“so much of the world is plunged in darkness and chaos…

So ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.”

— Leonard Cohen

Last update July 28, 2023. History

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Leonard Cohen 169

Canadian poet and singer-songwriter 1934–2016

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“Everything has a crack in it; that's how the light gets in.”

Leonard Cohen (1934–2016) Canadian poet and singer-songwriter

"Anthem"
The Future (1992)
Variant: There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.
Source: Selected Poems, 1956-1968
Context: Ring the bells that still can ring.
Forget your perfect offering.
There is a crack in everything.
That's how the light gets in.