I've Got a Little Secret

A new section for songs in progress and old unreleased songs and performances
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jarkko
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I've Got a Little Secret

Post by jarkko »

IrishAL wrote:New Song

I've Got a little secret.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiYunX_mplg
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UrPal
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Re: A section for new songs?

Post by UrPal »

FOXWOOD wrote:Last night at Dublin there was a new song "I've got a little Secret".
Albert recorded a great video of it.
I really enjoyed this new song and LC's comedic performance of it. It's laugh out loud funny and crushingly sad at the same time in the "bitter-sweet" tradition of many in the Cohen songbook. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry and that betwixtness is quite involving.
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sturgess66
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by sturgess66 »

Article in Rolling Stone - http://www.rollingstone.com/music/video ... d-20130915
Leonard Cohen Debuts New Song In Ireland
Watch the first performance of 'I've Got A Secret'


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiYunX_mplg
[VIDEO BY ALBERT NOONAN - "I've Got A Little Secret"]

By Andy Greene
September 15, 2013 9:50 AM

Leonard Cohen's never-ending tour touched down at Dublin's 02 Arena on September 12th, and midway through the show, he broke out a brand new song entitled "I've Got a Secret." Like many recent works by the seventy-eight-year-old singer-songwriter, the tune reflects on love and aging. "I'd like to love you baby, but I don't feel right," Cohen sings. "I've got this full length mirror, and it ain't a pretty sight." Thankfully, a fan captured a pretty stellar video of the performance from close range.

Some of the lyrics from the song come from "Feels So Good," a work that Cohen debuted on his 2009 tour and has sprinkled into his set list over the previous few years, though he has yet to release it on an album. He last played it on December 4th, 2012 in Toronto, and since then it seems to have morphed into this new song.

Cohen's most recent LP is Old Ideas, which hit shelves in January of 2012. Since then, he has circled the globe a couple of times over. Despite the fact that he's less than two years away from his 80th birthday, his shows regularly stretch beyond three and a half hours. He didn't play a single concert between 1993 and 2008, but when a former manager absconded with the vast majority of his life savings, he was forced back onto the road.

Much to his shock, Cohen quickly discovered that he loved life on the road, and the reviews have been almost entirely euphoric. "I was able to restore my tiny fortune within a year or so," he told Rolling Stone last year. "But I kept on touring. It wasn't exclusively that unique situation. Touring is like taking the first step on a walk to China. It's a serious commitment."

The European leg of Cohen's tour wraps up September 18th at Rotterdam, but just two months later he resumes with a series of shows in Australia and New Zealand.
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sturgess66
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by sturgess66 »

Words - from Dublin debut - compliments of B4real -
B4real wrote:ah Albert, you are an international treasure :D

....and from your again excellent video, I have transcribed the words. I think they are correct but if anyone hears differently please say so.


I’ve Got A Little Secret

I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I said, I’ve got a little secret
You got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
But I’ll be keepin’ it in hell

I’d like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I’d like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I was listenin’ to your story
But I guess I fell asleep

I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I said, I’ve got a little secret
Got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
Oh, but I’ll be keepin’ it in hell

(Mitch’s guitar)

I’d like to love you baby
But it don’t feel right
I’d like to love you baby
It just don’t feel right
I’ve got this full length mirror
And it ain’t no pretty sight

I’d like to, like to love you baby
It just don’t feel right
I’d like to love you, love you baby
It just don’t feel right
I’ve got this full length mirror
It ain’t no pretty sight

(Neil’s organ)

It’s kind of chilly in your kitchen
And I think it’s gonna snow
It’s kind of chilly in your kitchen
And I believe it’s gonna snow
I need to leave you baby
Oh, but there’s no where else to go

You see, I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I got, I got a little secret
You’ve got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
Oh, but I’ll be keepin’ it in hell

EDIT: Zimmer,
Absolutely excellent photos of Leonard!!

EDITED again to correctly delete "don't" in the line in red which is now correct.
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by HelenOE »

I hear him pretty clearly singing "I been keepin' it in Hell."
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I've Got a Little Secret

Post by UrPal »

I think it's "ain't a pretty sight" rather than "ain't no" despite the double negative turn of the phrase not being unheard of in the blues vernacular. "Oh lord" interjects between heaven and hell at least once as well.

The backing vocals add to the dynamics of the lyrics something that can't be replicated in transcription....and I think the "need" to leave you might have become "got to" by the time the backing repeat comes in on that line.

Also agree with Helen that the chorus line is "made a date in heaven, but I've been keeping it in hell". Not that the gloomy forecast wouldn't work, but I think the narrator is talking present tense.
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by HelenOE »

I listened to that really closely because I am not down with the idea of Leonard Cohen keeping any future dates in Hell. Wanted to make sure there was no cause for concern there. ;-)
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B4real
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by B4real »

Thanks Linda, for posting my transcription here.

