RIP Leonard Cohen

spacejunk

spacejunk

Bluelight Crew
Joined
May 21, 2011
Messages
19,976
Location
Melbourne
Leonard Cohen, one of the most gifted artists of his time has died, aged 82.

One of my favourite artists - nobody really compares to Leonard Cohen.
A critically-acclaimed and popular poet before he shifted his creative focus to music, he went on to compose some of the most beautiful songs ever recorded.

So long, Leonard <3


[video=youtube_share;3XzAjfwQtvM]http://youtu.be/3XzAjfwQtvM[/video]
 


And it's not a cry that you hear at night
It's not somebody who's seen the light
It's a cold and it's a broken Hallelujah
Hallelujah
 
[video]https://youtu.be/YD6fvzGIBfQ[/video]


To the first poet I ever loved, Leonard Cohen, thank you for stirring my heart alive for over half a century.
 
Late to the thread, but certainly this is the most appropriate track on this occasion (also happens to be his best, IMO):

[video]https://youtu.be/EgMaBreDuF4[/video]


Recently appeared in the season finale of The Americans, which is also the best show currently on television.
 
^ a great track indeed.

i love your turn of phrase, herb - 'stirring my heart alive'.

his lyrics are absolutely transcendent to me. i particularly love:

chelsea hotel #2
NSFW:
i remember you well in the chelsea hotel,
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
those were the reasons and that was new york,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
and that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.
ah but you got away, didn't you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, i never once heard you say,
i need you, i don't need you,
i need you, i don't need you
and all of that jiving around.

i remember you well in the chelsea hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
you told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
and clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."

and then you got away, didn't you babe...

i don't mean to suggest that i loved you the best,
i can't keep track of each fallen robin.
i remember you well in the chelsea hotel,
that's all, i don't even think of you that often.


first we take manhattan
NSFW:
they sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
for trying to change the system from within
i'm coming now, i'm coming to reward them
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin
i'm guided by a signal in the heavens
i'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
i'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin

i'd really like to live beside you, baby
i love your body and your spirit and your clothes
but you see that line there moving through the station?
i told you, i told you, told you, i was one of those

ah you loved me as a loser, but now you're worried that i just might win
you know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
how many nights i prayed for this, to let my work begin
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin

i don't like your fashion business mister
and i don't like these drugs that keep you thin
i don't like what happened to my sister
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin

i'd really like to live beside you, baby ...

and i thank you for those items that you sent me
the monkey and the plywood violin
i practiced every night, now i'm ready
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin

i am guided

ah remember me, i used to live for music
remember me, i brought your groceries in
well it's father's day and everybody's wounded
first we take manhattan, then we take berlin


i can't forget
NSFW:
i stumbled out of bed
i got ready for the struggle
i smoked a cigarette
and i tightened up my gut
i said this can't be me
must be my double
and i can't forget, i can't forget
i can't forget but i don't remember what
i'm burning up the road
i'm heading down to phoenix
i got this old address
of someone that i knew
it was high and fine and free
ah, you should have seen us
and i can't forget, i can't forget
i can't forget but i don't remember who

i'll be there today
with a big bouquet of cactus
i got this rig that runs on memories
and i promise, cross my heart,
they'll never catch us
but if they do, just tell them it was me

yeah i loved you all my life
and that's how i want to end it
the summer's almost gone
the winter's tuning up
yeah, the summer's gone
but a lot goes on forever
and i can't forget, i can't forget
i can't forget but i don't remember what


alasdair
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top