Thursday, December 16, 2010

Anthem

I just came across this awesome quote, part of the lyrics of a song called Anthem by Leonard Cohen.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in


I found it on a website called Hooked on Houses. In this particular post, Elizabeth Edwards' house was being shown, and the quote was on her kitchen wall. As another reader explained, “Elizabeth said that it was to remind her that nobody has perfect lives and that we have a choice about how we integrate the imperfect parts into our lives.”

Love that.

The day before she passed away (just a week ago), she wrote this on her Facebook page:

You all know that I have been sustained throughout my life by three saving graces - my family, my friends, and a faith in the power of resilience and hope. These graces have carried me through difficult times and they have brought more joy to the good times than I ever could have imagined. [...] And, yes, there are certainly times when we aren't able to muster as much strength and patience as we would like. It's called being human.


Being human. Cracks and all.



I like this live version of the song.





Here are the full lyrics.


Anthem

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.

I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.

Ring the bells that still can ring ...

You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.



1 comment:

WinnyNinny PooPoo said...

enjoyed the song and the performance! Thanks for sharing, as my life is more cracks than pieces!!