Joan of Arc
Leonard Cohen
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Now the flames they followed joan of arc As she came riding through the dark; No moon to keep her armour bright, No man to get her through this very smoky night. She said, I'm tired of the war, I want the kind of work I had before, A wedding dress or something white To wear upon my swollen appetite. Well, I'm glad to hear you talk this way, You know I've watched you riding every day And something in me yearns to win Such a cold and lonesome heroine. And who are you? she sternly spoke To the one beneath the smoke. Why, I'm fire, he replied, And I love your solitude, I love your pride. Then fire, make your body cold, I'm going to give you mine to hold, Saying this she climbed inside To be his one, to be his only bride. And deep into his fiery heart He took the dust of joan of arc, And high above the wedding guests He hung the ashes of her wedding dress. It was deep into his fiery heart He took the dust of joan of arc, And then she clearly understood If he was fire, oh then she must be wood. I saw her wince, I saw her cry, I saw the glory in her eye. Myself I long for love and light, But must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?
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Written by: RICHARD WEBB, DAVID JONATHAN COHEN, CAROLINE NORRIS
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
14 facts about this song
Genre Classification"Joan of Arc" is classified as a folk song, showcasing Leonard Cohen's signature style that combines poetic lyrics and melodic tunes.
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Album PlacementThe song is part of Leonard Cohen's second studio album titled "Songs from a Room," released in 1969.
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Inspirational DesignThe lyrics of "Joan of Arc" are inspired by the historical figure of the same name, comparing a romantic relationship to Joan of Arc's fate.
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Female CollaborationThe track features vocal contributions from American singer, Julie Felix, who provides the female voice in some of the verses.
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Song StructureThe song follows an alternating structure, with verses sung by Leonard Cohen and the female voice in the chorus.
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Musical AccompanimentIt is richly accompanied by Leonard Cohen's hallmark acoustic guitar strumming with additional embellishments of other string instruments.
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Recurring Theme"Joan of Arc" is one of many songs in which Cohen uses religious and historical figures to portray complex emotions and situations.
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Popular CoverJennifer Warnes covered the song in her 1987 tribute album to Cohen, "Famous Blue Raincoat."
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Later Live PerformanceCohen included "Joan of Arc" in sets while on tour from 1970 and continued to perform it live until his final tour in 2013.
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Metaphorical DescriptionCohen has described the song as a description of the sense of relief experienced when one's muse abandons them, symbolized by the burning of Joan at the stake.
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French InfluenceCohen's time living in Hydra, Greece, and his appreciation for French culture maybe why Joan of Arc, a significant French historical figure, featured in his song.
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InterpretationListeners and critics have interpreted the song as a complex depiction of the relationship between artist and muse, or as a metaphor for a love affair.
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Unique NarrationUniquely, Cohen shifts the narrative perspective in the song that elicits different emotions.
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Original SongwritingAs with the majority of his catalogue, Cohen wrote the lyrics and composed the music for "Joan of Arc."
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Citation
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"Joan of Arc Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/33603150/Leonard+Cohen/Joan+of+Arc>.
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