New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Poets
-
musicmania
- Posts: 1518
- Joined: Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:49 pm
- Location: Kildare Town Ireland
- Contact:
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
I received mine from Amazon during the week and only paid £5.74!! I love it and the size will be perfect to bring everywhere
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"
Gwen's Leonard Cohen Journey: http://myleonardcohenjourney.wordpress.com/
"I did my best, it wasn't much"
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
The Everyman’s Library book (EL for short) is indeed a nice collection of poems, songs and prose pieces by LC, in a convenient format, selected and introduced by Robert Faggen. I wish it had 50 more pages or so, and included some favorite poems and songs that I miss here, but still, it’s a good collection. It is based, first of all, on Stranger Music (SM), LC’s collection published in 1993; the format in which the songs are printed, and the selection of prose pieces, all indicate that SM served as the source for pp. 17-196 of the EL book. I wish to add a few comments regarding the texts in this book.
1. Unfortunate errors
The most embarrassing error is in “Story of Isaac” (P. 86); the second half of the song is missing! When you look it up in SM, it seems someone had forgotten to turn over the page (pp. 139-140).
Another inexplicable omission is on p. 196; the final verse of “Waiting For The Miracle” is missing (SM has the full version, p. 382).
2. Different versions
There are several cases in which the text of songs both here and in SM differs from the way LC sang them on the original albums; in some cases he may have decided on the change for the printed version, but in other cases it could also be errors in SM that were carried over to EL. There are also some cases of additional material. For example:
“Teachers”:
EL p. 67 & SM p. 97: “Lay beside my spoon”; Album version: “Lay beside my silver spoon”. Also, in the last verse of the song (EL p. 69 & SM p. 98) “they laughed” appears three times, compared with twice on the album; both these changes could have been just errors.
“So Long, Marianne”:
EL p. 71 & SM p. 101 have an additional final verse which was not on the album.
“A Singer Must Die”
EL p. 117 & SM p. 209 also have an additional final verse which is not on the album; I believe it was first sung by Jennifer Warnes on her album, and later by LC himself on the tour.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”
EL p. 73 & SM p. 103: “when the wind tore off your cloths”; Album: “when the wind took your cloths” (the extra syllable makes it impossible to sing this line to the melody).
I will not list all the examples here, but there are slight changes also in “Sisters Of Mercy” (EL p. 76), “Avalanche” (EL pp. 94-95), “Diamonds In The Mine” (EL p. 97), “There Is A War” (EL p. 113), and “Who By Fire” (EL p. 115); “The Window” (EL p. 148) also follows SM with the changing of two lines compared with the album’s version.
Again, all these changes appear already in SM and were copied from there, but personally I prefer the albums’ versions.
3. New Material
On pp. 197-238 of EL there are materials which came out after the publishing of SM. These include the following:
a. First, 10 songs from the albums Ten New Songs and Dear Heather in mixed order; 8 of these are also printed in Book of Longing.
b. The poem “The Drunk Is Gender-Free” which appears on the Files under a slightly different title (“The Drunkard Becomes Gender-Free”), and LC’s translation of Lorca’s poem “The Faithless Wife”. [Corrections: these two poems are already in Book of Longing. Sorry for my mistake.]
c. Finally 6 new songs or poems, some of which were already heard during the tour and are expected to be on the forthcoming album: “Amen”, “Darkness”, “Lullaby”, “Feels So Good”, “Born In Chains”, and “A Street”.
1. Unfortunate errors
The most embarrassing error is in “Story of Isaac” (P. 86); the second half of the song is missing! When you look it up in SM, it seems someone had forgotten to turn over the page (pp. 139-140).
Another inexplicable omission is on p. 196; the final verse of “Waiting For The Miracle” is missing (SM has the full version, p. 382).
2. Different versions
There are several cases in which the text of songs both here and in SM differs from the way LC sang them on the original albums; in some cases he may have decided on the change for the printed version, but in other cases it could also be errors in SM that were carried over to EL. There are also some cases of additional material. For example:
“Teachers”:
EL p. 67 & SM p. 97: “Lay beside my spoon”; Album version: “Lay beside my silver spoon”. Also, in the last verse of the song (EL p. 69 & SM p. 98) “they laughed” appears three times, compared with twice on the album; both these changes could have been just errors.
“So Long, Marianne”:
EL p. 71 & SM p. 101 have an additional final verse which was not on the album.
