Leonard Cohen - The Captain Lyrics
Now the captain called me to his bedHe fumbled for my handTake these silver bars, he saidIm giving you command.Command of what, theres no one hereTheres only you and me --All the rest are dead or in retreatOr with the enemy.Complain, complain, thats all youve doneEver since we lostIf its not the crucifixionThen its the holocaust.May christ have mercy on your soulFor making such a jokeAmid these hearts that burn like coalAnd the flesh that rose like smoke.I know that you have suffered, lad,But suffer this awhile:Whatever makes a soldier sadWill make a killer smile.Im leaving, captain, I must goTheres blood upon your handBut tell me, captain, if you knowOf a decent place to stand.There is no decent place to standIn a massacre;But if a woman take your handGo and stand with her.I left a wife in tennesseeAnd a baby in saigon --I risked my life, but not to hearSome country-western song.Ah but if you cannot raise your loveTo a very high degree,Then youre just the man Ive been thinking of --So come and stand with me.Your standing days are done, I cried,Youll rally me no more.I dont even know what sideWe fought on, or what for.Im on the side thats always lostAgainst the side of heavenIm on the side of snake-eyes tossedAgainst the side of seven.And Ive read the bill of human rightsAnd some of it was trueBut there wasnt any burden leftSo Im laying it on you.Now the captain he was dyingBut the captain wasnt hurtThe silver bars were in my handPinned them to my shirt.
