Anthem | Michel Griffin

Data
Artist:Michel Griffin
Album:Dance Me to the End of Love
Title:Anthem
Year:2019
Track number:12
Total tracks:14
Disc number:1
Genres:Folk / Easy Listening / Gospel & Religious
Liner notes

This exquisite song opens to a gently undulating beat and soars to a dramatic orchestral climax. The revelation that imperfection provides illumination is profound. With Michel 'Coco' Correch on double-bass.
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About the artist

He has been hailed as "the new Leonard Cohen", an artist who "combines the dexterity of James Taylor’s guitar work with the genius of Bob Dylan’s poetry". Michel Griffin bought his first guitar at 14 because he noticed girls liked guitar players. Self-taught, and under the influence of songwriters like Dylan, Cohen, Paul Simon and Joni Mitchell, he began to write songs that told stories ...

He’s been writing songs ever since. He has performed regularly on BBC radio (where one of his songs was a Pick of the Week) and his career has taken him all over the world, with spells living in Paris, New York and Switzerland.

He finally settled in the Lot valley in SW France, in 2000 and since 2008 has been organising the critically acclaimed Cahors Folk Club, which he co-founded. He performs at venues all over the area, a tune of his was featured in the American film Married Men, and he has recorded 8 CDs.

Lyrics

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be

The wars they will
Be fought again
The holy dove
Be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free

CHORUS

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
The widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see

Can't run no more
With the lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me

CHORUS

You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee

CHORUS

Copyright © 1992 Leonard Cohen
and Sony/ATV Music Publishing Canada Company