Humour Of Cohen's Lyrics

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:42 pm

Friends and family are often complained to me, because I tend to play music a little loud! They often try to claim that Leonard Cohen's songs are just so much misery and mournful whining. Obviously this is just pure idiocy and stupidity on their part and I suspect several of them have no soul. The thing is I've always found Cohen's songs laced with jokes and humour. Does anyone else think "DIAMONDS IN THE MINE" and "TONIGHT WILL BE FINE" are really funny songs? Can you think of any others?

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » Mon Jun 16, 2003 11:47 pm

maybe I could compile a Top Ten of funny Cohen songs and give it to my friends!

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:12 am

Hi Shoe,
You've really got me thinking on this one. The 2 songs you mention can be funny when perceived to be funny.
'you kept right on loving. I went on a fast'.. yep.. thats funny
I'm sure there'll be a few contributions to this thread.

I see you are in Norfolk... what a lovely county, one of my favourites.
Regards
Pete

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 12:23 am

I doubt that he set out to be funny when he wrote those songs, but there's jokes in them! they make me smile and sometimes laugh out loud, "TOWER OF SONG" is another one, it paints pretty ludicrus images in my head of Leanard as some kind of Rupunsel figure in this grest big tower which some people are trying to drag away...... Funny, yeah?

Well I think so. I think "I'M YOUR MAN" is a really funny album...

In fact I think I'll go and give it a play... annoy my housemates...

Thanx for replying Pete!

tom.d.stiller · Post by **tom.d.stiller** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 6:23 pm

Welcome to the forum, Shoe! May you enjoy the company of this bunch of Beautiful Losers. Though there's some fightin' within the family now and then, they're essentially all good people. (Okay, most of them - for me I'd make an exception....)

Yes I agree, there's a lot of fun in Leonard's songs. Especially the albums sometimes described as "sombre" hold a lot of humour (sometimes a little bit grim, but ...) when you look closely. You already quoted "Diamonds in the mine". I'd like to add "Dress Rehearsal Rag" which I always took for a very funny song:

That's not the electric light, my friend,
that is your vision growing dim.
Cover up your face with soap, there,
now you're Santa Claus.
And you've got a gift for anyone
who will give you his applause.

Both songs, of course, are from the "sombre" "Songs of Love and Hate"...

Tom

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 6:29 pm

It's a real dark humour but I love it, Dress rehersal rag, that one is about contemplating suicide isn't it. You're right though, its a realy funny song!

tom.d.stiller · Post by **tom.d.stiller** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 6:36 pm

True, it's about contemplating suicide, but "it's just a dress rehearsal rag"...

Cohen Knight · Post by **Cohen Knight** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 8:11 pm

This seems quite controversal!!! As far as I'm concerned for something to be perceived as true & honest. It requires many different things. Comedy, drama, brutality, fun...etc You know what I mean. Mr. Cohen manages to incorporate all these things into his music. In the end though if you don't feel the urge to create something or atleast want to become a better person. Why the hell are you listening to music?

Shoe · Post by **Shoe** » Tue Jun 17, 2003 8:27 pm

Hello Cohen Night

Some of what you say is of course true and some of what you say is rather silly don't you think?

Music is there to communicate, first and foremost and for music to achieve this it must be enjoyed.

I enjoy the Music of Leonard Cohen for many reasons, he makes me think, he encorages me to explore different types of music, different viewpoints on life, different takes on spirituality and a whole host of other things.

He does this by communicating with me on an emotional level.

Humour, comedy, laughter etc, these are possibly the finest expressions of emotion that we have.

Exept possibly Love, but sooner or later everything comes back to love.

Leonard Cohen's music often gets ignored by people because they think his music is dreary and miserable. I thought it would be nice to compose a light hearted argument against this.

Music is not a serious thing, its much more important than that.

I listen to music because I enjoy communicating with other people. When somebody creates a good piece of music they alow you to explore their very soul.

Thankyou for replying XXX

Elemental Rose · Post by **Elemental Rose** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 12:56 am

If you happened to catch the post which was put in my name. It belonged to Cohen Knight which is a buddy of mine. Who accidently posted it in my name. Error is corrected though. Sorry!!! See below for should of been they're!!!

Cohen Knight · Post by **Cohen Knight** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 12:59 am

Greetings, Shoe!!!

I find your comment very true. I can relate to what you are saying in many ways. And it is true. Music is a form of communication. Also a form of entertainment. When I wrote my little reply I figured that was implied.

Despite Mr. Cohen's ''word gymnastics''. Sometimes the most simplistic idea's and concepts can come across with much depth and scope. This is something I know for certain. I can hear it in every type of music. Mr. Cohen's also. Yes music is not a serious thing in a sence. But it is when you measure how it documents people's most personnal emotions. Like you were saying about connecting on an "emotional level". I feel the same way about such things. That's one of the reasons why I love music so much. Anything artistic for that matter. In the end I guess nomatter how you feel about it. It's really about making a connection in someway. The fact that there's so many people sharing there thoughts & feelings this moment shows how much of a good thing it can be. Atleast that's how I see it. A hope you get a good lauph from this (just joking)!!!
Mike (Cohen Knight)

jurica · Post by **jurica** » Wed Jun 18, 2003 2:26 pm

to me this is very funny:

You were the sensitive woman,
I was the very reverend Freud.
You were the manual orgasm,
I was the dirty little boy.

,but it's true his humor is often bitter. but then again, his bitternes is funny (as tom proved, since dress rehersal rag is certanly a bitter song).

closing time is also very funny. i just get a kick out of these every time i hear it:

and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high

And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
she's rubbing half the world against her thigh

and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?"

I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn't make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too

and the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night

And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she's a hundred but she's wearing
something tight

witty_owl · Post by **witty_owl** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 4:31 pm

Perhaps this one seems a bit obvious in its humour;-One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong. Not so subtle I know, but I have been playing this song for decades and I still feel a wry smile cross my face each time I pick up a guitar and run this one by. Some people of course do get the humour but some stand by with blank faces finding it just another depressing Cohen song.

Yes finding a sympathetic Cohen audience has never been an easy thing. At least not in my home town.

Cheers Witty Owl.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 10:04 pm

Witty Owl
You've just reminded me of something I inadvertently sang many many years ago when I played at my college folk club...

I didn't realise until my 'wife to be' told me after...

and what, pray, was the crime? ..
I was singing 'One of us cannot be wrong'...
well it went something like this......
"....His spirit has gone
but back here on the lawn
his body continues to drool...."

I always concentrate now when I get to those lines

I suppose a spirit drooling is quite funny anyway

Pete

lizzytysh · Post by **lizzytysh** » Thu Jun 19, 2003 10:20 pm

I've also always liked, "Then he wrote himself a prescription / and your name was mentioned in it / ".