Leonard Cohen: Story of Isaac | Song-Factsheet

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Song «Story of Isaac» von Leonard Cohen.

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Veröffentlichungsdaten: 1969 04 (Single)
Label: Columbia CS 9767
Songwriter Leonard Cohen
Produktion: Bob Johnston
Genre: Rock - Singer-Songwriter

Annotationen

«Story of Isaac» ist «Cohens Auseinandersetzung mit der bis heute herausforderndsten Geschichte der jüdischen Bibel: der von Gott scheinbar verlangten und von Abraham schon fast bereitwillig vollzogenen Opferung Isaaks.» (Martin Schaefer). Es ist nicht schwer, im Song eine Kritik an der Opferung amerikanischer Jugendlicher im Vietnamkrieg zu erkennen. Die Alten schicken die Jungen in den Krieg im Namen ihrer überkommenen Wertvorstellungen. So lautet die Stelle im Lied, an der die Werte, an die man geglaubt hat, korrumpiert werden:

Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture

Personen und Querverweise

Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen
Bob Johnston

Lyrics

[Verse 1] The door it opened slowly My father he came in I was nine years old And he stood so tall above me Blue eyes they were shining And his voice was very cold 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 ax was made of gold [Verse 2] 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 [Verse 3] You who build the 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 [Verse 4] 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