Hello...
Does anybody know the meaning of "go clear" in LCohen song
Famous Blue Raincoat?
go clear
I don't know, Sandra. However, I've always heard it as some kind of link to the judicial system, i.e. were charges ever dropped/did you escape/get off probation/are you living on the lam in the desert? I guess it could also be asking him, "Did you ever tell my woman the truth about your intentions/your situation/your past/whatever?" I don't know 
[obviously], but have wondered myself.
~Lizzytysh
[obviously], but have wondered myself.~Lizzytysh
go clear
Ok Lyzzytysh!
I understand the idea better now....
I understand the idea better now....
Well now, Sandra, thanks 
, but I didn't say that I knew that that's the idea.....that's only my humble opinion, and the way I've been hearing it. From what others have said regarding particular phrases, on this and other sites, I feel I've been in error on other ones, so this one stands as good a chance as any at being "wrong," as well. However, until others respond here [likely with things totally unrelated to what I've said], you at least have something to go on, to "increase your listening awareness/pleasure" until you have more to choose from!
It could also be a reference to spiritual clarity and, perhaps, the context in which they originally knew each other as "brothers," both seeking it. I've just always felt it had to do with somehow "owning up" to something, through honesty/truth/financial or behavioral "restitution" made ~ or something to that effect, which resulted in a release/being released from something/an obligation/a pennance/whatever. Your waters may end up more muddied than cleared
~ I'll be interested to see what others say; hopefully, they will. Leonard's lyrics are no easy task, many layers and possibilities.
~Lizzytysh
, but I didn't say that I knew that that's the idea.....that's only my humble opinion, and the way I've been hearing it. From what others have said regarding particular phrases, on this and other sites, I feel I've been in error on other ones, so this one stands as good a chance as any at being "wrong," as well. However, until others respond here [likely with things totally unrelated to what I've said], you at least have something to go on, to "increase your listening awareness/pleasure" until you have more to choose from! It could also be a reference to spiritual clarity and, perhaps, the context in which they originally knew each other as "brothers," both seeking it. I've just always felt it had to do with somehow "owning up" to something, through honesty/truth/financial or behavioral "restitution" made ~ or something to that effect, which resulted in a release/being released from something/an obligation/a pennance/whatever. Your waters may end up more muddied than cleared
~ I'll be interested to see what others say; hopefully, they will. Leonard's lyrics are no easy task, many layers and possibilities. ~Lizzytysh
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Guest
Re: go clear
i thought he was a referring to becoming free from a drug dependency. - philoSandra wrote:Hello...
Does anybody know the meaning of "go clear" in LCohen song
Famous Blue Raincoat?
Yeah, that could be, too...."that night that you planned to go clear," kinda throws a wrench in it for freeing yourself from drug dependency, as well as for [my options of] spiritual clarity and ending of probation [unless you had a bank robbery planned for the last night you were to be on it, and then decided to, or not to, go through with it].....none of them are exactly one-night goals.
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chuckles the clown
"go clear" ----
From the official scientology and dianetics glossary:
"Clear: the name of a state achieved through auditing or an indiviual who has achieved this state. A Clear is a being who no longer has his own reactive mind. A Clear is an unaberrated person and is rational in that he forms the best possible solutions he can on the data he has and from his viewpoint. The Clear has no engrams which can be restimulated to throw out the correctness of computation by entering hidden and false data."
Leonard flirted with the Scientology cult in the late 1960's in New York City. Leonard's association with Ron Hubbard's dianetics is mentioned on page 211 in the biography "Prophet of the Heart".
No one posting on this board has gone clear.
We love hidden and false data too much. We are full of engrams.
From the official scientology and dianetics glossary:
"Clear: the name of a state achieved through auditing or an indiviual who has achieved this state. A Clear is a being who no longer has his own reactive mind. A Clear is an unaberrated person and is rational in that he forms the best possible solutions he can on the data he has and from his viewpoint. The Clear has no engrams which can be restimulated to throw out the correctness of computation by entering hidden and false data."
Leonard flirted with the Scientology cult in the late 1960's in New York City. Leonard's association with Ron Hubbard's dianetics is mentioned on page 211 in the biography "Prophet of the Heart".