“A Singer Must Die”
EL p. 117 & SM p. 209 also have an additional final verse which is not on the album; I believe it was first sung by Jennifer Warnes on her album, and later by LC himself on the tour.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”
EL p. 73 & SM p. 103: “when the wind tore off your cloths”; Album: “when the wind took your cloths” (the extra syllable makes it impossible to sing this line to the melody).
I will not list all the examples here, but there are slight changes also in “Sisters Of Mercy” (EL p. 76), “Avalanche” (EL pp. 94-95), “Diamonds In The Mine” (EL p. 97), “There Is A War” (EL p. 113), and “Who By Fire” (EL p. 115); “The Window” (EL p. 148) also follows SM with the changing of two lines compared with the album’s version.
Again, all these changes appear already in SM and were copied from there, but personally I prefer the albums’ versions.
3. New Material
On pp. 197-238 of EL there are materials which came out after the publishing of SM. These include the following:
a. First, 10 songs from the albums Ten New Songs and Dear Heather in mixed order; 8 of these are also printed in Book of Longing.
b. The poem “The Drunk Is Gender-Free” which appears on the Files under a slightly different title (“The Drunkard Becomes Gender-Free”), and LC’s translation of Lorca’s poem “The Faithless Wife”. [Corrections: these two poems are already in Book of Longing. Sorry for my mistake.]
c. Finally 6 new songs or poems, some of which were already heard during the tour and are expected to be on the forthcoming album: “Amen”, “Darkness”, “Lullaby”, “Feels So Good”, “Born In Chains”, and “A Street”.
Last edited by DBCohen on Thu May 12, 2011 1:49 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
Thanks for the thorough notes Doron.
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
[quote="DBCohen"]
“So Long, Marianne”:
EL p. 71 & SM p. 101 have an additional final verse which was not on the album.
“A Singer Must Die”
EL p. 117 & SM p. 209 also have an additional final verse which is not on the album; I believe it was first sung by Jennifer Warnes on her album, and later by LC himself on the tour.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”
EL p. 73 & SM p. 103: “when the wind tore off your cloths”; Album: “when the wind took your cloths” (the extra syllable makes it impossible to sing this line to the melody).[quote]
Though the additional verses mentioned were not on the studio albums, Leonard has sung those verses in live performance. The Marianne verse has very rarely been heard (I only remember hearing it once or twice before this recent tour), but Leonard sang the Singer Must Die verse many times throughout the years (though, of course, the price of the grave changed from time to time!), & he sang it long before Jennifer Warnes' album was released.
More importantly, Leonard has sung "when the wind tore off your clothes" in live performances, & it is far from impossible!! Leonard sings those words - within the melody - very, very beautifully!!
“So Long, Marianne”:
EL p. 71 & SM p. 101 have an additional final verse which was not on the album.
“A Singer Must Die”
EL p. 117 & SM p. 209 also have an additional final verse which is not on the album; I believe it was first sung by Jennifer Warnes on her album, and later by LC himself on the tour.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”
EL p. 73 & SM p. 103: “when the wind tore off your cloths”; Album: “when the wind took your cloths” (the extra syllable makes it impossible to sing this line to the melody).[quote]
Though the additional verses mentioned were not on the studio albums, Leonard has sung those verses in live performance. The Marianne verse has very rarely been heard (I only remember hearing it once or twice before this recent tour), but Leonard sang the Singer Must Die verse many times throughout the years (though, of course, the price of the grave changed from time to time!), & he sang it long before Jennifer Warnes' album was released.
More importantly, Leonard has sung "when the wind tore off your clothes" in live performances, & it is far from impossible!! Leonard sings those words - within the melody - very, very beautifully!!
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
holydove,
Thank you for your comments.
“So Long, Marianne”:
I never heard the extra verse performed, and I wonder if you could specify when and where you’ve heard it. Unfortunately, our formerly invaluable mine of information on such matters, the “Diamonds in the Line” website, is no longer available. In the past some people talked of the possibility of salvaging it, so here is a real challenge for all those with the necessary capabilities; we really need it back.
“A Singer Must Die”:
The extra verse is not on any official album until the recent tour; I guess it could exist on some bootleg recordings from the late 70’s or early 80’s which I don’t have; again, I wish “Diamonds in the Line” could be available for more accurate information. The Jennifer Warnes album came out in 1986 and that was the first time I’ve heard that verse.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”:
Yes, LC has been adding extra syllables here and there on several songs. I must be a die-hard, obstinate traditionalist, but I still prefer the original version in this and in a few other cases.
Thank you for your comments.
“So Long, Marianne”:
I never heard the extra verse performed, and I wonder if you could specify when and where you’ve heard it. Unfortunately, our formerly invaluable mine of information on such matters, the “Diamonds in the Line” website, is no longer available. In the past some people talked of the possibility of salvaging it, so here is a real challenge for all those with the necessary capabilities; we really need it back.
