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Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river. You can hear the boats go by, You can spend the night beside her, And you know that she's half crazy But that's why you want to be there, And she feeds you tea and oranges That come all the way from China. And just when you mean to tell her That you have no love to give her Then she gets you on her wavelength And she lets the river answer That you've always been her lover. And you want to travel with her, And you want to travel blind, And you know that she will trust you, For you've touched her perfect body with your mind.

Leonard Cohen#13

LoveMusicConnectionAcceptanceMysteryMysticism

About this quote

What does it mean?
The lyrics describe a journey to a mystical place where a complex woman offers acceptance and connection.
In plain terms
Follow this crazy woman to her place and she will love you.
What can you take from it?
True connection often requires trusting the unusual.

Where it applies

  • songwriting
  • romantic reflection
  • spiritual journey

Putting it to work

  • expressing devotion
  • exploring themes

Questions to consider

  • Who is Suzanne?
  • What does touching with the mind mean?

Another view

The imagery relies heavily on specific cultural symbols that may not resonate universally.

More from Leonard Cohen

  1. 'You have loved enough, now let me be the lover.' You could say that God is speaking to you or the cosmos, or your lover. It just means, like, Forget it. Lean …

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  2. And she shows you where to look Among the garbage and the flowers. There are heroes in the seaweed, There are children in the morning, They are leaning out for…

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  3. This is the very contrary of dropping out. Most people can't wait to get home to their house or apartment and shut that door and turn on the TV. To me, that's …

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