They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens (guided, guided)
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin (guided, guided by)
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons (guided)
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

(I'd really like to live beside you, baby)
(I love your body and your spirit and your clothes)
(But you see that line there moving through the station?)
(I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those)

Ah, you loved me as a loser
But now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I don't like your fashion business, mister
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to my sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

(I'd really like to live beside you, baby)
(I love your body and your spirit and your clothes)
(But you see that line there moving through the station?)
(I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those)

And I thank you for those items that you sent me, ha ha ha
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin (I am guided)

Ah remember me, I used to live for music (baby)
Remember me, I brought your groceries in (ooh, baby, yeah)
Well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded (baby)
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin


Lyrics submitted by bambi3k

First We Take Manhattan Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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First We Take Manhattan song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    This is about the Jewish plot to take over the world. Cohen was a Jew. We loved them as losers, but now they might just win. He was one of those Jews moving through the stations to the concentration camps. They prayed for revenge, now their revenge begins. Guided by their religious beliefs from heaven, to take over the world and reign from Jerusalem, first they take Manhattan, (America) then Berlin, (The world). They try to change the system from within, but Hitler stopped that and sentenced them to twenty years of 'patience' after 1942, till when the song was written approx. They are now coming to reward the "goyim" for the Holocaust. First they take Manhattan, then Berlin…

    @nthonyon September 23, 2022   Link

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