Identify song using your Microphone
Lyrics
Meaning
Chords

Artist: Leonard Cohen
Track: First We Take Manhattan

Lyrics
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
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan
Initially written for and recorded in 1987 by his ex backup singer Jennifer Warnes. The song became a staple in Leonard Cohen’s concerts, and a major source of discussion among
Cookies n Beans – First We Take Manhattan
They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom / For trying to change the system from within / Im coming now Im coming to reward them / First we take Manhattan then we take Ber-lin
Joe Cocker – First We Take Manhattan
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
Jennifer Warnes – First We Take Manhattan
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
Sirenia – First We Take Manhattan
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
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan Covers
See all of “First We Take Manhattan” by Leonard Cohen’s covers
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan Samples
See all of “First We Take Manhattan” by Leonard Cohen’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan (Live in Dublin)
They sentenced me to 20 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
R.E.M. – First We Take Manhattan
[Verse 1] / 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
Leonard Cohen – First We Take Manhattan (Live in London)
They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom / For tryin' to change the system from within / I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them / First we take Manhattan, then we take
Leonard Cohen (Ft. Sharon Robinson) – The Land of Plenty
Another criticism of capitalist America, but much gentler than in “First We Take Manhattan”.
Kollegah – Pinker Cadillac Samples
See all of “Pinker Cadillac” by Kollegah’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Enrique Morente – Manhattan (First We Take Manhattan)
Me condenaron a veinte años de hastío / Por intentar cambiar el sistema desde dentro / Ahora vengo a desquitarme / Primero conquistaremos Manhattan / Después conquistaremos Berlín
Genius Traducciones al Español – Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan (Traducción al Español)
Me sentenciaron a veinte años de aburrimiento / Por tratar de cambiar el sistema desde adentro / Ahora vengo, vengo a recompensarles / Primero tomamos Manhattan, luego tomamos
Leonard Cohen – Darkness (Live in Dublin)
I caught the darkness / It was drinking from your cup / I caught the darkness / Drinking from your cup / I said, "Is this contagious?" / You said, "Just drink it up." / I've got no
Leonard Cohen – Come Healing (Live in Dublin)
O gather up the brokenness / And bring it to me now / The fragrance of those promises / You never dared to vow / The splinters that you carry / The cross you left behind / Come
Leonard Cohen – In My Secret Life (Live in Dublin)
I saw you this morning / You were moving so fast / Can’t seem to loosen my grip / On the past / And I miss you so much / There’s no one in sight / And we’re still making love / In
Leonard Cohen – I Tried to Leave You (Live in Dublin)
I tried to leave you, I don't deny / I closed the book on us, at least a hundred times / I'd wake up every morning by your side / The years go by, you lose your pride / The baby's
Leonard Cohen – Waiting for the Miracle (Live in Dublin)
Baby, I've been waiting / I've been waiting night and day / I didn't see the time / I waited half my life away / There were lots of invitations / And I know you sent me some / But
Leonard Cohen – I Tried to Leave You (Live in London)
I tried to leave you, I don't deny / I closed the book on us, at least a hundred times / I'd wake up every morning by your side / The years go by, you lose your pride / The baby's
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (Live in Dublin)
Now I've heard there was a secret chord / That David played, and it pleased the Lord / But you don't really care for music, do you? / It goes like this / The fourth, the fifth
Leonard Cohen – The Gypsy's Wife (Live in London)
And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight / I've heard all the wild reports, they can't be right / But whose head is this she's dancing with on the threshing floor / Whose
Leonard Cohen – So Long, Marianne (Live in Dublin)
Come over to the window, my little darling / I'd like to try to read your palm / I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy / Before I let you take me home / Now so long
Leonard Cohen – Chelsea Hotel No. 2 (Live in Dublin)
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel / You were talkin' so brave and so sweet / Givin' me head on the unmade bed / While the limousines wait in the street / Those were the
Leonard Cohen – The Partisan (Live in Dublin)
When they poured across the border / I was cautioned to surrender / This I could not do; / I took my gun and vanished / I have changed my name so often / I have lost my wife and
Morente & Lagartija Nick – Manhattan (First We Take Manhattan)
Me condenaron a 20 años de hastío / Por intentar cambiar el sistema desde dentro / Ahora vengo a desquitarme / Primero, conquistaremos Manhattan / Después, conquistaremos Berlín
Leonard Cohen – Who by Fire (Live in Dublin)
And who by fire, who by water / Who in the sunshine, who in the night time / Who by high ordeal, who by common trial / Who in your merry merry month of May / Who by very slow decay
View 24 More →
AZ Lyrics
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan Lyrics
Leonard Cohen Lyrics · First We Take Manhattan · Ain't No Cure For Love · Everybody Knows · I'm Your Man · Take This Waltz · Jazz Police · I Can't Forget.
