Leonard Cohen – Leaving Green Sleeves Lyrics

This song is an adaptation of the 16th century traditional English love song “Greensleeves,” about an elusive, promiscuous woman whom the song’s narrator would do anything for, for whom he would suffer all of her whims and resistance and continue to do whatever he could to be with her, pretty racy stuff for its day, and perfect fodder for Cohen.

Leaving Green Sleeves Lyrics by Leonard Cohen

Alas, my love, you did me wrong
To cast me out discourteously
For I have loved you so long
Delighting in your very company
Now if you intend to show me disdain
Don’t you know it all the more enraptures me
For even so I still remain your lover in captivity

Green sleeves, you’re all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men have gone
Green sleeves, there’s no one home
Not even the Lady Green Sleeves
I sang my songs, I told my lies
To lie between your matchless thighs
And ain’t it fine, ain’t it wild
To finally end our exercise
Then I saw you naked in the early dawn
Oh, I hoped you would be someone new
I reached for you but you were gone
So Lady I’m going too

Green sleeves, you’re all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men are gone

Green sleeves, you’re all alone
The leaves have fallen, the men have all gone home
Green sleeves, it’s so easily done
Leaving the Lady Green Sleeves