I always felt that "Your enemy is sleeping" meant the hostilities between us are over. We're at peace. Aside from that this was Cohen at his best. Highly recommend also Susanne, Bird on the Wire, Sisters of Mercy. He was a great songwriter.
"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. ... The song is written in the form of a letter (many of the lines are written in amphibrachs). The lyric tells the story of a love triangle among the speaker, a woman named Jane, and the male addressee, who is identified only briefly as "my brother, my killer." Obviously side with Vin > Sori got lost in her own explanation and ended proving her theory wrong lol
Sori is closest, but still wrong I think. Cohen is the narrator. He and Jane were together. Jane left with the desert rat, it didn't work out. She came back to Cohen but is unable to commit fully..."She's nobodies wife". He's forgiven his friend, "your enemy is sleeping". She was willing to commit to his friend, but he was not a monogamous kind of cat.
I recommend the album this song is from “Songs of Love and Hate”.. so beautiful and haunting. I also encourage people to explore all of Leonard Cohen’s music, from his first album to “Thanks For The Dance” .. his music and words will always inspire and touch people.
@@radicaladz yes!! That is definitely my favorite lyric of that song. My personal favorite is Last Year’s Man.. Nothing I can say will do justice to Leonard Cohen.
I thought this was a letter in song to a man who had an affair with the wife that he didn't appreciate anymore. The man gave his wife something he had forgotten how to give.
Regarding the "going clear" bit. Cohen did dabble a bit in Scientology in late 60s and possibly to early 70s. He was audited and did some courses which he described as being helpful. I guess he got out early enough though to not run into the ugly stuff. On a positive-ish side, he met his future wife Susan Elrod in the Scientology center. Their marriage broke Leonards relationship with his on/off girlfriend and arguably greatest muse Marianne, but at least two kids and some great songs came out of it before it ended in somewhat ugly divorce a few years later.
I think Cohen was having problems with his wife and she had an affair with Cohen's best friend. By her having the affair it made her realize she loved Cohen. He thanked his friend for taking the trouble from her eyes because Cohen had almost given up on making things better. Cohen and his wife are much closer now. Cohen sort of touched on the philosophy that if you love something you let it go free and if they love you it will return.
Actually this song was a confession. And Cohen was the other guy. So he wrote this letter to himself in her husband's words. A regret he couldn't handle as of results, a love still burning deep inside, and a little bit of self-credit effort, mixing with sharp intelligence..
go back to the start - the friend came by and gave Jane 'a piece of his life' and after that, she was 'nobody's wife', so Jane was with Leonard then 'Tony' took Jane out for a time and returned her but nothing was the same. So Jane was with Leonard, Tony took Jane out but Jane returned to Leonard - Tony and Jane had a fling but Jane was always technically with Leonard. I don't think it had anything literally about the war - that was just a metaphor. Side note, Leonard had an expensive blue raincoat which was stolen while he was visiting a person and while he had suspicions about it, he never did find the coat - don't know how that fits in, perhaps a part of the story ties into where he was visiting or who he was visiting.
I've had this idea of what I called Four in the Morning songs. Inspired by this. Songs with this melancholy feel. Oddly enough I found a good number that literally talk about four in the morning.
Jane was with Leonard first., Verse 2: "You treated MY women to a flake of your life. When she came home she was nobodys wife". This was the whole cause of the conflict between Leonard and his friend (brother).
@Jason Raymer yeh, there's a lot of mystery around that character I think on purpose. But with drugs wouldn't it be "going clean"? Also, if we racionalize it a bit it says "that night you plan to go clear", and he was already in the dessert, with Jane, and he gave her "a lock of your hair" that night; that's why I think is going clear about something, something that may be ambiguous in the lyric, as poetry sometimes -I think necessarily, is.
