Re. GRGR(4) 61.24 Ascent and Sacrifice

[s~Z]

             PLAYLIST ADDITION

             Story of Isaac

             (Leonard Cohen)

            The door it opened slowly, 
            my father he came in, 
            I was nine years old. 
            And he stood so tall above me, 
            his blue eyes they were shining 
            and his voice was very cold. 
            He said, "I've had a vision 
            and you know I'm strong and holy, 
            I must do what I've been told." 
            So he started up the mountain, 
            I was running, he was walking, 
            and his axe was made of gold. 

            Well, the trees they got much smaller, 
            the lake a lady's mirror, 
            we stopped to drink some wine. 
            Then he threw the bottle over. 
            Broke a minute later 
            and he put his hand on mine. 
            Thought I saw an eagle 
            but it might have been a vulture, 
            I never could decide. 
            Then my father built an altar, 
            he looked once behind his shoulder, 
            he knew I would not hide. 

            You who build these altars now 
            to sacrifice these children, 
            you must not do it anymore. 
            A scheme is not a vision 
            and you never have been tempted 
            by a demon or a god. 
            You who stand above them now, 
            your hatchets blunt and bloody, 
            you were not there before, 
            when I lay upon a mountain 
            and my father's hand was trembling 
            with the beauty of the word. 

            And if you call me brother now, 
            forgive me if I inquire, 
            "Just according to whose plan?" 
            When it all comes down to dust 
            I will kill you if I must, 
            I will help you if I can. 
            When it all comes down to dust 
            I will help you if I must, 
            I will kill you if I can. 
            And mercy on our uniform, 
            man of peace or man of war, 
            the peacock spreads his fan.