Well, the door it opened slowly
My father he came in i was nine years old
And he stood so tall above me
And his blue eyes they were shining
And his voice was very cold
He said, "I've had a vision
And you know I'm strong and holy
I must do what I've been told"
So we started up the mountain
I was running, he was walking
And his axe was made of burning gold

Well, the trees they got much smaller
Yes, the lake a lady's mirror
When we stopped to drink some wine
Then he threw the bottle over
Broke a minute later
And he put his hand on mine
Thought I saw an eagle
But it might have been a vulture
I never could decide
Then my father built an altar
He looked once behind his shoulder
I guess he knew I would not hide

You who build these altars now
To sacrifice our children
You must not do it anymore
A scheme is not a vision
And you never have been tempted
By a demon or a god
You who stand above them now
Your hatchets blunt and bloody
You were not there before
When I lay upon a mountain
And my father's hand was trembling
With the beauty
I mean the beauty of the word

And if you call me brother now
Forgive me but I must inquire
"Just according to whose plan?"
When it all comes down to dust
I will kill you if I must
I will help you if I can
When it all comes down to dust
I will help you if I must
I'll kill you if I can
And mercy, mercy on our uniform
Man of peace, man of war
The peacock spreads his deadly fan

Copyright: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Writer(s): Leonard Cohen