haMephorash
The last installment of Unsong comes out today. I transcribed the words of the main song from the chapter headings:
haMephorash
- Leonard Cohen
- Scott Alexander
(Tune is Hallelujah by non-fictional
Leonard Cohen)
Now I've heard there was a sacred word
That Jala said, and it named the Lord
But you don't really know of magic, or us.
It goes like this - a tav, a resh
A fearsome joy, a fervent wish
The Comet King incanting haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephor-or-a-ash
Your faith was strong, but you needed proof
(Hay hay yud tav mem tav vav kuf)
A ship on which another sailed before us
She saw his flag on the highest mast
She saw a dream that couldn't last
The Comet King receiving haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephor-or-a-ash
You say I took the Name in vain
And after that, I lost the Name
I gave it back to Him who holds it for us,
But echoes sound in every word
It doesn't matter what occured
You never really lose the haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephor-or-a-ash
Somebody had to, no one would
I tried to do the best I could
And now it's done, and now they can't ignore us
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand against the whole unsong
With nothing on my tongue but haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephorash
haMephor-or-a-ash
Julia and I also made a quick recording of it, singing and playing guitar in front of my laptop (without ambient noise reduction): mp3.