Story of Isaac

Story of Isaac

Lyrics by Leonard Cohen

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

And you know I’m strong and holy

I must do what I’ve been told”

So he started up the mountain

I was running, he was walking

And his axe was made of gold

Well, the trees they got much smaller

The lake, a lady’s mirror

We stopped to drink some wine

Then he threw the bottle over

Broke a minute later

And he put his hand on mine

Thought I 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

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 who stand above them now

Your hatchets blunt and bloody

You were not there before

When I lay upon a 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 inquire

“Just according to whose 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 will kill you if I can

And mercy on our uniform

Man of peace or man of war

The peacock spreads his fan