leonardcohenforum.com

Chris, like you, I am fascinated by this song. I have told my family I want it sung at my funeral. I haven't heard of a live version.

Anne

Anne, Chris,
There are very few live recordings of' Ballad of the Absent Mare'.
Leonard has sung this song live during his 1979 and 1980 tours. The oldest known live recording is København, Danmark - (Falkoner Teatret),October 17, 1979.
Others:
Hannover, Deutschland - (Kuppelsaal)
November 11, 1979
Melbourne, Australia - (Comedy Theatre)
March 8, 1980
Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1985/04/30
You can check/research the live recordings here:
http://www.leonardcohenlive.com/concerts.htm
- and I can send you a recording.
Dave

Good old reliable Dave.

You seem to have an answer for everything Cohen.

I would love a recording. That is a generous offer. I wonder what I could send you in return....

Hey,Anne - less of the 'old' ...
PM your address please.
Dave

Dave,
At least I didn't call you "old Woman", like Arthur said to Dennis in Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Here's a link to an online copy of Ten Bulls:

http://www.iloveulove.com/spirituality/ ... nbulls.htm

It's been years since I read this, I had a copy in high school and just found it again on my bookshelf.

Thank you, Newsgal, for the 10 Bulls. You can have no idea just how synchronous that posting is. I am presently working out my design for a tarot card based on the Absent Mare, and I think those illustrations are going to help me a lot. I scarcely know when I am looking for something, and presto! this forum provides it!

Anne

This is one of my favorite Cohen songs, I'd love to hear him do it live and in person. The only live recording I've heard of this song was played at a party I went to many years ago, and it was a live bootleg cover by Nanci Griffith. Oh how I've wished to hear that one again, but I didn't know the person who had the recording, and I've never been able to track it down.

Much thanks for the links to Jennifer Warnes story, and also the link to Ten Bulls. Those explain so much and I'm richer today for having read them.

I see this is an old thread! But I just discovered this song....listening to it, I thought of the bible story of the lost sheep....and God searching for his lost one.....and never giving up....and pulling her back with love not a whip....what an amazing song.....

Live performance by Leonard - 1985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOwzGmDNgQ

Thanks David.
I love this underrated LC song.
It expresses so well the "panic of loss", whatever the loss is.
I know all about the oxen, but I still feel it was inspired mainly by the loss of his beloved at that time, the mare used as metaphor, beautifully so - cowboys and their horses, a whole lost world evoked there.

I don't welcome cover versions, usually, much preferring the original, but for Emmylou I will make an exception!
I love both his and hers.

I had originally posted this link in the Other Music section and just saw this old thread and the reference to Emmylou...thought I would post it here as well.

Ballad of the Runaway Horse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJPll_5lPc

cohenadmirer wrote:Live performance by Leonard - 1985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOwzGmDNgQ

Thanks for the link!

Kush wrote:I had originally posted this link in the Other Music section and just saw this old thread and the reference to Emmylou...thought I would post it here as well.

Ballad of the Runaway Horse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJPll_5lPc

,

Thanks for the link Kush.
My two favourite versions of this lovely song are Leonard's original and Emmylou's version.