Came So Far For Beauty

I came so far for beauty

I left so much behind

My patience and my family

My masterpiece unsigned

I thought I’d be rewarded

For such a lonely choice

And surely she would answer

To such a very hopeless voice

I practiced all my sainthood

I gave to one and all

But the rumours of my virtue

They moved her not at all

I changed my style to silver

I changed my clothes to black

And where I would surrender

Now I would attack

I stormed the old casino

For the money and the flesh

And I myself decided

What was rotten and what was fresh

And men to do my bidding

And broken bones to teach

The value of my pardon

The shadow of my reach

But no, I could not touch her

With such a heavy hand

Her star beyond my order

Her nakedness unmanned

I came so far for beauty

I left so much behind

My patience and my family

My masterpiece unsigned

This song, co-written by John Lissauer, was originally recorded in 1974 for the abandoned album Songs For Rebecca. Having subsequently been played in concert, it was re-recorded for Recent Songs (1979). Note Cohen’s re-use of the phrase “for the money and the flesh” originally found in ‘Chelsea Hotel # 2’.