Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in Lift me like an olive branch and be my homeward dove Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love Oh, let me see your beauty when the witnesses are gone Let me feel you moving like they do in Babylon Show me slowly what I only know the limits of Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the wedding now, dance me on and on Dance me very tenderly and dance me very long We're both of us beneath our love, we're both of us above Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the children who are asking to be born Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn Raise a tent of shelter now, though every thread is torn Dance me to the end of love Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love Dance me to the end of love
According Wikipedia: Although structured as a love song, "Dance Me to the End Of Love" was in fact inspired by the Holocaust. In a 1995 radio interview, Cohen said of the song:[1][2] 'it's curious how songs begin because the origin of the song, every song, has a kind of grain or seed that somebody hands you or the world hands you and that's why the process is so mysterious about writing a song. But that came from just hearing or reading or knowing that in the death camps, beside the crematoria, in certain of the death camps, a string quartet[3] was pressed into performance while this horror was going on, those were the people whose fate was this horror also. And they would be playing classical music while their fellow prisoners were being killed and burnt. So, that music, "Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin," meaning the beauty thereof being the consummation of life, the end of this existence and of the passionate element in that consummation. But, it is the same language that we use for surrender to the beloved, so that the song - it’s not important that anybody knows the genesis of it, because if the language comes from that passionate resource, it will be able to embrace all passionate activity.
I ended up here because Shawn James gave you props. My first thought was... "I wonder if he does any Cohen." And here it is. Thanks Frank. Im a new fan. Love your vibe.
This is so heartfelt, and so beautiful, what a wonderful cover, I love the way you sing and play, thanks for sharing ... I'm glad I found you on here, I so much love Leonard Cohen and this song, and you sure do him justice ! Liza
Spectacular job. I’m also a musician who posts covers & originals. Been doing it for about as long as you have. Although we may not share a familiar genre, I still admire your work. Cherish this channel, never lose it. It’s great to look back on; kinda like a diary in a way.
Love your version of this song! My husband and I had our first dance to this song at our wedding this October. It was the first time that I listened to it since then and it truly warmed my heart. Thank you and best wishes from Germany.
This was an absolute delight, as a fan of I was excited to see you'd covered him (one of my faves by him, at that!) and you really surpassed my already high hopes. A beautiful rendition! Cohen is rightly covered by so many so there is no end to the talents that have sung his words-- but you're really really up there for me out of all the covers of his that I've heard over the decades (many!!) and I would LOVE to hear your takes on some of his other work if you ever feel inspired. Please keep it up, you're adding some real beauty to the word and those of us lucky enough to have found your offerings are very grateful!
