Democracy by Leonard Cohen

In an interview for Paul Zollo’s book Songwriters on Songwriting, Leonard Cohen said about his song Democracy, “I think the irony of America is transcendent in the song. It’s not an ironic song. It’s a song of deep intimacy and affirmation of the experiment of democracy in this country. That this is really where the experiment is unfolding. This is the real laboratory of democracy.” Leonard Cohen died the day before Election Day 2016 and was spared all this, but his words and music are indeed transcendent. They speak to this moment and give me hope. 

Vienna terrorist attack: several dead after shooting near synagogue in Austria—The Guardian

Marco Rubio Applauds Trump Caravan Surrounding Biden Bus in Texas: ‘We Do That in Florida Every Day’—Newsweek

After “Fire Fauci” chants, Trump tells crowd: “Let me wait till a little bit after the election”—CBS News

November 2, 2020

Democracy
by Leonard Cohen

I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean.
I love the country, but I can’t stand the scene.
And I’m neither left or right, I’m just staying home tonight,
Getting lost in that hopeless little screen.

But I’m stubborn as those garbage bags that time can not decay,
I’m junk, but I’m still holding up this little wild bouquet.
Democracy is coming to the U.S.A.