@Jason Raymer interesting. But I don't think he (Cohen) would be so much concerned about the 'public' thing, as he gave much more importance to his songs than anything else. He has put some storg words in his songs, despite sounding very 'calm' about it, like for ex Janis Jopling sucking his d in an elevator in probably one of the most beautiful song we'll get to hear
@Jason Raymer i do think that it is humble and very brave at the same time: "if you come by here be it for jane or for me/ I want you to know that your enemy is sleeping/ and his woman is free". Not easy line to digest those. I would say the guy in question has to be very special to tell him that if you love that woman.
YES! Jennifer Warrnes is the only one who can make me cry when she sings Leonard's songs. Once you get back with your lover after a betrayal that person is still with you in spirit fracturing the relationship
Leonard is of course Jewish, and a bit of a ladies man. Despite the latter, spirituality is very important to him, so much so he spent years become a Buddhist monk. If you're getting into more acoustic, heartfelt kinda areas, would love you both to check out Nick Drake. Man in a Shed would be a perfect place to start. One of those artists where it sadly all became too much to bear, but who left a fantastic legacy as small as it was.
Leonard Cohen himself didn't like this song. "It was a song I've never been satisfied with. I've always felt that there was something about the song that was unclear." You can definitely tell this by his lack of emotion in his singing of this song. However, there are some excellent covers of this song. Tori Amos gives a gut wrenching rendition and Nathaniel Rateliff provides an achingly delicate horn tinged version.
Not my favourite Cohen piece at all, I think this was sort of a 'period' for him but still, if I ignore the musicality or lack thereof I can appreciate the poetry. Almost all of his other pieces are more appealing musically. Anyway good that you did it.
How do you listen to a song like this and only manage to catch (and completely misunderstand) one word? Maybe get a different side-hustle, Jebus H Christ.
So, what if the narrator AND Jane are actually dead in the song, and the brother killed them both? That's why she's now free, and he forgives his brother.
I don't even need to watch this video to know that I am on Vin's side. Sori is a purposefully sheltered person. She k ow that she is, and instead of having accurate info, or any other numerous situations of debate or argument, she blatantly will not know what she is talking about, knowing she doesny, and still argue her point. Also, she gives way too Strang of opinions on things and subjects she knows nothing about, and k ow that she doesn't k ow, bit will still argue the point anyway. I just can't stomach her what-so-ever. Sorry Vin, no disrespect. I'm sure it's a daily task, having to deal with her.
I always felt that "Your enemy is sleeping" meant the hostilities between us are over. We're at peace. Aside from that this was Cohen at his best. Highly recommend also Susanne, Bird on the Wire, Sisters of Mercy. He was a great songwriter.
"Famous Blue Raincoat" is a song by Leonard Cohen. ... The song is written in the form of a letter (many of the lines are written in amphibrachs). The lyric tells the story of a love triangle among the speaker, a woman named Jane, and the male addressee, who is identified only briefly as "my brother, my killer."
Obviously side with Vin > Sori got lost in her own explanation and ended proving her theory wrong lol
Yep, trying a bit too hard.
Sori is closest, but still wrong I think. Cohen is the narrator. He and Jane were together. Jane left with the desert rat, it didn't work out. She came back to Cohen but is unable to commit fully..."She's nobodies wife". He's forgiven his friend, "your enemy is sleeping". She was willing to commit to his friend, but he was not a monogamous kind of cat.
I love this song. Gets me emotional every time
I recommend the album this song is from “Songs of Love and Hate”.. so beautiful and haunting. I also encourage people to explore all of Leonard Cohen’s music, from his first album to “Thanks For The Dance” .. his music and words will always inspire and touch people.
My favourite Cohen song, Joan of Arc, is on that album.
"Myself I long for love and light
But must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?"
@@radicaladz yes!! That is definitely my favorite lyric of that song. My personal favorite is Last Year’s Man.. Nothing I can say will do justice to Leonard Cohen.
I thought this was a letter in song to a man who had an affair with the wife that he didn't appreciate anymore. The man gave his wife something he had forgotten how to give.
Yes.
Fantastic song..Leonard was a great poet and songwriter.
too literal.. its about the struggle of jealousy and love.. wanting the best for your love but also fearing the worst.. the loss of her to another
Going "clear" is not a scientology reference here. It is slang for getting off drugs. In this case heroin and alc
87. Leonard Cohen is awesome.
Ooh. Looking forward to this one. Love some Leonard, a bit arty and dark for some of course, and has a very individual voice.
