Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan

[MyWordizBond]

this artist knows what time it is way back!

[Apanzon]

I remember my friend had a CD with this song on, which we listen to when we played with LEGO. I didn't really get the song back then. Almost 20 years ago now. I found it funny (the funky synth is so catchy ^^) and kinda scary tbh. Lookin back now, I guess it still is pretty scary, but boy what an amazing song.

[bobbruce]

Imagine listening to this song on repeat for weeks on end in a jail

Son of Hamas brought me here

[otomanjustice]

how this dirty Jew Cohen dares to make advances on a white girl ?

[swede1one]

@otomanjustice How dare a dirty white girl make advances on a black man! No justice with Otoman!

[otomanjustice]

@swede1one she want him just to clean the toilets

[YYwb]

They left there luggage. Call 911

[slawkadz]

Radio is killing music

[Johnny5Bench]

You gotta go satellite. Sadly, "specialty" channels are all we have left.

[MrPipis1992]

STOP ACTA MY FRIENDS!!!!

[gtjacobs]

This is an amazing song, and I also very much enjoy the version that R.E.M. recorded.

[CDWHPASE]

I'm sorry but "Watchmen" sent me here.

[Cayo255]

@CDWHPASE seconded

[AKNicka09]

i dislike that nicki manaj is getting advertised under this video they will never compare

[sadwolf202]

like cohen......kinda think the lynx ad is ..... well i wont buy it

[mncopg]

I'm not a Cohen-expert, but it's quite possible he was aware of more than one meaning, when he wrote the lyrics. Anyway the original version feautures a news broadcast about the left-wing terrorist group, Rote Arme Fraktion.

[1brick1]

True poet...with a true meaning..lyrics today say nothing for they are manufactured by the .....________.(fill in the blank)

[SadStrawberry]

Im kind of scared. Scars first plan succeeded, now this might also work out. We will be living among fucking hyenas in a while.

[nutella1959]

You can believe what you want... But in 1987 those were the things he wrote.

What HE says is something else... I bet that if you listen to "Lover, Lover, Lover" from 1974 you also won't believe it was written about the 1973 war in Sinai between Israel and Egypt, or that his heavily sarcastic song "The Future" has no such meanings, given that he writes "You don't know me from the wind, you never did, you never will: I'm the little Jew who wrote the Bible", or: I've see the Nations rise and fall..

[abenbow]

@nutella1959 The man himself has repeatedly said that the song is an examination of the mind of a terrorist - so on your reading he is equating Judaism with extreme terrorism. Happy with that?

He has also said: "It's a curious song. I used to know what it means but I don't remember what it means anymore. I think I intended to take Manhattan and then Berlin."

His songs are meant for interpretation, they are poetry. Don't impose your own narrow minded view.

[nutella1959]

Unless you listen to this song remembering that Leonard Cohen is JEWISH, you can't understand the song at all!

"Guided by signal in the heavens" (G-od's Commandments) "guided by this birthmark on my skin" (circumcision) "You loved me as a loser" (antisemites like Jews only as a weak People).

Quite opposite the antisemitic statements of "Occupy Wall Street" people, with national socialist and communist style references to "Jewish finances", Jewish financiers", "certain names" etc.

[abenbow]

@nutella1959 You can take anything out of context if you wish. This is just rubbish, as is the alleged 'Occupy Wall Street' peole being Nazis and Communists! The beauty of Cohen is the amount of different possible readings - don't put your own dogma onto his words.

[IMNEDot]

@nutella1959 I highly doubt Cohen's Judaism played that much of a significant role in his life. The man was at best a non-practicing Jew before converting into Buddhism. On top of that circumcision isn't a birthmark but a form of ritualistic mutilation designed to diminish the penile erogenous zone. Oh, and antisemites hate all Jews regardless of whether they are weak or strong.

[alessia787878]

what happened to his sista ?

[TheRomhot1]

raped by the system

[judeeredfox]

we hear whith our own mind's experiences .. no matter why he wrote it (and I didn't see the video til tonight!) .. I thought the words appropriate for an anthem of what the Occupy protestors are all about. Doesnt' matter, the artist's original intent .. art isn't complete til someone receives it .. and that receiver often adjusts the original vision

[rodc333]

ah well, i think you all are reading too much into the lyrics, it is a parody on hitlers first germany then the world,,,

[MrKDB001]

27 people took Berlin first.

