Story of Isaac - Leonard Cohen

This a song called "The Story Of Isaac"

and it's about those who would sacrifice one generation on behalf of another.

Well, the door it opened slowly,

my father he came in,

I was nine years old.

And he stood so tall above me,

and his blue eyes they were shining

and his voice was very cold.

He said, "I've had a vision

and you know I'm strong and holy,

I must do what I've been told."

So we started up the mountain,

I was running, he was walking,

and his axe was made of burning gold.

Well, the trees they got much smaller,

yes, the lake a lady's mirror

when 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,

I guess he knew I would not hide.

You who build these altars now

to sacrifice our 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, I mean the beauty of the word.

And if you call me brother now,

forgive me but I must 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'll kill you if I can.

And mercy, mercy on our uniform,

man of peace, man of war,

the peacock spreads his deadly fan.