The Night of Santiago lyrics

She said she was a maiden

That wasn’t what I heard

For the sake of conversation

I took her at her word

The lights went out behind us

The fireflies undressed

The broken sidewalk ended

I touched her sleeping breasts

They opened to me urgently

Like lilies from the dead

Behind a fine embroidery

Her nipples rose like bread

Then I took of my necktie

And she took of her dress

My belt and pistol set aside

We tore away the rest

The night of Santiago

And I was passing through

So I took her to the river

As any man would do

Her thighs they slipped away from me

Like schools of startled fish

Though I’ve forgotten half my life

I still remember this

Now, as a man I won’t repeat

The things she said aloud

Except for this, my lips are sealed forever

And for now

And soon there’s sand in every kiss

And soon the dawn is ready

And soon the night surrenders

To a daffodil machete

I gave her something pretty

And I waited till she laughed

I wasn’t born a gypsy

To make a women sad

The night of Santiago

And I was passing through

So I took her to the river

As any man would do

The night of Santiago

And I was passing through

So I took her to the river

As any man would do

I didn’t fall in love of course

It’s never up to you

But she was walking back and forth

And I was passing through

When I took her to the river

In her virginal apparel

When I took her to the river

On that night of Santiago

And yes she lied about it all

Her children and her husband

You were born to judge the world

Forgive me but I wasn’t

The night of Santiago

And I was passing through

So I took her to the river

As any man would do

• Artist:Leonard Cohen
• Album:Thanks for the Dance (2019)