Came So Far For Beauty Lyrics - Leonard Cohen

I came so far for beauty 

I left so much behind 

My patience and my family 

My masterpiece unsigned 

I thought I'd be rewarded 

For such a lonely choice 

And surely she would answer 

To such a very hopeless voice 

I practiced all my sainthood 

I gave to one and all 

But the rumors of my virtue 

They moved her not at all 

I changed my style to silver 

I changed my clothed to black 

And where I would surrender 

Now I would attack 

I stormed the old casino 

For the money and the flesh 

And I myself decided 

What was rotten and what was fresh 

And men to do my bidding 

And broken bones to teach 

The value of my pardon 

The shadow of my reach 

But no, I could not touch her 

With such a heavy hand 

Her star beyond my order 

Her nakedness unmanned 

I came so far for beauty 

I left so much behind 

My patience and my family 

My masterpiece unsigned