[Christian91201]

@JenkemRhesusFeces I was getting fucking frustrated that why can't people understand these clear Zionist lyrics to the extreme song at least you do..This song has nothing to with music it's all about delivering the message..

[Doomsls]

@Christian91201 ...or clear Soviet lyrics: Destroy the seat of capitalism, and then Europe.

Or clear 1950's American political lyrics, regain control of their own economy, and then that of Berlin. How you percieve it is down to your beliefs. It IS about the music, and the messages come from the listeners. Think before you type.

[Christian91201]

@Doomsls No it's not down to your beliefs,you fucking retard...This song as a WHOLE can only be about Zionist takeover,which has happened already..Please make even a bit sense next time..

[thedarkone2134]

@Christian91201 Meh, I don't care. It's stilla good song.

[donotmind2012]

First he takes 'Manhattan'; then he takes 'Berlin'!

[Asreyser]

@JenkemRhesusFeces Pretty sad, yeah.

[skyrim579]

@JenkemRhesusFeces Only a halfwit like yourself would take his lyrics literally. Only one person knows if the words have any true meaning and I doubt even he would admit that they should be interpreted word for word.

[MrIhakim]

timmybear what a racist cunt brainless moron

[Asreyser]

@MrIhakim Nigga, you need some comas in that motherfucker. I don't know what you talkin' about. Cats be readin' yo shit like, "Nigga, where the punctuation at?". Black folk can't read anyway, you makin' this shit too difficult-- real talk. Got supercomputers decipherin' yo shit, fuckin' blue screenin' and stack overflowin' and shit. Get some Windows, nigga, I can't read Black OS.

[alvaeno]

Very very



[heladodetiburon]

Cohen sea quiza el mas gran cantautor de las ultimas decadas en ingles.Hermoso video.Aprovecho para recomendar a un gran poeta,compositor y cantante argentino que vive en Barcelona ,que hace poco ha hecho una version de Toma este vals y es un video extraordinario.

[caminodelasenda]

No se si alguna vez llegare a ser el primero........

[gothicphilosopher]

26 people are taken by Manhattan...

[jellyfishattack]

The video should show much more Leonard Cohen! Who cares about the actors he's put in this video?

[srcm44]

Gran canción, gran video

[PENETRAR74]

...acima de tudo respeito, por um dos melhores poetas ...que já atravessa + de 4 gerações...obrigado Cohen por existires e fazeres com que outros existam!

[zapkvr]

@TehMrEarthiee And that makes you better than them in which way?

[zapkvr]

It's a little over a year since I had the immense privilege of seeing Leonard Cohen play live for the first time. It is an experience that will stay with me for as long as I live.

[badylasty79]

Pamietam pana

[lewar24]

@badylasty79

zazdroszczę Ci - mam nadzieję, że jeszcze w Polsce się pojawi ...

[TheTHEEBONYLOUNGE]

WOW!

[Prespapier]

Cohen....and no words...

[kateclark85]

If I could express how much I adore this man I would be the worlds greatest poet. LC forever.

[RJBergerKing]

Thumbs up if Watchmen brought you here.

[kpimm1918]

I see it for it's true art. I would love to think our protests on Wall Street will be effective, but until then i will enjoy Leonard's purist art.

[Ellipser]

This song was very popular in Greece, constant airplay throughout my entire stay. You would hear it in the Cafe's , the Taxi's , everywhere. "First we take Manhattan" was the summer song of 1988, it just fit so perfectly.

[TheLonapo13]

Love this song and love this man :-D

[sgfellow]

Wall Street Protests:The web, the cell phone - Serious tools for commerce and finance. Tools from which they now cannot be divorced and will in due course become the tools that will curtail their unending usurpation of resources. Like everything else, the web and the cell phone were thought of as merely money a making device to fleece the public of more resources - frivolous tools for the edification and amusement of the populous. But these are "the monkey and the plywood violin." Make 2012 fun.

[Mondongonazo]

Vevo, su maldita publicidad y la madre qué lo parió!

[martyn580]

this should be the theme to a james bond movie

[stanley2e]

@martyn580 they also used this for the watchmen movie in the ending credits.

[amesababe]

this is so NOW

[MrAlexxluis]

@amesababe Leonard Cohen is a prophet.

[UChamberlain]

@MrAlexxluis

So True, he is we Love him!!! Uriel grew up on the St. Lawrence, south of him..It could be in the Water. Just posted him om FB. We Love you Leonard !!! You are so pure and a Mystic of our Time!!!!

