Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen

[8enrico4]

does someone know how the guitar is tuned? i cannot get the Am sounding the same, thx

[chancesareshewears]

I bought this album as a 14 year old child and this song still resonatesm I'm 54, the futility of life saved by a lock of hair...

[Someone0like0me]

Drinking whine with the wife hearing this song... we have nothing to cry for but theres always time for a good song.

[CharleneHaughey]

The ultimate poet......

[marczwi]

He's the greatest! And the end of december...

[remywood81]

@MrVten ''Did you ever go Clear?'' is actually a reference to Scientology. The state of ''Clear''. Cohen had at one time been a member of the Church of Scientology.

[Samjeno]

@remywood81 Not so my friend

[JackMcBama]

Like this if you listened to this song at 4am on December 30! =)

[PrincessMoor1]

الله!

[thecure4burton]

Anyone else love listening to this song at 4 AM near the end of December? Just me?

[parharn]

@thecure4burton Me too. Tonight will be listening to it all the night :)

[BrittanytheBrave]

@parharn Can't help loving Cohen. Are you excited for his new album "Old Ideas"? I can't believe he's 77 and coming out with ANOTHER record!

[sezsem]

@thecure4burton definitely i am.

[lombaya]

@thecure4burton You,kind sir, is never the only one, on the internet.

[marystrand]

@thecure4burton No, me too!

[MrVten]

The most amazing and probably depressing part for me is his itentional doubt... "Did you ever go clear?"... After all this he still has doubts for his conclusion with the "lock in her hair" and would easily let himself live in the dream if the answer on that question was "no". Really this part puts me in deep thinking and I still do not know if it is superb emotional power or pityness. Is this man still wondering and dreaming, remaining alive? Or he has given up?. Thank you l. Cohen for this.

[cldaustin]

To RJsoftware...what a one-dimensional, simplistic life you must "live." For some, that's just easier than seeing the shades of grey that is life and humanity. Your username and your comment make it clear you exist in a binary world of 0/1s. You've not got a clue as to what you miss by such a world view.

[avrahamalchek]

the sadest song in human cultre. so painful. so lovley

[citlally58]

39 people, loves reggaeton... simians.

[vincedc55]

Reaches down to the depths of my heart caressing the smokey wisps of loves lost, friends departed and times long ago gone.

[yeahsee33]

This is his best song....I Love it!!!!

[RJSoftware2000]

It's a pretty song. But like all Cohen songs -it's a little too sad.

Me, if my brother took off with her and had an affair, both of them could go f themselves.

See, this is the thing about Cohen. He tries soo hard to push the hippy erra free love BS down our throats.

So she had trouble that the brother "took from her eyes". In other words she needed to get seriously laid...

Well, maybe Jane was a slut.

Or Cohen is gay.

RJ

[MrSmokieJoey]

@RJSoftware2000 are you f serious? do you even know about which song you're talking shit?? chill out and enjoy that devine melody along with his painful poem..

[RJSoftware2000]

@MrSmokieJoey You need to do a little more Cohen research before you spout off your knee jerk reactions. But honestly, I was where you are now. So I sympathise. Still by his own words you will find out. Just start Googling what I mention and you'll see.

RJ

[pdeleon9]

Elton John's "Little Jeannie" and Leo Sayer's "When I Need You" was definitely influenced by this song. Wow.

[thedylanschrader]

Hauntingly damn beautiful. He's the only one who can make me cry with a song.

[UltraPandamonium]

@thedylanschrader Look up the Jonathan Coulton cover. 

[TheBawbag88]

Damien rice must have been heavily influenced by him

[garcialorca04]

37 idiot!

[MattOneTwoThree]

Why have I only just discovered this.

[LOLLL771]

i need to write a fucking essay about this song for groin's english class

[adatherton]

@LOLLL771 Get seriously drunk and it will all make sense

[MaeNotEast]

@LOLLL771 Consider this interesting line and the intriguing pauses Cohen places in it:  "Thanks, for the trouble you took...from her eyes" And the continuing picture he paints with "I thought it was there for good, so I never really tried."

Then there's the reference to Scientology's "Clear" state. Remember, this song was written in 1970-71. Seems Cohen joined the the CofS in the late 60s to meet girls. But he only lasted there a few weeks.

[MaeNotEast]

@LOLLL771 You can also mention the number of people who have covered it! (check wiki)

[tsayad1986]

This is awesome! Where is this kind of music nowadays :(

[seesawdawn]

what can i possibly say? i guess that i miss you, i guess i forgive you, im glad you stood in my way.....