Thanks Helen and UrPal, for your suggestions.
I had another listen and agree with you both that the line should read: “But I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell”. I still hear “ain’t no pretty sight” the first time he says it and “ain’t a pretty sight” the second time in the last verse before Neil’s organ. I still hear “I need to leave you”. There is an “Oh Lord” in the last line before Mitch’s guitar. Also I hear no “baby” in the third line of the verse above Neil’s organ. The first and the third line after Neil’s organ I hear “kind of” now as “kinda”.

This is how I hear it now but of course it is still open to suggestions:

I’ve Got A Little Secret

I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I said, I’ve got a little secret
You got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
But I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell

I’d like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I’d like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I was listenin’ to your story
But I guess I fell asleep

I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I said, I’ve got a little secret
Got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
Oh Lord, but I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell

(Mitch’s guitar)

I’d like to love you baby
But it don’t feel right
I’d like to love you baby
It just don’t feel right
I’ve got this full length mirror
And it ain’t no pretty sight

I’d like to, like to love you baby
It just don’t feel right
I’d like to love you, love you
It just don’t feel right
I’ve got this full length mirror
It ain’t a pretty sight

(Neil’s organ)

It’s kinda chilly in your kitchen
And I think it’s gonna snow
It’s kinda chilly in your kitchen
And I believe it’s gonna snow
I need to leave you baby
Oh, but there’s no where else to go

You see, I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I got, I got a little secret
You’ve got to promise not to tell
I made a date in heaven
Oh, but I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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sturgess66
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by sturgess66 »

A new video - a good one - from London 02 -

Uploaded by FrostbiteZ1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwffEZMv7-g

Seems there've been some changes :lol:
HelenOE
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by HelenOE »

It will be so interesting to see what eventually makes it onto a recording (assuming it does). Whether Dublin's stark, bleak verse or London's very funny one... it's just enthralling to see the thing being hammered out in front of us like this.
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by HelenOE »

I just rewatched this and noticed Neil's smile at the last line of the third verse... I bet the band is having all kinds of fun at soundcheck.
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B4real
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by B4real »

I thought I'd continue with the transcribing of this new song.

London 15th Sept 2013

I’ve Got A Little Secret

I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I made a date in Heaven
Oh Lord, but I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell

I’d like to love you baby
But it don’t seem right
I would, I’d like to love you baby
It just don’t seem right
You see, I’ve got this full length mirror
Ah Lord, and it ain’t a pretty sight

(Mitch’s guitar)

I’d like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I would, I like to hold you baby
But my arms are old and weak
I was listenin’ to your story
But I guess I fell asleep

I’ve got a little secret
You’ve got to promise not to tell
I said, I’ve got a little secret
You’ve got to promise not to tell
I made a date in Heaven
Ah Lord, but I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell

(Neil’s organ)

It’s kinda chilly in your kitchen
It must be ten below
It’s kinda chilly in your kitchen
It must be ten below
I bought a ticket to Majorca
But I lost it in the snow

I said, I’ve got a little secret
If you promise not to tell
I got, I got a little secret
You’ve got to promise not to tell
I made a date in Heaven
Oh Lord, but I’ve been keepin’ it in Hell

As usual it's open to suggestions.

@Helen, It will be interesting to see the final version ..... and yes, I reckon they're enjoying having a new song to work on :)
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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Goldin
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by Goldin »

Thanks so much, Bev!
LC wrote:I bought a ticket to Majorca
But I lost it in the snow
My guess is that it's not a coincidence:
http://leifb73.com/2013/08/16/old-ideas ... stockholm/
LB wrote:And — we’re back. When Mallorca ended I must admit, I was torn between staying forever and getting the hell out; I think I was becoming acclimated to the great yellow ball and skin-sizzling heat. But with a schedule to keep we flew to Stockholm where the temperature was around half that of Mallorca.
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B4real
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by B4real »

My pleasure Roman,
.... and that's an interesting thought about those two lines!

btw .... I wasn't sure how Leonard would spell Majorca or Mallorca :)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Majorca
It doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to B4real ~ me
Attitude is a self-fulfilling prophecy ~ me ...... The magic of art is the truth of its lies ~ me ...... Only left-handers are in their right mind!
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sturgess66
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Re: I've Got a Little Secret

Post by sturgess66 »

Good job with the transcribing, Bev. I was hoping you would notice that there was a new drop off - :lol:

Here's another video of "take two" - from London, Sept 15

Uploaded by "Me I'm up there waiting" (evalucia) -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sGXlupUOLE


*****

And here's another video from the premiere in Dublin on Sept. 12

Uploaded by Sylvia Apfelbaum -

I've Got A Little Secret"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSlFVYz7r44
Last edited by sturgess66 on Wed Sep 18, 2013 8:08 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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