#Leonard Cohen - Famous Blue Raincoat

[stargazing-reader]

Famous blue raincoat

A letter from Sirius to Regulus

"It's four in the morning, the end of December

I'm writing you now just to see if you're better

London is cold, but I like where I'm living

There's music on Denmark Street all through the evening

I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert

You're living for nothing now, I hope you're keeping some kind of record

Yes, and James came by with a lock of your hair

He said that you gave it to him

That night that you planned to go clear

Did you ever go clear?

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older

Your famous black raincoat was torn at the shoulder

You'd been to the station to meet every train, and

You came home without Lili Marlene (muggle reference)

And you treated my best friend to a flake of your plans

And when he came back she was nobody's soldier

Well I see you there with the rose in your teeth

One more thin gypsy thief

Well, I see James' awake

He sends his regards

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer

What can I possibly say?

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

I'm glad you stood in my way

If you ever come by here, for James or for me

Well, your enemy is sleeping, and his best friend is free

Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from his eyes

I thought it was there for good so I never tried

And James came by with a lock of your hair

He said that you gave it to him

That night that you planned to go clear

Sincerely, S Lupin"

For context, Regulus told James —who was sick with worry (and hating himself for it) at the thought of his (ex)lover in danger, he had a plan to get out and a safe place for the both of them if he wanted it (in which they would plan Voldemort's defeat) so when James came back he was set on helping Regulus with his mission as soon as he got the okay (the" house in the desert" , the "trouble in James' eyes" and "going clear"); and "I'm glad you stood in my way" would be Sirius' guilt at wondering if he could only leave because someone would be there to take his place as heir ("You stood in my way of me becoming their puppet").

[billyrussoapologist]

“And what can I tell you

my brother, my killer?

What can I possibly say?

I guess that I miss you,

I guess I forgive you.”

The Umbrella Academy /// Famous Blue Raincoat - Leonard Cohen

[thebreakfastgenie]

the hold this lyric has on me

[therealsaintscully]

"Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes I thought it was there for good so I never tried"

is hands down one of the most beautiful lines in modern music/poetry. It gives me full body chills every time I hear him sing it. I honestly don't know why.

[sarazanmai]

when Leonard Cohen sang "I guess that I miss you, I guess I forgive you, I'm glad you stood in my way"

[cicaklah]

"I fancy listening to Leonard Cohen today", says woman who does not realise she is doomed by the narrative.

[lesbianjudasiscariot]

[ponderingrandomthings]

Inspired by a comment in a Rick Beato video on albums with great sound, this album was referenced in a comment (not the video).

I remembered Jennifer Warnes sang the famous Time of My Life with Bill Medley, so this album from her may be good...

And four songs on, the sound is quite transparent, clear and quite a treat - when you don't have to keep up with all the notes (as in complex technical metal bands/albums)... [Update: Heard the entire album eventually.]

Full album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xsJXDwIL2k&list=PL_IzBVwc567ZMQNUOSJTpM-kwz3vStH90&index=1

This album, Famous Blue Raincoat (1987) is a Leonard Cohen tribute album... Her sixth studio album.

Great to discover non-famous/popular music from famous/popular musicians.

(Hope you get the meaning behind these clumsily put words... Like consciously focusing on Europe's songs Danger on the Track and other songs in the album over the massive hit The Final Countdown.)

Do enjoy!

---

The album credits (Wikipedia) include some very very big names...

Jennifer Warnes – vocals, harmony vocals

Leonard Cohen – vocals (on "Joan of Arc"), sketches

Roscoe Beck – bass, fretless bass, synthesizer, guitar

Larry Brown – tambourine, shakers

William D. "Smitty" Smith – synthesizer, Hammond organ

Jorge Calderón – bass

Lenny Castro – percussion

Gary Chang – synthesizer, programming, synthesizer arrangements

Vinnie Colaiuta – drums

Larry Corbett  – cello

Russell Ferrante – piano, synthesizer

Richard Feves – bass

Robben Ford – guitar

Van Dyke Parks – synthesizer, accordion, arranger

Michael Landau – guitar

David Lindley – lap steel guitar

Fred Tackett – guitar

Stevie Ray Vaughan – guitar

Steve Forman – percussion

Bill Ginn – synthesizer, piano, percussion, arranger, conductor

Kal David – background vocals

George Ball – background vocals

Terry Evans – background vocals

Willie Green, Jr. – background vocals

William "Bill" Greene – background vocals

Bobby King – background vocals

Arnold McCuller – background vocals

Joseph Powell – background vocals

David Lasley – background vocals

Tim Stone – background vocals

Greg Prestopino – background vocals

Sharon Robinson – background vocals

Reverend Dave Boruff – saxophone

Paul Ostermayer – tenor saxophone

Novi Novog – viola

Suzie Katayama – cello

Sid Page – violin

Barbara Porter – violin

---

[asoftepiloguemylove]

Sophokles (tr. Anne Carson) Antigonick / Supernatural; Like a Virgin dir. Philip Sgriccia / Andrew Kozma Song of the Insensible / Supernatural; The Devil in the Details dir. Thomas J. Wright / unknown / Supernatural; Do You Believe in Miracles dir. Thomas J. Wright / Ann Brashares My Name Is Memory / Supernatural / Leonard Cohen Famous Blue Raincoat / Supernatural; Pilot dir. David Nutter / Natalie Diaz A Brother Named Gethsemane; When My Brother Was an Aztec (via @morepeachyogurt)

[manitat]

Leonard Cohen

(September 21, 1934 - November 7, 2016)

[stargazing-reader]

I'm going to write "Famous blue raincoat" by Leonard Cohen as a letter from Sirius to Regulus after Regulus was reported missing. (With James as Jane but without the love triangle, it'll be platonic but still codependent prongsfoot)

[sapphisae]

what can I tell you my brother my killer what can I possibly say i guess that I miss you i guess i forgive you i'm glad that you stood in my way and thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes i thought it was there for good so i never tried

[whatisthiswitchcraft]

can't decide if it would only be funny in theory or in practice to have Bummer Karaoke Night where we only sing songs that would kill the mood stone cold dead at any sane karaoke joint

[immessingaround]

there is not enough leonard cohen appreciation here smh😿

[arinewman7]

Famous Blue Raincoat

Leonard Cohen

*

And what can I tell you my brother, my killer?

What can I possibly say?

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

I'm glad you stood in my way