[ThePixelFaerie]

Whenever i sit and really listen to Cohen sing... i always get goosebumps when he starts singing the chorus. Not many artists do that to me. :D

[bob8738]

@peter2156 you talk so much shit

[ziguardo]

I love his music and this has always been my favourite song.

[guntax59]

This song belongs to eternity. 

[MartinPantovic]

his videos have the most greener like bar

[cloverboy75]

Mel I miss you... thank you for this...

[kimbroadie]

Pete, I understand you thoroughly .You are not in this alone. I've been there too.

the trouble you took from her eyes. Jane came by with a lock of your hair

[pakmanishere]

who the fuk are these 30 some odd haters of this song. oh my god..........what do you hate about the song.....u fuks.

[hladnopivo87]

does anyone else hear how the end of strings touch each other and make that ringing sound at the beginning of the song?

[PepitaHogan3]

Everyone here, sign that petition at the very least! Think about it. How awesome would a Majora's Mask remake? be? btw fans ƒreé nintendo check ｎ3ｄｓｇｉｖｅａｗａｙ.ｃｏｍ

[Yamboozle]

So powerful and beautiful.

Cohen really was a genius of his time.

[thundertower]

he looks like my mom in that picture

[RICHIHAVENS]

ESA CANCION ME TRAE UNOS RECUERDOS BIEN PADRES EL MAESTRO LEONARD COHEN ESE CABRON NO TIENE MADRE ES TODO UN CABRON POR SIEMPRE LEONARD COHEN.........

[SharedHumanity]

I have listened to Leonard Cohen since the early 70's. There is no way that person should not like this song.

Did you ever go clear?

[uzidabach]

great song

[PanamaTravelTips]

touching

@panamatraveltips

[Gurumze]

He looks like Jack Nickolson here..

[mamanicka]

I have tears in my eyes...

[AaronBuzzer]

living for nothing is no joke

[UnifiedPerfection]

I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you.

[lancelot3054]

god dax riggs voice is much more suited for this song

[mnewland]

(((huge sigh)))

oh leonard..... my sentiments exactly.......

brilliant.

[CrownVictoria666]

"...Sincerely, El Cohen."

Love it :)

[NUFFyo]

this song speaks to your soul

[TheKunig]

No matter how bad I feel about my life or how bad I feel about life in general ....Leonard keeps me in check !!! - such a beautiful song its painful to listen to !!

[scurvdog84]

@TheKunig Kunig I feel the same way, ironically, Leonard Cohen has kept me from doing myself in.

[TheKunig]

@scurvdog84 - without being or sounding flippant ...good news scurvdog - Leonard has alway been my inspiration !!!

[misspoupoupidou]

He is so handsome on the picture!! :o

BEAUTIFUL SONG,

but most of all : FANTASTIC VOICE!!!

[misspoupoupidou]

He is so handsome on the picture!! :o

[saredrenwells]

s a r e d r e n w e l l s

[marcosricard1]

yeah peter 2156 thats similar to what i think at the moment...

[findlaymcarthur]

what a lot of sentimental drivel ! time to pull the finger out and grow up...stop letting the conditions of the world control you. you wimp...

[bozaki87]

@findlaymcarthur lol go get em, hard ass dude xD the world is yours

[peter2156]

I am down to the last three fingers in the bottle,only two smokes left in the pack,and it is three in the morning.All I have is the memory of things that are no more,people that are gone,and the voice of Leonard Cohen to comfort my soul.

[Naff83]

@peter2156

have you got a rope?

[constanza2307]

@peter2156 I couldn't have said it better than you

[musashi1707]

@peter2156 “Poetry is just the evidence of life. If your life is burning well, poetry is just the ash.”

[SporadicHesitation]

@musashi1707 if it burns bad then you don't have any ashes? and if you don't have any ashes then you don't have any poetry? then only well burning lifes have poetry? but don't the bad burning lifes produce the best poetry? lol jk

[drumercalzone09]

@peter2156 Why do you insist of placing no spaces after punctuation?

[claytongundlach]

@peter2156 Well Pete, ya got a stereo. You'll be alright.

[thepowerbehind]

@peter2156 peter you should get yourself to AA

[alexanduhDanziggg]

@peter2156 this life is utter shit, man, I feel you. Exact situation, only it's 2 pm on a wednesday

[alx127]

@peter2156 Peter! You just wrote the best epitaph to Leonard, let him live long and prosper!

