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It's a few minutes past midnight, Wednesday September 21st, and "You want it darker", the single (4:44 minutes long), is now available on Spotify. Just listening to it on repeat...It's even more haunting and hypnotizing than I remembered it from the prelistening at the event in Amsterdam, especially the end when the cantor sings "Hineni"...

It is on Spotify here in UK. Sweet lord it's incredible.

Its such a beautiful song, exquisitely performed and recorded.

Yes! Exciting to join those of you able to listen to this on Spotify in the early hours of the 21st. Sounds lovely.

'I'm with you, my Lord ' is changed to 'I'm ready, my Lord'
the second 'For the help that never came' is changed to 'For the love that never came'
and some "We kill the flame" is deleted.

It's so good. Always well worth the wait.

Spotify in the US:

https://play.spotify.com/album/27eWVkS6UHIGouKtlfN1uT

Appears to be the same link as the UK but now it's working.

Wow. A powerful, tastefully-produced, mysterious song. Loving the synagogue chorus and cantorial flourishes. Hineni. Hineni. Can't wait for the rest of this album to arrive.

Its a beautifully produced and arranged track, it really does underline those previous comments which said the album is a step up sonically from the last two.

And thematically? Is it safe to say this is Leonard enlisting against the Devil?

Think I'm ready my lord after that...

Second thoughts, I'll hang around for the full album. That was gorgeous and mysterious and menacing all rolled into one. Great way to open the album.

Leonard Cohen trending topic on Twitter this morning!!!!

Can't stop listeing to it. I just love it.The lyrics, the voice, everything. A perfect description of our time and age.

The original lyrics of this song were copyrighted by LC on 14th May 2016 and published in the recent Amsterdam Event booklet. Because of my book project and for general interest, I thought I’d show the difference between those words and the ones actually sung.

If I had to describe my overall feeling about this song in one word it would be absolutely compelling .... yeah, I know, that's two words

If you are the dealer
I'm out of the game
If you are the healer
(Means) I'm broken and lame.....‘means’ sung
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified and sanctified.....no ‘and’ sung .....(I think it’s most effective with no ‘and’)
Be Thy Holy Name
Vilified and crucified.....no ‘and’ sung
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the help that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame.....this line not sung

Hineni Hineni
I'm with you, my Lord
(I’m ready, my Lord).....this line sung instead of above line...... (much more immediate meaning)

There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They’re lining up the prisoners now.....‘and’ sung instead of ‘now’
The guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle-class and tame
(I) Didn’t know I had permission.....‘I’ sung
To murder and to maim
You want it darker
We kill the flame.....this line not sung

Hineni Hineni
I'm with you, my Lord
(I’m ready, my Lord).....this line sung instead of above line

Magnified and sanctified.....no ‘and’ sung
Be Thy Holy Name
Vilified and crucified.....no ‘and’ sung
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the help (love) that never came.....'love’ sung instead of ‘help’.....(gives a different feeling)
You want it darker
We kill the flame

If you are the dealer
I'm out of the game.....‘let me’ sung instead of ‘I’m’
If you are the healer
I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory
Then mine must be the shame.....No ‘then’ sung
You want it darker
We kill the flame.....this line not sung

Hineni Hineni.....this line repeated
I'm with you, my Lord
(I’m ready, my Lord).....this line sung instead of above line


....can't wait for the rest of the songs