The Stranger Song (Tour of 1979) Leonard Cohen

It's true that all the men you knew
Were dealers who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter
Well, I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of
Anyone who's reaching for the sky just to surrender
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender

And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
You'll find he did not leave you very much
No, not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
That is so high and wild he'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
Just some Holy Joseph looking for a manger

And then leaning on your windowsill
He'll say one day you caused his will
To weaken with your love, your warmth and your shelter
And then taking from his wallet an old schedule of trains
He'll say, "I told you when I came I was a stranger"
"I told you when I came I was a stranger"

Ah, but now another stranger seems to want you
To ignore his dreams, as though they were the burden of some other
You've seen that man before
His golden arm dispatching cards
But now it's rusted from the elbow to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes, he wants to trade the song he sings for shelter