Regarding the "going clear" bit. Cohen did dabble a bit in Scientology in late 60s and possibly to early 70s. He was audited and did some courses which he described as being helpful. I guess he got out early enough though to not run into the ugly stuff.
On a positive-ish side, he met his future wife Susan Elrod in the Scientology center. Their marriage broke Leonards relationship with his on/off girlfriend and arguably greatest muse Marianne, but at least two kids and some great songs came out of it before it ended in somewhat ugly divorce a few years later.
I think Cohen was having problems with his wife and she had an affair with Cohen's best friend.
By her having the affair it made her realize she loved Cohen.
He thanked his friend for taking the trouble from her eyes because Cohen had almost given up on making things better.
Cohen and his wife are much closer now.
Cohen sort of touched on the philosophy that if you love something you let it go free and if they love you it will return.
Actually this song was a confession. And Cohen was the other guy. So he wrote this letter to himself in her husband's words. A regret he couldn't handle as of results, a love still burning deep inside, and a little bit of self-credit effort, mixing with sharp intelligence..
go back to the start - the friend came by and gave Jane 'a piece of his life' and after that, she was 'nobody's wife', so Jane was with Leonard then 'Tony' took Jane out for a time and returned her but nothing was the same. So Jane was with Leonard, Tony took Jane out but Jane returned to Leonard - Tony and Jane had a fling but Jane was always technically with Leonard.
I don't think it had anything literally about the war - that was just a metaphor. Side note, Leonard had an expensive blue raincoat which was stolen while he was visiting a person and while he had suspicions about it, he never did find the coat - don't know how that fits in, perhaps a part of the story ties into where he was visiting or who he was visiting.
My first listen too. 🤘 I like it
Wonderful, Wonderful Song!! I think imo going clear means "gave up the drugs*
I always put this song in the same category as Bob Dylan's "Visions Of Johanna". Not my favorite by him, but interesting choice.
You guys need to react to Dress Rehearsal Rag, that's the most darkest Cohen's song.
Going clear is a Scientology reference
I've had this idea of what I called Four in the Morning songs. Inspired by this. Songs with this melancholy feel. Oddly enough I found a good number that literally talk about four in the morning.
Kreator - Enemy of god
Tori Amos does a cover of this live. Her voice suits it incredibly well
Tori Amos, Steve H from Marillion, Christina Rosenvinge in spanish version, Joan Baez and a log etc is the most covered song from Cohen..and my fav!
I think this was a bit beyond you, but bravo for having a crack. You guys rock.
If you like this one, you'll love the Jennifer Warnes version...
I feel the interpretation that he is talking to himself and thinking about his own actions.
Icicle cold. Wintry beautiful. Trying so hard to be non-possessive but stabbed by the pain of aloneness. Ah the times we lived. Agonising.
Whoa! Did u wrote this? -Sori ✌🏻
Jane was with Leonard first., Verse 2: "You treated MY women to a flake of your life. When she came home she was nobodys wife". This was the whole cause of the conflict between Leonard and his friend (brother).
Question: Are the on-screen lyrics for our benefit only? - or - Are you two reading the lyrics while listening for the first time?
First time. I assume everyone knows the lyrics to most of these and we’re totally ignorant! 😂 also sometimes the vids have them onscreen
87. Great review guys. A little awkward during the heated discussion. I'm sure Ben Webb enjoyed it 😂. Much love guys
I always interpreted 'going clear' just as being clear about something
@Jason Raymer yeh, there's a lot of mystery around that character I think on purpose. But with drugs wouldn't it be "going clean"? Also, if we racionalize it a bit it says "that night you plan to go clear", and he was already in the dessert, with Jane, and he gave her "a lock of your hair" that night; that's why I think is going clear about something, something that may be ambiguous in the lyric, as poetry sometimes -I think necessarily, is.