[yonghoju]

@peter2156 Pete, Pete Pete... cmon bro. you won't find answers in a bottle.

[janasiskova]

@peter2156 this is exactly what this song was made for...

[MaaaarrJ]

@peter2156 HIPSTER FAG

[iGaucho]

I grew up with this song

[edd1867]

how can you be a man?x

[bozaki87]

i remember walking alone on some god forsaken village up on the austrian alps, wondering were life is taking me, listening to this song...

best moments of my life so far.

thanks cohen

[findlaymcarthur]

@bozaki87 oh my god ...another one..Over-sentimental mushheads ..my comments above apply to you too ...

[yeahsee1933]

One of the most beautifully sad songs done in Cohen's career.

[yeahsee33]

@yeahsee1933 I agree

[churchrvbrvb]

I came here because of Jonathan Coulton. I stayed because this is better. Amazing music, really deep.

[hanburke]

why do people watch this if they are just going to give it a thumbs down?! DOUCHES!

[TheMotogavlas84]

@hanburke

Everyone has the right to like or dislkie something.

[findlaymcarthur]

@hanburke why not ? you fannyhead

[hanburke]

@findlaymcarthur wow..

[ElvisWexler]

Saw LCohen in Oakland: "It's 8 in the evening, the 5th of December, my famous beige raincoat was torn at the pocket. Oakland is rainy, but I like where I"m sitting, they'll be music at the Paramount all through the evening..."

Sincerely,

EWexler

[undergroundgod777]

The only people who think that covers can be better than what was created... Are idiots! Create something, then have someone copy you, and then tell you they did it better... They would be wrong, and so are you.

[daydarkbutterfly]

One of the best songs ever from the man that wrote it. Although there are some good covers out there.

[TEHM4X]

jonathan coulton's version is better.

[BarneyPablo]

I prefer Leo Sayer's version.

[TheRickynow]

How could anyone dislike this?

[zoeruls]

yes very moving.

[Tartarox]

Moving

[MrPernell27]

i saw him in cnceert as year. fucking amazing show. Hope he's around 15 yrs from now ao i can take my son. He's no Bob Dylan, but still amazing. Leoanrd Cohen is like a light through the dark!

[SofieLSadeghi]

Crying. Poetry on melody. His "golden voice" fur sure makes people feel appreciated.

I remember him singing this on his World Tour this year. I cried then, too.

[BlackCoffee382]

Who would hate this song???

[obitrsa]

@BlackCoffee382

Zee Germans

[Androly]

@BlackCoffee382 No one could. It's those few pathetic souls that hit the 'dislike' button in hopes that someone will comment about it and make them feel better in life because someone is 'talking' to them.

[broadstem]

@BlackCoffee382 shum people shuurely

[klari42]

to: patsxskip : No, dear I will never need one. Thanks for your concern.

[liamlimeandbitters]

I am only 12 but this one of my favourite songs ever i actually watched him live 2 days ago best concert ever

[kylabotting]

@liamlimeandbitters only 4 more days until i see him too..i am so excited! i hear he is doing 3 hour concerts...:)

[wildtattoos]

@kylabotting it will be an experience you won't forget; i've seen him twice, it was really exceptional; enjoy

[JoyDivisiongirl]

@wildtattoos it was so amazing!!! i feel blessed,i really do for being able to see him..a 3 hour concert too! he is so charming,personal and witty...ah,i think i'm in love!!!(guess,i'd better get in line!) lol.

[keetmon]

Excellent quality

[allwaysanumber]

What's Vinyl? Jokes...

[allwaysanumber]

@mourne147 Ahh, it was alright. (the Warnes attempt). Like I said, people have tried. You agreed... 'perfection'.

[aclcox]

Oh god. So so beautiful. Really so depressing - not just sad - but depressing. And I'm an ardent Cohen fan who thinks much of his music is uplifting.

But FBR... really like heroine, I need to come back to it even though it brings tears to my eyes each time.

[Antoneea2]

Ahhhh now i can go to sleep and dream soft dreams. Peace brother Cohen. peace and thank you.

[RFVDST]

tears from my ears, can't swallow the sad stone

[Solinvicti]

So beautiful it almost hurts to listen to it.

[3clem1]

Great song.. thanks to one of my friends, italian singer, who often sing this song and made an italian version too.

