Hineni again - Leonard Cohen

I just listened to a conversation with Malcolm Guite on a podcast called “The Common Toad.” It’s full of richness. In one place he enthuses about “the Hineni song” by Leonard Cohen. Well, I’ve been fascinated by that word for a while (some previous Hineni references here. I never knew there was a Leonard Cohen song using it!

Here’s a video of it.

Below are the lyrics and here is an article talking about the meaning.

You Want It Darker
by Leonard Cohen

If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you are the healer, it means im broken and lame
If thine is the glory, then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified
Be the holy name
Vilified, crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the help that never came
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my Lord

There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There's a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it's written in the scriptures
And it's not some idol claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They're lining up to prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggle with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission
To murder and to maim
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my Lord

Magnified, sanctified
Be the holy name
Vilified, crucified
In the human frame
A million candles burning
For the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame

If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my Lord

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Leonard Cohen / Patrick Leonard

You Want It Darker lyrics © Universal Music Corp., Old Ideas Llc, No Tomato Music, Pw Arrangements