Priests

And who will write love songs for you

when I am lord at last

and your body is some little highway shrine

that all my priests have passed,

that all my priests have passed?

My priests they will put flowers there,

they will stand before the glass,

but they’ll wear away your little window, love,

they will trample on the grass,

they will trample on the grass.

And who will aim the arrow

that men will follow through your grace

when I am lord of memory

and all your armour has turned to lace,

and all your armour has turned to lace?

The simple life of heroes,

and the twisted life of saints,

they just confuse the sunny calendar

with their red and golden paints,

with their red and golden paints.

And all of you have seen the dance,

that God has kept from me,

but he has seen me watching you

when all your minds were free

when all your minds were free.

And who will write love songs for you ...

My priests they will put flowers there ...

Cohen has not recorded this song himself. It has been covered by Judy Collins (on Wildflowers (1967)), Richie Havens (on Richard P Havens (1969)) and Enrique Morente (in Spanish on Omega (1996)).