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

[sturgess66]

Sue - I does sound like "creature" - and that makes sense.
I added it.

LEONARD COHEN - SPOKEN INTRODUCTION TO "BORN IN CHAINS"

[World premiere on July 27, 2010 (Salzburg) - through August 22, 2010 (Ghent)]
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.

[Florence, September 1, 2010 - through September 8, 2010 (Basel, Switzerland) ?]
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

[Lisbon, Portugal, September 10, 2010]
When you stumble suddenly
into the full embrace
he hides away so not to see
his creature face to face.
You yourself are hidden too,
with all your sins of state;
there is no king to pardon you;
his mercy is more intimate.

[khayya]

This last version is from the poem called "The Embrace" ("Stranger Music 1993)):

When you stumble suddenly
into his full embrace,
he hides away so not to see
his creature face to face.
You yourself are hidden too,
with all your sins of state;
there is no king to pardon you;
his mercy is more intimate.

[sturgess66]

Thank you khayya!
http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/hydraB23.html

I included that first line - thinking that probably Leonard spoke it but the video did not include it.

[sue7]

Thank you, khayya. This is the first time we've had printed confirmation of the words.

[edlosi]

I've been at the concert in Strasbourg and on the screens they showed the lyrics in french.

I looked for the translation of amber or habbard or hammered cup and in french it was coupe martelée which means hammered cup.
And it's sensual illusion and every atom.

[Hartmut]

I've been at the concert in Strasbourg and on the screens they showed the lyrics in french.
I looked for the translation of amber or habbard or hammered cup and in french it was coupe martelée which means hammered cup.

Great idea! - Thanks, edlosi.

Hartmut

[sue7]

That's great, edlosi. Thanks! I guess that's the end of a very long discussion about the cup.
Sue

[brightnow]

... in french it was coupe martelée which means hammered cup...

I knew it!!! Thanks so much edlosi, speculating about the lyrics was fun, but it's also good to finally know for sure.

[sturgess66]

How's your French?

A new video from Albert - from Marseilles.

Leonard is speaking French and then says "I was born in chains" -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xkj1oQzYLgQ

[Hartmut]

How's your French?
Leonard is speaking French and then says "I was born in chains" -

He's just saying something about presenting a new song. - I don't think we need to incorporate this into our transcription.

[sturgess66]

Leonard has given us the words!

A big "thank you" to "messalina79" a/k/a "somewhat_nifty" a/k/a Ruth who not only videotaped the Lille performance,
but also videotaped the French subtitles on the screen!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gxj1DaWa34

Je suis né Enchaîné

I was born in chains

HATTIE -
Etais Paresseux avec mon âme

I was idle with my soul

Dans chaque atome
Brisé est le nom

In every atom
Broken is the name

CHARLEY -
Mais dans les bras d’illusion sensuelle
Un douce ignorance
Unifia le nom

But in the arms of sensual illusion
A sweet unknowing
Unified the name

LEONARD COHEN - SPOKEN INTRODUCTION]

[World premiere on July 27, 2010 (Salzburg) - through August 22, 2010 (Ghent)]
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.

[Florence, September 1, 2010 - through September 8, 2010 (Basel, Switzerland) ?]
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

[Lisbon, Portugal, September 10, 2010]
Into the full embrace, he hides away so not to see
His creature face to face
You yourself are hidden too, with all your sins of [state]?
There is no king to pardon you,
His mercy is more [intimate]?


[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 idle with my soul, when I heard that you could use me
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 sensual illusion
A sweet unknowing
Unified the name.

[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 do not know the rest. [I cannot read the rest - variation?]

[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

[edlosi]

At the Dortmund concert Leonard recited this verse before "Born In Chains":

And all the kisses that we kissed
it swept me to the shore
of seas where hardly I exist
except to kiss you more

Anyone knows where this is from?

[sturgess66]

EDITING HERE - this actually is Albert Noonan's video that "MrMarbet68" uploaded.

And editing again - "MrMarbet68" video has now been removed.

[sue7]

I just watched Arlene's video of Born in Chains from the December 6 concert in Oakland: thank you, Arlene, for great video.
http://www.youtube.com/user/arlenedick1 ... HAXHcZGA04
Sharon sings the last verse, which begins "I've heard the soul unfolds in the chambers of its longing." It is stunningly beautiful: she does something gorgeous to the third line: just a little, not too much, and it is... well, I've run out of superlatives.
I'm so happy it's back in the setlist.
Sue

[Hartmut]

But I rebelled there and I knelt before the idols in my shame

apparently it's:

the idols of my shame