Leonard Cohen - Avalanche

avalanche
leonard cohen

Am F
well i stepped into an avalanche ,
Am G Am
it covered up my soul;
Am F
when i Am not this hunchback that you see ,
Am G Am
i sleep beneath the golden hill .
C G
you who wish to conquer pain ,
Am F
you must learn , learn to serve me well .

you strike my side by accident
as you go down for your gold .
the cripple here that you clothe and feed
is neither starved nor cold;
he does not ask for your company ,
not at the centre , the centre of the world .

when i Am on a pedestal ,
you did not raise me there .
your laws do not compel me
to kneel grotesque and bare .
i myself Am the pedestal
for this ugly hump at which you stare .

you who wish to conquer pain ,
you must learn what makes me kind;
the crumbs of love that you offer me ,
they’re the crumbs i’ve left behind .
your pain is no credential here ,
it’s just the shadow , shadow of my wound .

i have begun to long for you ,
i who have no greed;
i have begun to ask for you ,
i who have no need .
you say you’ve gone away from me ,
but i can feel you when you breathe .

do not dress in those rags for me ,
i know you are not poor;
don’t love me quite so fiercely now
when you know that you are not sure ,
it is your turn , beloved ,
it is your flesh that i wear .