This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
All the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone
They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song
Oh, I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long
Yes, you who must leave everything that you cannot control
It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul
Well, I've been where you're hanging, I think I can see how you're pinned
When you're not feeling holy, your loneliness says that you've sinned
Well, they lay down beside me, I made my confession to them
They touched both my eyes and I touched the dew on their hem
If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem
When I left they were sleeping, I hope you run into them soon
Don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon
And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night
We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright
We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright
They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song
Oh, I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long
Yes, you who must leave everything that you cannot control
It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul
Well, I've been where you're hanging, I think I can see how you're pinned
When you're not feeling holy, your loneliness says that you've sinned
Well, they lay down beside me, I made my confession to them
They touched both my eyes and I touched the dew on their hem
If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn
They will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem
When I left they were sleeping, I hope you run into them soon
Don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon
And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night
We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright
We weren't lovers like that and besides, it would still be alright
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Per leonard cohen (1979): "The Sisters Of Mercy were actually two young women that I met during a snow storm in Edmonton, Alberta. And they came to my Hotel Room and there was something oh, very agreeable about their company. And they had no place to stay and they fell asleep on my bed, and I stayed up and I remember there was a full moon. And I felt like having something to say to them when they woke up, and that was one of those rare and graceful occasions when I was able to write a song from beginning to end in the space of a few hours. And while they slept I worked on this song. And when they woke up I sang it to them. It was compleetely full and finished, and they liked it. Barbara and Lorraine were their names."
I used to work with the Lorraine mentioned in this article in Calgary in the early eighties. Her name is Lorraine Rebault and she told this story almost identically except I thought that they offered a room and a sympathetic ear to Cohen who was struggling-hence Angels of Mercy. They came away from there knowing that the song had been written.
I don't think it's about prositutes at all. If Moik (first comment) is quoting a real interview, then I think that makes the most sense. He was affected by a real experience, and did what poets did, i.e. wrote aout it. The last bit "We weren't lovers like that, ...." is a lovely line, which demonstrates a really good attitude to life. He appreciated his experience with these women, but understands that other people's experience might be different.
There’s something really interesting going on with the instrumentation going on during this song. It takes an arc, including starting with simple folk guitar, then cranking up to include a children’s set of bells, then a bit of children’s carnival guest gutsy and winding down to conclude with folk guitar. Fine, subtle musical background that is a suitable setting for L.C.’s genius lyrics.
I love this song it's one of the best lyrics I have heard. I especially like the line "And you won't make me jealous if I hear that they sweetened your night: We weren't lovers like that and besides it would still be all right" Cohen is saying that obviously they had no real personal connection but just had these passionate moments, it wouldn't matter if the 'sisters of mercy' went off with other men because that's how they make a living. Another perfect line is "don't turn on the lights, you can read their address by the moon" again showing that they were ladies of the night!
The 60's and 70's were some of the best decades for song writing as spectacular as this. We need some more song writers like Cohen, Dylan and Tim Buckley for this era. Rocked up or whatever the fashion but really meaningful and inspiring lyrics. "If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn they will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem"
yeah the last lines are brillant,the fact that you cant make him jealous because he is a free human being,especially in the 60s where there was much less restrictions,and i agree the problem these days is that songwriters are writing ringtones instead of having balls and writing stuff like this
weird that its about prostitutes, i always thought the song was about nuns, at least on a literal level. the 'sisters of mercy' being a large catholic order of nuns which has a strong presence in french speaking canada where cohen is from.
There's religious references throughout: 'when your not feeling holy...', 'made my confession to them'.
The second verse seems particularly seems like a description of the sisters sacrifices for their faith: 'It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul.'
In general the sisters are decribed as being kind of nice and kind. I always picture the two nuns in 'catcher in the rye' that holden meets at the train station, when i hear the song.
Then by the last verse when he goes on to talk about sweetening their night it kind of implies that there's more to the song than that... strange how people interpret stuff differently
Prostitutes? Who said they were prostitutes?
You know when your young,you make all kinds of crazy interpretations of songs...& I really did think this was about prostitutes!....whatever,all I know now is that the lines "if your life is a leaf......"are one of the most profoundly beautiful things I've ever heard.
I always had assumed that maybe they were prostitutes, but so what? He encuntered the "sisters" in tenderness, no-one hurt or exploited anyone, just lost and lonely people helping each othr out with mutual respect. If you meet a prostitute, just remember they're a human being too! with more to give than a quick screw, and more needs as well.
this is one of my favourites, lyrically...but I never thought 'prostitutes' at ALL, or nuns, for that matter. I never thought it was about anything other than about him comming out of depression.....telling us that if we have hope, the "sisters of mercy" which i thought was metaphorical will finaly find us and give us the love and luck that we need to keep on. I was sort of dissapointed when i read what it was really about, even though its still really sweet. I thought it was a very hopeful song and it makes me feel like everything will be alright.