The Street New Poem by Leonard in the New Yorker

Debate on Leonard Cohen's poetry (and novels), both published and unpublished. Song lyrics may also be discussed here.
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lightning
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The Street New Poem by Leonard in the New Yorker

Post by lightning »

http://www.newyorker.com/fiction/poetry ... poem_cohen
The Street
by Leonard Cohen

I used to be your favorite drunk
Good for one more laugh
Then we both ran out of luck
And luck was all we had

You put on a uniform
To fight the Civil War
I tried to join but no one liked
The side I’m fighting for

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

You left me with the dishes
And a baby in the bath
And you’re tight with the militias
You wear their camouflage

I guess that makes us equal
But I want to march with you
An extra in the sequel
To the old red-white-and-blue

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

I cried for you this morning
And I’ll cry for you again
But I’m not in charge of sorrow
So please don’t ask me when

I know the burden’s heavy
As you bear it through the night
Some people say it’s empty
But that doesn’t mean it’s light

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street

It’s going to be September now
For many years to come
Every heart adjusting
To that strict September drum

I see the Ghost of Culture
With numbers on his wrist
Salute some new conclusion
Which all of us have missed

So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street
abby
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Location: southern new mexico/el paso

Re: The Street New Poem by Leonard in the New Yorker

Post by abby »

lightning wrote:So let’s drink to when it’s over
And let’s drink to when we meet
I’ll be standing on this corner
Where there used to be a street
I've heard Leonard say these words before, and I'm sure someone else has too. Can you remember where it was?
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Hartmut
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Re: The Street New Poem by Leonard in the New Yorker

Post by Hartmut »

I've heard Leonard say these words before, and I'm sure someone else has too. Can you remember where it was?
It was this event:
Leonard and Anjani
Live at Indigo
Toronto, May 13, 2006

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/indigo2006.html

Here is a YouTube link of the recital (with somewhat different lines):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfyMp5t81-Q
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tomsakic
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Re: The Street New Poem by Leonard in the New Yorker

Post by tomsakic »

Also in few radio interviews during Book of Longing promo.

Then it was announced as the new song in working.
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