Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

General discussion about Leonard Cohen's songs and albums
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Steven
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Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by Steven »

Hi,

Which lines do you find are most expressive of vulnerability (within the context of a song(s), not necessarily
of the songwriter)? I've a couple of lines from a song in mind. Wonder if anyone will respond with those.
Will acknowledge if someone does. :)
abby
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by abby »

Take this Longing comes to mind but it has the attitude of inauthentic vulnerability, vulnerability as a means of seduction:
You're faithful to the better man,
I'm afraid that he left.
So let me judge your love affair
in this very room where I have sentenced mine to death.
I'll even wear these old laurel leaves
that he's shaken from his head.

Leonard might agree, no? A singer must die for the lie in his voice.

At the end of Leaving Green Sleeves, Leonard's voice has a quality I might call vulnerable. One of Us Cannot be Wrong too. The original album versions I mean. And There for You, though it's not impossible that what I'm hearing in the line 'making objects out of thoughts' is not on the part of the writer but of a voice daring itself out of its comfortable range.

If it be Your Will? Is that what you were thinking of? The surrender?

What does it mean to be vulnerable? To be open, undefended in the general location of the heart?
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mnkyface
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by mnkyface »

The first one that comes to mind:
"Dance me through the panic til I'm gathered safely in..."
"In this world of shallow, he is the abyss."~ YouTube commenter greg450318
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musicmania
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by musicmania »

"If it be your will, that I speak no more and my voice be still as it was before" and "And draw us near and bind us tight" from If It Be Your will, actually all of the lyrics from this song.
2009 Dublin 2010 Lissadell Katowice LV x2 2012 Ghent x2 Dublin x4 Montreal x2 Toronto x2 2013 New York x2 Brussels Dublin x2

Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/

"I did my best, it wasn't much"
holydove
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by holydove »

Sooo many of Leonard's lyrics express vulnerability. At the moment, this one comes to mind:

For now I need your hidden love.
I'm cold as a new razor blade.

Edit: This one too:

Then they bend over the bed
And cover me up
Like a baby that is shivering.
Steven
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by Steven »

Hi holydove,

The lyrics you posted from "Because Of" were the ones I had in mind.
holydove
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by holydove »

Steven wrote:Hi holydove,

The lyrics you posted from "Because Of" were the ones I had in mind.
Cool! thanks for letting me know. Methinks one would be hard pressed to come up with an image more vulnerable than that. . .
Cate
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by Cate »

From the Butcher, I was thinking of answering that song for the 'male sensibility' question as well.
Well, I found a silver needle,
I put it into my arm.
It did some good,
did some harm.
But the nights were cold
and it almost kept me warm,
how come the night is long?
Do not leave me now,
do not leave me now,
I'm broken down
imaginary friend
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Re: Lyrics Most Expressive of Vulnerability

Post by imaginary friend »

"I said, Mother, I'm frightened
the thunder and the lightening;
I'll never come through this alone.'"
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