No one posting on this board has gone clear.
We love hidden and false data too much. We are full of engrams. 
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George.Wright
- Posts: 1874
- Joined: Mon Jul 08, 2002 3:37 pm
- Location: Bangor, N.Ireland
Go Clear
I think we could put any interpretation on this
but it appears to suggest to unchain from drugs as others have stated
Georges
but it appears to suggest to unchain from drugs as others have stated
Georges
So, are you just going to bypass altogether the previous line, "that night that you planned to go clear...." ~ well, actually, I guess that could be a reference to a conversation that occurred between the two of them [previously] one "night," during which his "brother" was relating his plans to "Leonard." The "planned" being the night that the plans were formulated, rather than the night that they were to have actually taken place.
On the Scientology aspect, looking up "engram" in the dictionary, I find "a presumed encoding in neural tissue that provides a physical basis for the persistence of memory; a memory trace." Not only does it sound like a lofty [I'll go with definitions #1 = extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering ~ and #4 = arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty] goal, it also sounds like a pretty scarey and unappealing state to me. If the engrams are gone, not only are the memories absent, but the physical capacity for memory is as well. It sounds like a closed-head injury state of being.
Years back, I knew several Scientologists. I've also met several former-Scientologists [of course, how does one ever get their engrams restored, once they're gone?] Brainwashing was, in fact, a word used in reference to Scientology at that time....with an uncomfortable outcome for those so indoctrinated. All about mind and rationality....bypassing the heart.
If we forget about its having to take place in one night [both clearly being a process; breaking free from drugs, and attaining this above, nearly impossible state], then it seems to me it could be either one. Particularly with Leonard's brief [thank you-know-who!] association with Scientology and the term "clear" apparently being a part of their rhetoric. I can understand why it likely lost its appeal for Leonard.
Yes, "clear" is definitely an interesting word.
~Lizzytysh
P.S. I know my comments regarding Scientology are out of context and not based on any "true" knowledge of it. The people I knew did want me to join, but then there came some secrecy aspect to it, and that seemed suspect as well. If the dictionary definitions hold true to any degree, Scientology sounds like a good thing to go/stay clear of......very sterile.
On the Scientology aspect, looking up "engram" in the dictionary, I find "a presumed encoding in neural tissue that provides a physical basis for the persistence of memory; a memory trace." Not only does it sound like a lofty [I'll go with definitions #1 = extending high in the air; of imposing height; towering ~ and #4 = arrogantly or condescendingly superior in manner; haughty] goal, it also sounds like a pretty scarey and unappealing state to me. If the engrams are gone, not only are the memories absent, but the physical capacity for memory is as well. It sounds like a closed-head injury state of being.
Years back, I knew several Scientologists. I've also met several former-Scientologists [of course, how does one ever get their engrams restored, once they're gone?] Brainwashing was, in fact, a word used in reference to Scientology at that time....with an uncomfortable outcome for those so indoctrinated. All about mind and rationality....bypassing the heart.
If we forget about its having to take place in one night [both clearly being a process; breaking free from drugs, and attaining this above, nearly impossible state], then it seems to me it could be either one. Particularly with Leonard's brief [thank you-know-who!] association with Scientology and the term "clear" apparently being a part of their rhetoric. I can understand why it likely lost its appeal for Leonard.
Yes, "clear" is definitely an interesting word.
~Lizzytysh
P.S. I know my comments regarding Scientology are out of context and not based on any "true" knowledge of it. The people I knew did want me to join, but then there came some secrecy aspect to it, and that seemed suspect as well. If the dictionary definitions hold true to any degree, Scientology sounds like a good thing to go/stay clear of......very sterile.
Go clear
English is not my first language. I learned english trying to understand Famous Blue Raincoat and other LC's songs. To understand it better I found on the net translations to polish and spanish (languages I understand).
In polish translations "go clear" is interpreted as "to run away", "to escape" or simply "to leave".
In spanish it's "to act clearly" (actuar claramente).
Is it all wrong?
To understand it better I found on the net translations to polish and spanish (languages I understand).In polish translations "go clear" is interpreted as "to run away", "to escape" or simply "to leave".
In spanish it's "to act clearly" (actuar claramente).
Is it all wrong?