[zagreusdioniso]

32 people don't like art

[mishmish925]

Between the lyrics and the melody, this song is so versatile! It's perfect for any day, content or distressed. Especially on a cool, winter, evening.

[zoshoo]

I just love this song

[kate1994xX]

Beautiful.. Just close your eyes and listen..

[Anatheva]

L'une de mes chansons préférées, magnifique, émouvante.

[Face0fRoadkill1213]

Dax Riggs does a cover of this, the original is better, but Dax brings something different. If you've never heard the other version you should check it out. I am just a music lover btw sending my best to you all.

[Janzah]

wow. i never heard this song before. it's great. love mr cohen! 21 year old jane:P awesome. now i know why they say guys should sing me this song.

[mitoop]

On 11. 10. 2010 He was in Ljubljana (Slovin). . . 3h and 30 min of pirfect music and lyrics:)

[amyrosecool]

Todo lo que hace falta al espíritu!!!!

[13alchemists]

People ruin real art by mentioning glee

[Ryosolo]

These songs are so hard to sing. His rythm is really hard to follow. Beautiful though:)

[colinbrewhaha]

the version of this song by Ruin from the Fiat Lux album needs to be posted...

[ctsamis]

you can find a little article written from Tom Robins for Leonard Cohen at the book " Wild ducks flying backwards". It is a piece of poetry and express me deepest feelings for LC.

[Manigran]

Hauntingly beautiful. Leonard Cohen is truly a brilliant artist.

[sherlockhaimes]

'I hear your building

Your little house

Deep in the desert,

You're living for nothing now

I hope you're keeping

Some kind of record

Cohen's hold's a heart's conscience in this song, something about how this world has betrayed itself.

[GrimBallerina]

A beautiful tragedy.

[LeoloLozono]

I just fell in love with song, damn it takes a genius to write such a wonderful song about a betrayal, The fact that he's both glad and sad that it happened, and just blows my mind how he describes it.

[rainson62]

Leonard Cohen and his songs are my religion. The streets, homes, riversides, roads are my temples with his songs. Thanks Cohen.

[CaarlitoBrigante]

anybody who is good with music?

i love this song and would sure love similar songs

any tips?

[Arrie91]

@CaarlitoBrigante

The first three albums of Leonard Cohen!

[aethercoil]

@Pauljacksonish  sockpuppet convo? if so = fail.

[plushsnail]

@CaarlitoBrigante Hi; I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for, but I would recommend looking into the music of Kevin Coyne, Nick Cave, Diane Cluck, Antony / Antony & The Johnsons, Thalia Zedek (and her old band Come), Nick Drake, Patti Smith, Jose Gonzales, Elliott Smith, Michael Gira / Swans, Low, Damien Jurado, Will Oldham, John Terlazzo (VERY derivative of Cohen, but that's OK). Also, albums of field recordings of old spiritual songs (i.e. some albums put out by Smithsonian Folkways).

[ivss77]

obožavam je.....

[sonicusr]

shitsux

[nwudols]

ti tocca lanima ascoltare le sue canzone

[hatori1975]

me encanta, me trae muy buenos recuerdos

[bjcc420]

that's life.. and that's ok

[Mourne147]

There has never been a better lyric written or a voice better suited to singing it.

[allwaysanumber]

@Mourne147 I haveheard other types to make it sound as inferral as L. Cohen. There is no compromise to the genius. If only we all had the certititude and understanding

[Mourne147]

@allwaysanumber I really like Jennifer Warnes' version of this song but this is perfection. I was introduced to LC's music in the early seventies by a girlfriend who had this album in vinyl. When I hear this I always wonder if she still has that record :-)

[crisbonnell]

@Mourne147 i think dylans its alright ma rivals this for lyrics what you think?

[Dainaization]

and you treated my women to a flake of your life; and when she came back she was nobody's wife- there's some honest self-evaluation

[alivingdeadsoul]

Like a distant memory... Close your eyes and let the melody and haunting voice echo in your mind... let your imagination stir...better than any movie I've ever seen.

[phastevie]

Some of the best poetry and music. As vital today as it was in 73. The nice thing about real art is that you won't see it on Glee.

[SuperTakashii]

@phastevie Glee ruins good and bad songs. Even 'real art'.

[ritalate]

@phastevie You realize since you wrote that someone, somewhere, somehow will get it on Glee?

[Vincent777Legion1]

His songs take your soul through the extremes.

what an artist.