Leonard Cohen - The Stranger Song Lyrics
Its true that all the men you knew were dealersWho said they were through with dealingEvery time you gave them shelterI know that kind of manIts hard to hold the hand of anyoneWho is reaching for the sky just to surrender.And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behindYou find he did not leave you very muchNot even laughterLike any dealer he was watching for the cardThat is so high and wildHell never need to deal anotherHe was just some joseph looking for a mangerHe was just some joseph looking for a manger.And then leaning on your window sillHell say one day you caused his willTo weaken with your love and warmth and shelterAnd then taking from his walletAn old schedule of trains, hell sayI told you when I came I was a strangerI told you when I came I was a stranger.But now another stranger seems to want you to ignore his dreamsAs though they were the burden of some otherO youve seen that man beforeHis golden arm dispatching cardsBut now its rusted from the elbow to the fingerAnd he wants to trade the game he plays for shelterYes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.You hate to watch another tired manLay down his handLike he was giving up the holy game of pokerAnd while he talks his dreams to sleepYou notice theres a highwayThat is curling up like smoke above his shoulderIts curling up like smoke above his shoulder.You tell him to come in sit downBut something makes you turn aroundThe door is open you cant close you shelterYou try the handle of the roadIt opens do not be afraidIts you my love, you who are the strangerIt is you my love, you who are the stranger.Well, Ive been waiting, I was sureWed meet between the trains were waiting forI think its time to board anotherPlease understand, I never had a secret chartTo get me to the heart of thisOr any other matterWell he talks like thisYou dont know what hes afterWhen he speaks like this,You dont know what hes after.Lets meet tomorrow if you choseUpon the shore, beneath the bridgeThat they are building on some endless riverThen he leaves the platformFor the sleeping car thats warmYou realize, hes only advertising one more shelterAnd it comes to you, he never was a strangerAnd you say ok the bridge or someplace later.And then sweeping up the jokersThat he left behindYou find he did not leave you very muchNot even laughterLike any dealer he was watching for the cardThat is so high and wildHell never need to deal anotherHe was just some joseph looking for a mangerHe was just some joseph looking for a manger.And leaning on your window sillHell say one day you caused his willTo weaken with your love and warmth and shelterAnd then taking from his walletAn old schedule of trainsHell say I told you when I came I was a strangerI told you when I came I was a stranger.