Jennifer Warnes - First We Take Manhattan Lyrics
Leonard Cohen - "First We Take Manhattan" They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I'm coming now, I'm coming to ...
Sirenia - First We Take Manhattan Lyrics
"First We Take Manhattan" lyrics. Sirenia Lyrics. "First We Take Manhattan" (originally by Leonard Cohen) ... First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin I'd ...
Genius Q&A
Q:Who wrote “First We Take Manhattan” by Leonard Cohen?
“First We Take Manhattan” by Leonard Cohen was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:Who wrote “First We Take Manhattan” by Jennifer Warnes?
“First We Take Manhattan” by Jennifer Warnes was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:Who wrote “First We Take Manhattan” by Joe Cocker?
“First We Take Manhattan” by Joe Cocker was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:Who wrote “Manhattan (First We Take Manhattan)” by Enrique Morente?
“Manhattan (First We Take Manhattan)” by Enrique Morente was written by Leonard Cohen.
Q:Who wrote “First we take manhattan” by Tyskarna Från Lund?
“First we take manhattan” by Tyskarna Från Lund was written by Leonard Cohen.
View 2 More →
MusixMatch Lyrics
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan Lyrics
Lyrics for First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen. They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I′m c...
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan translation in Spanish
Spanish translation of lyrics for First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen. They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I′m c...
Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan translation in German
German translation of lyrics for First We Take Manhattan by Leonard Cohen. They sentenced me to 20 years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I′m c...
Jennifer Warnes feat. Stevie Ray Vaughan - First We Take Manhattan Lyrics
Lyrics for First We Take Manhattan by Jennifer Warnes feat. Stevie Ray Vaughan. They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I...
View 1 More →
Genius Albums
I'm Your Man by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on I'm Your Man and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Live in Dublin by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Live in Dublin and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Greatest Hits by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Greatest Hits and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
The Essential Leonard Cohen by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on The Essential Leonard Cohen and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Live in London by Leonard Cohen
Get all the lyrics to songs on Live in London and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Sirenian Shores by Sirenia
Get all the lyrics to songs on Sirenian Shores and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
View 3 More →
Genius Artists
Roscoe Beck
Get all the lyrics to songs by Roscoe Beck and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Rafael Bernardo Gayol
Get all the lyrics to songs by Rafael Bernardo Gayol and join the Genius community of music scholars to learn the meaning behind the lyrics.
Shazam Lyrics
First We Take Manhattan - Jennifer Warnes
Listen to First We Take Manhattan by Jennifer Warnes, 84904 Shazams, featuring on Leonard Cohen: The Songwriters, and Steve Postell: The Session Musicians ...
First We Take Manhattan - Joe Cocker
First We Take Manhattan. Joe Cocker. Rock. 125,054 Shazams. PLAY FULL SONG. Get up to ... Composition & Lyrics. Leonard Cohen. Composer. Production & Engineering.
AZ Artists
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Leonard Cohen lyrics - 148 song lyrics sorted by album, including "Hallelujah ... Leonard Cohen - I'm Your Man album cover. First We Take Manhattan · Ain't No ...