[doggiedearest]

a true and great poet, songwriter and performer. A totally unique artist.

[nikeefabre]

"I just to live for music..."

[oldpossum]

This should be the theme song for

OCCUPY WALL STREET !

[billyang99]

@oldpossum

WHEN I KNOW THE OCCUPYWALL STREET, I ALSO THINK THIS SONG SHOULD BE THE THEME SONG!

[oldpossum]

@billyang99 整个世界知道了！



[AmericanTrekker]

@oldpossum NO SHIT!

[oldpossum]

@AmericanTrekker This has been written by an active member of Switzerland's OCCUPY PARADEPLATZ, Paradeplatz being Switzerland's Wall Street, the sacred residence of the notorious Gnomes of Zurich!

[5060julia]

@oldpossum GREAT IDEA!!!!



[18Hongo]

@oldpossum A thought I've had myself - although I think "Democracy" would suit better...

[oldpossum]

@18Hongo Guess your profound belief in a functioning "democracy" is by no way shattered by the fact that it was unable and unwilling to control the financial industry after a global near-collapse back in 2008.

Don't want to sound patronizing, but you are simply too young!

[rhodiuz]

@oldpossum I saw that movie on netflix... Dont think it would fit as theme song.

[thedarkone2134]

@oldpossum OWS sucks

[siekiera1984]

@oldpossum -after all -please go to WALL MARKT them we spend all free time ,and we will dream abaout freedom ... this world knows ONLY CUSTOMER,again ,again again -i have mobile 2 years old -still working -fuck new people -they only needed new stuff ,year after !! -cu from Poland -see RESIST-Corporate Apartheid,and more tracks.

[ThePajaPajic]

Happy BIrthday<3<3<3

[PanosLiver21]

Happy Birhtday Leo !!!!!!!!!!! :D

[doirevomba]

Leonard ought ta update those lyrics to...

First we took Tripoil, then we took Tehran

[akatzinP]

@doirevomba hahaha thats true.... 88

[wydra4]

Old or young Leonard Cohen is the best forever ..

[TheEliCota]

11 people got lost between Manhattan and Berlin.

[nagygyurisirina]

Valaki nagyon jo videokat keszit Leonard Cohen nagyszeru enekeihez.

imadom a jo videokat.gratulalok.

[deville487]

Pirates are sailing strong for Berlin! 6.5 :D

[djbrown19]

It looks like Sony and YouTube struck a deal and the deal is called VEVO. The deal is that we're forced to look at junk advertising. None of which has anything to do with Mr. Cohen and his fine artistic accomplishments.

[astrocomera]

And now I'm rewarding them and I'm rewarding then very bloody well....

[guthywoodry]

I don't know what 'VEVO' is, but I do know that all it does is get in the way of my enjoyment.

So, FUCKOFF VEVO, JUST FUCK-OFF.

[bloke66]

Super!! got me through my moody teen years...ta.

[murisola]

Super!

[nando66arockar]

genial este senhor e fantastico.

[TheCrazyhorse333]

Only 59 comments! That tells you a lot about the mentality of society today. Leonard Cohen is beyond doubt one of the greatest song writers & performers of the 20th century. Oh I nearly forgot, poets.

[SuperCinemaLover]

11 people are stupid

[ypaul83]

Now that is real music.Today's music sucks.

[Chipster92]

almost sounds like a villain song from a movie in the beginning :)

[quakey987]

@Chipster92 This song should be the foundation upon which to make a thriller movie !

[bouns1231]

interesting video!!!!!

[jonaskoelker]

@Cazz2706 Check out Sirenia's cover

[HarveeBear]

avampireconfesses . com

[wreyoG]

75619 High Class Elite Club..

let's keep all the nobodies out of here...

[quizbuff2000]

The bloke's a genius.

[PearZeaL]

why this has so little views?

[elfjcgc]

@PearZeaL because we're an elite

[PearZeaL]

@elfjcgc that is so true

[ejnarm3]

@cazz2706 totally agreed :)

[CreativeWesT]

Superba melodia, ma bucur ca nu sunt singurul roman care o asculta ^^.

[mattsrage76]

click like if watchmen brought you here

[THE78DECK]

@mattsrage76 You guessed! :)

[Cazz2706]

Great song - can't help thinking what a brilliant cover Rammstein would do :)

[aloprimo]

@Cazz2706 you couldn´t be so right, man

[jukoboss]

@Cazz2706 Yeeeah, it reminds me of Stripped!! Anyone has their email?

