The Butcher

I came upon a butcher, He was slaughtering a lamb, I accused him there With his tortured lamb. He said, Listen to me, child, I am what I am and you, you are my only son. Well, I found a silver needle, I put it into my arm. It did some good, Did some harm. But the nights were cold And it almost kept me warm, How come the night is long? I saw some flowers growing up Where that lamb fell down Was I supposed to praise my Lord, Make some kind of joyful sound? He said, Listen, listen to me now, I go round and round And you, you are my only child. Do not leave me now, Do not leave me now, I'm broken down From a recent fall. Blood upon my body And ice upon my soul, Lead on, my son, it is your world. --- The Butcher - Leonard Cohen