Can't See Him, But Can Hear Him - Leonard Cohen's Beautiful "Come Healing", Seattle Concert Nov 9,12 (Partial)

January 25, 2012

"Come Healing" Seattle Nov 9, 12 wide angle & close-up (screenshots)

I love this new song from Leonard Cohen's latest album "Old Ideas" and wanted to capture it when I was on my last six concert adventure.  However, it was not to be.  Each venue presented an obstacle, either my seat location or strict no video security. The challenge in Seattle was my seat location, albeit first row but off to the side.

Leonard Cohen kneels when singing his "penitential hymn" and the camerman blocked him from my view. I started to video this song hoping the camerman would alter his position, but he didn't. I finally gave up part way through the song, put my camera away and just sat and listened to this delicate intense hymn.

I was very impressed with the Webb Sisters' brilliant harmonies. For the second verse, the two sopranos varied their harmony to match Leonard Cohen's lower register bass and the effect was superb.  Very rich and gripping.

Even though my video is only a partial, it is still a beautiful memory of how comforting Leonard Cohen's song of healing is at this particular time in my life.

I hear it as the Mi Shebeirach, a Jewish prayer for healing which asks God who blessed our ancestors to bless and heal our loved ones.

Come Healing

Chorus:
O, gather 'round the brokenness
Bring it to me now
The fragrance of those promises
You never dared to vow

The splinters that you carried
The cross you left behind
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind

And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb

Leonard:
Behold the gates of mercy
In arbitrary space
And none of us deserving
Of cruelty or the grace

Together:
O, solitude of longing
Where love has been confined
Come healing of the body
Come healing of the mind

O, see the darkness yielding
That tore the light apart
Come healing of the reason
Come healing of the heart

O, troubledness concealing
An undivided love
The heart beneath is teaching
To the broken heart above

And let the heavens utter
Let the earth proclaim
Come healing of the altar
Come healing of the name

Chorus:
O, longing of the branches
To lift the little bird
O, longing of the arteries
To purify the blood

Together:
And let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb

O let the heavens hear it
The penitential hymn
Come healing of the spirit
Come healing of the limb

Seattle COME HEALING (partial) Nov 9.12 - by Arlene Dick

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Come Healing lyrics from Lyrics Mania