The spare, ambiguous lyrics of Canadian poet and composer, Leonard Cohen, who spent five years in retreat at a Zen monastery, sometimes contain an element of prophecy about this country:

“Don’t really know who sent me
To raise my voice and say:
May the lights in the Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

I don’t know why I come here,
Knowing as I do,
What you really think of me,
What I really think of you.

For the millions in a prison,
That wealth has set apart,

For the Christ who has not risen,
From the caverns of the heart.

For the innermost decision,
That we cannot but obey –
For what’s left of our religion,
I lift my voice and pray:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.

I know I said I’d meet you,
I’d meet you at the store,
But I can’t buy it, baby.
I can’t buy it anymore.

And I don’t really know who sent me,
To raise my voice and say:
May the lights in The Land of Plenty
Shine on the truth some day.”