@Jason Raymer interesting. But I don't think he (Cohen) would be so much concerned about the 'public' thing, as he gave much more importance to his songs than anything else. He has put some storg words in his songs, despite sounding very 'calm' about it, like for ex Janis Jopling sucking his d in an elevator in probably one of the most beautiful song we'll get to hear
@Jason Raymer i do think that it is humble and very brave at the same time: "if you come by here be it for jane or for me/ I want you to know that your enemy is sleeping/ and his woman is free". Not easy line to digest those. I would say the guy in question has to be very special to tell him that if you love that woman.
I love this song! I have been waiting to someone to reacted to it.
Killer -- "killed his spirit" for life!
Dax Riggs does an amazing cover of this song
Please listen to Jennifer Warnes cover of famous blue raincoat.
YES! Jennifer Warrnes is the only one who can make me cry when she sings Leonard's songs. Once you get back with your lover after a betrayal that person is still with you in spirit fracturing the relationship
I've read somewhere that Cohen did have a temporary connection with scientology.
Opeth - Godhead's Lament
React to Angra - Carolina IV
Second
Should compare to the Jennifer Warnes version.
Leonard is of course Jewish, and a bit of a ladies man. Despite the latter, spirituality is very important to him, so much so he spent years become a Buddhist monk.
If you're getting into more acoustic, heartfelt kinda areas, would love you both to check out Nick Drake. Man in a Shed would be a perfect place to start.
One of those artists where it sadly all became too much to bear, but who left a fantastic legacy as small as it was.
MORE THAN A BIT! He was a dog (I still love him but he wasn't a good partner and selfish when he was young)
Leonard Cohen himself didn't like this song. "It was a song I've never been satisfied with. I've always felt that there was something about the song that was unclear." You can definitely tell this by his lack of emotion in his singing of this song. However, there are some excellent covers of this song. Tori Amos gives a gut wrenching rendition and Nathaniel Rateliff provides an achingly delicate horn tinged version.
c'mon y'all. MARK LANEGAN - BORRACHO
going clear was to do with LSD.....
Cohen flirted with Scientology in his early life. so going clear definitely refers to that.
What Idea? Live performance??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Verrrrry possible
87
he was not into Scientology
Not my favourite Cohen piece at all, I think this was sort of a 'period' for him but still, if I ignore the musicality or lack thereof I can appreciate the poetry. Almost all of his other pieces are more appealing musically. Anyway good that you did it.
This might’ve been the most confused I’ve ever been from a song
How do you listen to a song like this and only manage to catch (and completely misunderstand) one word? Maybe get a different side-hustle, Jebus H Christ.
So, what if the narrator AND Jane are actually dead in the song, and the brother killed them both? That's why she's now free, and he forgives his brother.
The person that stole that coat, the theft of which led to this song has to know they contributed something great to music.
I don't even need to watch this video to know that I am on Vin's side. Sori is a purposefully sheltered person. She k ow that she is, and instead of having accurate info, or any other numerous situations of debate or argument, she blatantly will not know what she is talking about, knowing she doesny, and still argue her point. Also, she gives way too Strang of opinions on things and subjects she knows nothing about, and k ow that she doesn't k ow, bit will still argue the point anyway. I just can't stomach her what-so-ever. Sorry Vin, no disrespect. I'm sure it's a daily task, having to deal with her.
Beats Bob Dylan
The brother steals his woman...!! arghhhh IS TOO MUCH COMPLICATED!
Steals? She's a woman not an object.
Toxic masculinity everywhere
Jay Z is the best rapper.
It's a suicide letter.
Worst puppet show on Earth.
Lol!!
Unprofessional
l cohen drunken stupper song bird on a wire
Just when you think that this channel couldn’t get any worse....here’s Leonard Cohen for you...lol.
Leonard Cohen is overrated.
@Silhouette his debut album is flawless. The rest is erratic.
Yo mama is overrated.
Ok tell us of a singer songwriter who is better, who puts meaningful poetry to soothing melodies, and is not over rated.
No, it doesn't mean EVERCLEAR you ditz.
87