“A Singer Must Die”:
The extra verse is not on any official album until the recent tour; I guess it could exist on some bootleg recordings from the late 70’s or early 80’s which I don’t have; again, I wish “Diamonds in the Line” could be available for more accurate information. The Jennifer Warnes album came out in 1986 and that was the first time I’ve heard that verse.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”:
Yes, LC has been adding extra syllables here and there on several songs. I must be a die-hard, obstinate traditionalist, but I still prefer the original version in this and in a few other cases.
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
DBCohen,
"Diamonds" are still "in the Lines"!
http://www.leonardcohen-prologues.com/
So, here are additional verses of "Marianne" - http://www.leonardcohen-prologues.com/s ... rianne.htm, but nothing special about "A Singer Must Die"...
"Diamonds" are still "in the Lines"!
http://www.leonardcohen-prologues.com/So, here are additional verses of "Marianne" - http://www.leonardcohen-prologues.com/s ... rianne.htm, but nothing special about "A Singer Must Die"...
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
Goldin,
Thank you very much! I was not aware that this delightful website, which went down in 2009, was back (I kept trying the old address and was told it was still down). Best wishes to Marc Gaffie who created it. Now we must hope it will be updated with material from the recent tour.
“So Long, Marianne” has three additional verses: one from the BBC session of 1968 (which I should have remembered), one from Stockholm 1972 (which is also the one in the books), and finally one from 1993.
Thank you very much! I was not aware that this delightful website, which went down in 2009, was back (I kept trying the old address and was told it was still down). Best wishes to Marc Gaffie who created it. Now we must hope it will be updated with material from the recent tour.
“So Long, Marianne” has three additional verses: one from the BBC session of 1968 (which I should have remembered), one from Stockholm 1972 (which is also the one in the books), and finally one from 1993.
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
DBCohen,
Thanks for your review!
Probably, we can help Marc Gaffie. I suggest combining forces and starting the "inspection" of the 2008-2010 recordings gradually.
Maybe I've missed something, but I haven't seen any forum threads dedicated to concrete song's recent variations and prologues (not counting the new songs).
Thanks for your review!
Probably, we can help Marc Gaffie. I suggest combining forces and starting the "inspection" of the 2008-2010 recordings gradually.
Maybe I've missed something, but I haven't seen any forum threads dedicated to concrete song's recent variations and prologues (not counting the new songs).
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
According to the copyright note on page 4, the main source was Stranger Music from 1993 ("(c) Leonard Cohen and Leonard Cohen Stranger Music, Inc."), and all changes in this edition, much discussed elsewhere before, are taken from there, known to us (or at least to me) before, including that bad unfortunate change (Jerusalem line) in The Window, about what we spoke much, Doron, and which is also here. It ruins the song rhythm.
Beside that song, I guess we'd find many other editing from Stranger Music - many poems from Energy of Slaves and Death of a Lady's Man were edited and some reworked, and one poem from Energy even self-censored (verse about the cunt omitted). Stephen Scobie objected to it heavily, especially noting that DOALM - as presented in Stranger Music - is new version of the book, with which I tend to agree. Everything that is in this edition, what I didn't study as the copyright note says it's taken from Stranger Music, so I didn't bother to compare. My own selection of Cohen's poems would always be done from the ORIGINAL books.
Under B - both poems are from Book of Longing, not only songs. Drunk... is page 143, and Faithless Wife on page 147.
The copyright, after noting Stranger Music as copyright source, then lists those two poems, and songs Alexandra Leaving, Here It Is, Boogie Street, The Letters, By the Rivers Dark, Love Itself, Nightingale, There For You, The Faith [from Ten New Songs, Dear Heather, and Blue Alert ] as taken from HarperColllins edition of the Book of Longing, 2006, use permitted by Penguin Books.
A Street is copyrighted to "Old Ideas, Inc., 2009", as published in The New Yorker that year, and other five new songs are copyrighted only to "Old Ideas, Inc., 2011" so this is their first printing.
Next and final copyright is that this selection is copyrighted by Robert Faggen, and first published by Everyman's Library in 2011.
Now, about my bad knowledge . I'd swear LC always sing "tore off" in One Of Us... It's the only word that makes sense here.
I must say that I first checked "German bears" in Queen Victoria, as this error was on The Files for decade:) It's correct - "the white figure floating among German beards" not "bears"
It's a shame about those "unfortunate errors" you found. it's obviously done by the editor while using Stranger Music.
