Leonard Norman Cohen (born September 21, 1934, in Montreal, Canada) is a singer, songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. He published his first book of poetry in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often deals with the exploration of religion, isolation, sexuality and complex interpersonal relationships. He has been inducted into both the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, that nation's highest civilian honour. While giving the speech at his induction into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008, Lou Reed described Cohen as in the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters."

Here is the Wikipedia URL, if you want to know more about him: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Cohen

Here is the YouTube URL, if you want to watch and hear him sing these lyrics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFBKV0zVXSE

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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 Berlin.

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens.
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin.
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons.
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;
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.
Remember me? I brought your groceries in.
Well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded.
First, we take Manhattan; then, we take Berlin.