Leonard Cohen/Two Went To Sleep

Two Went To Sleep

Two went to sleep
almost every night
one dreamed of mud
one dreamed of Asia
visiting a zeppelin
visiting Nijinsky

Two went to sleep
one dreamed of ribs
one dreamed of senators

Two went to sleep
two travelers

The long marriage
in the dark

The sleep was old
the travelers were old
one dreamed of oranges
one dreamed of Carthage

Two friends asleep
years locked in travel

Good night my darling
as the dreams waved goodbye
one traveled lightly
one walked through water
visiting a chess game
visiting a booth
always returning
to wait out the day

One carried matches
one climbed a beehive
one sold an earphone
one shot a German

Two went to sleep
every sleep went together
wandering away
from an operating table
one dreamed of grass
one dreamed of spokes
one bargained nicely
one was a snowman
one counted medicine
one tasted pencils
one was a child
one was a traitor
visiting heavy industry
visiting the family

Two went to sleep
none could foretell
one went with baskets
one took a ledger
one night happy
one night in terror

Love could not bind them

Fear could not either
they went unconnected
they never knew where
always returning
to wait out the day
parting with kissing
parting with yawns
visiting Death till
they wore out their welcome
visiting Death till
the right disguise worked

Leonard Cohen - 1964