[ddayani]

@Cazz2706 whoah, just the thought of that blows my freeking mind. good call!!!

[Oscarbrash]

@Cazz2706 Listen to Sirenia's Cover, it's great :)

[akatzinP]

@Cazz2706 i can't see the link between this and rammstein, this is about conquering germany, about conquering....

the world...

[KMTS27]

@Cazz2706 I hope they won't cover this song

[bdeckers1911]

@Cazz2706 Sirenia did a pretty awesome cover. Not quite as heavy as Rammstein, but definitely worth nothing.

[pbarros550]

@Cazz2706 true, coudn't agree more!

[TheNegostina]

Foarte frumoasa ,beautiful song.

[matiszmati97]

thumbs down probably gives germans

[subbaeticum]

Probablemente, una de las mejores canciones del siglo XX. Leonard Cohen es uno de los grandes de la música del siglo XX, un gran escritor y una gran persona, por lo que me alegro que haya recibido el premio Príncipe de Asturias

[Gitte237]

Great song - great wideo - what more to say

[adam3176]

NWO got Caught red handed.. with the hand in the cookie jar.

[spengler77]

greetings from Portugal.....

[glaeken14]

I LOVE IT !!

[Hirnlego999]

This song would be better without all that cheesy 80's "I really like your body", gonna have to try to make an edit.

[orrunan]

@Hirnlego999 Well, this WAS made 1988 so so the song having an 80's feeling is hardly surprising. As for the "I love your body", it has a nice, earthy feeling to me. It's noble and cutesy to say that only what is inside matters, but that's a lie, plain and simple. The sensible people consider the personality more important than the looks, but everyone likes good looks and this song doesn't go saint on the listener - makes sense, considering it's pretty much a "once the revolution begins" song.

[shutthefuckup654]

@orrunan Well and truthfully said, my friend.

[Hirnlego999]

This song would be much better with that cheesy 80's "I really like you body".... gonna have to try to do an edit.

[martyn580]

@Hirnlego999 i would have to disagree.. Its called a "bridge''. Followed by the ''verse'' and the ''chorus'' which is repeated. Everysong should have these 3 basic parts

[Hirnlego999]

@martyn580 Well, then we disagree again, because I don't think every song needs those. This is one time when I feel that Cohen could have written something better in those places instead, they don't seem to fit in at all...almost like taken from another song to finish the song.

[THEmiinnieMOUSE]

great song, definitly.

[caballero401]

Enhorabuena, Genio.

[ALNFILM]

great music

[renovawolborg]

i toook manhattan!!!!!

[Spandex08]

"3 people disliked this video" - whoa what a smart ass comment

[Pinhead554]

3 people didn't take Manhatten!

[rocaralonso]

Temazo, de lo mejor...

[joaopedrocalado1]

Muitos Parabéns!

Gostei muito do seu concerto aqui em Lisbon!

PS:Espero que Volte!

[pepeguis1]

¡Enhorabuena, maestro!

[malco73]

Enhorabuena por el Príncipe de Asturias merecidísimo!!!!

[martyn580]

1 person took Berlin first

[MsTommyknocker]

who?

[ultimateconcern3000]

Youtube -

They Sold Their Souls For Rock And Roll

[Maricarmen1612]

como siempre impresionante, genial

[FINBoggit]

"I don't like your fashion business mister"

[TheAlexawonderland]

"Remember me, I used to live for music". Pure art...

[calle68]

thank you for the video upload ... I don't like the pills that keep you thin ...

[orrunan]

This is one of the best songs I know. Not as good as Dance Me to the End of Love, but THAT is impossible to top, period, and I really, really like the way this tune rolls all over you, like a tide.

[ClassicTVMan1981X]

@orrunan

At the time of its release in early 1988, this LP seemed to compete with Midnight Oil's "Beds Are Burning."

[TheEyes629]

like this song, dislike Vevo.  Story of the generation :(

[kenshiroonline]

thanks 4 the upload of the original video!I guess when i first saw this video as a kid i wanted a black coat so bad,now i got one and i love it as much as i love this song!

[RawGnar]

I thank you.. for the items you sent me.. muhuhu.. the monkey.. and the plywood violin

[nighoftfly]

love this song :D