Beside that song, I guess we'd find many other editing from Stranger Music - many poems from Energy of Slaves and Death of a Lady's Man were edited and some reworked, and one poem from Energy even self-censored (verse about the cunt omitted). Stephen Scobie objected to it heavily, especially noting that DOALM - as presented in Stranger Music - is new version of the book, with which I tend to agree. Everything that is in this edition, what I didn't study as the copyright note says it's taken from Stranger Music, so I didn't bother to compare. My own selection of Cohen's poems would always be done from the ORIGINAL books.
Under B - both poems are from Book of Longing, not only songs. Drunk... is page 143, and Faithless Wife on page 147.
The copyright, after noting Stranger Music as copyright source, then lists those two poems, and songs Alexandra Leaving, Here It Is, Boogie Street, The Letters, By the Rivers Dark, Love Itself, Nightingale, There For You, The Faith [from Ten New Songs, Dear Heather, and Blue Alert ] as taken from HarperColllins edition of the Book of Longing, 2006, use permitted by Penguin Books.
A Street is copyrighted to "Old Ideas, Inc., 2009", as published in The New Yorker that year, and other five new songs are copyrighted only to "Old Ideas, Inc., 2011" so this is their first printing.
Next and final copyright is that this selection is copyrighted by Robert Faggen, and first published by Everyman's Library in 2011.
Now, about my bad knowledge . I'd swear LC always sing "tore off" in One Of Us... It's the only word that makes sense here.
I must say that I first checked "German bears" in Queen Victoria, as this error was on The Files for decade:) It's correct - "the white figure floating among German beards" not "bears"
It's a shame about those "unfortunate errors" you found. it's obviously done by the editor while using Stranger Music.
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
-
John Etherington
- Posts: 2605
- Joined: Sat Sep 18, 2004 10:17 pm
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
The beat goes on, the beat goes on...Drums keep pounding a rhythm to the brain...La de da de de, la de da de da...
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
Yes, the site returned last Fall, during the tour, as many people asked about it after Marc Gaffie closed it down. But it wasn't updated since TNS and I believe it's only archived mirror taken from backup... There's note saying:
When we are on this topic, the site http://www.leonardcohenlive.com, closed down by its author Jean-Francois Bedard, will be back soon and run by its new webmaster Artur J. aka banalny from DiLeCo fame (those of us downloading LC's shows on dimeadozen will know who he is).Original idea of this site, compilation, notes, translations,
webmastering Marc (until 2006)
Since 2010, this web site is managed by Patrice Clos and Olivier Mory, Team of http://www.leonardcohensite.com
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
There was not much changes, except musical - we did have threads about failed new arrangements of So Long Marianne in first shows (back in May 2008), which was the dropped and returned later in the tour in its original tempo, and we did discuss new, slower version of Chelsea Hotel when it was launched in September 2010.Goldin wrote: Maybe I've missed something, but I haven't seen any forum threads dedicated to concrete song's recent variations and prologues (not counting the new songs).
Bird on the Wire introduced new lines, the topic is here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=11928&p=132143 On the beginning of the tour, LC returned to pre-1988 chorus (mostly 1979 variation, not the album's 1968 version), later he started to use 1988-1993 version, and then he introduced new lines in that version. On some shows he continued to vary between two choruses (first is "I saw beggar... I saw woman..." and second, from 1988-93, "Oh, don't cry... It's done...").
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
Tomsakic, thank you for links and good news!
...What about prologues, blessings, recitations? It would be great to put them together.tomsakic wrote:There was not much changes, except musical
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
Tom,
Thank you very much for all the information. Sorry for my mistake about the two poems in Book of Longing; I must be going blind…
I agree with you that many of the changes in the poems as printed in Stranger Music and compared with the original books are not for the best. It’s a shame that Robert Faggen didn’t go back to the original books and albums; some really great poems and songs are not included in SM and should be included in a definitive collection.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”: well, he does sing “took” on the original album, and I for one was sure that was the only option…
Thank you very much for all the information. Sorry for my mistake about the two poems in Book of Longing; I must be going blind…
I agree with you that many of the changes in the poems as printed in Stranger Music and compared with the original books are not for the best. It’s a shame that Robert Faggen didn’t go back to the original books and albums; some really great poems and songs are not included in SM and should be included in a definitive collection.
“One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong”: well, he does sing “took” on the original album, and I for one was sure that was the only option…
Re: New book: Poems and Songs - Everyman's Library Pocket Po
I trust we don't want LC to become like McDonald's...... the same every time...every place....every day !