "idle" vs. "idled." "I was idled with" seems grammatically challenged. For the verb- to idle- you'd say "I idled". I idled my car.

"I was idle" (no d) would make idle an adjective, no? I was idle with my soul, I was idle with going to the gym, I was idle with my housecleaning because I spend all my time on YouTube. "I was idle with" makes sense in the context of neglecting one's soul, and then finding use for it. "I was idled with" just sounds weird to me.

"But I might be wrong."

[sturgess66]

Esther - I agree with your reasoning regarding the "idle" word. I feel much more comfortable with "I was idle" - rather than "I was idled" - and I changed it as the possibility above. But - I'm still thinking I hear that "s" in there - "resided."

In the intro, I'm not sure about "in" or "and" - can hear either way. But does "and" makes more sense?

I hope we have video from Wiesbaden - and then Austria.

[Hartmut]

Listening to recent video (over and over again ) - it sounds to me to be "sensed allusion" (not "illusion).

That's what it sounds like, yes. .... What it means - I don't know.


I second "idle", by the way.

[Hartmut]

But all the ladders of the night have fallen

In Florence, definitely: "letters of the night".

[sue7]

Thanks, Linda, for cleaning it up. It looks much improved!
And Esther, I think I'm with you on "idle".
Another change that I've noticed in more recent performances is that the line
"to lift the longing up" seems to have been changed to "lift the spirit up."

Sue

[sturgess66]

You're right Sue, about "spirit" - and I fixed it above.

[sue7]

I just finished listening to Al Noonan's wonderful video (thanks!) of the Florence concert.
I am now convinced that it's "was idle"; that "sensual illusion" is correct (I think it may be Charley's accent on the "i" that is flummoxing us); and that Leonard sings:
"I've heard the soul unfolds" and "the bitter liquor sweetens" (I forget who made that argument a while back).
I just don't seem to get tired of listening to this song: it's just so beautiful.
Sue