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Jim,

I was given a copy of the Night Magic cd by a friend. I listened to it a couple of times but it is not really my cup of tea. But then I am not a great fan of musicals in general. I am glad I did not spend serious money buying a copy. However anyone intent on collecting as much Cohen related material as possible might like to have it.

I agree with Margaret. Only one song is VERY nice: "Fire". It's actually Leonard's early poem set to music, but it is pretty nice rock song, and sung in low vocals close to Leonard's style. It could be a huge hit, I believe.

(Michael) I burnt the house of love tonight
It made a perfect ring
In which I saw some weeds and stone
Beyond not anything
Certain creatures of the air
Frightened by the night
They came to see the world again
And they perished in the light

So now I sail from sky to sky
And all the blackness sings
Against the boat that I have made
Of mutilated wings

Fire in this house of mine
Fire of my own design
Fire from the sky
Fire from the sea
Come fire come
Fire onto thee
Fire in the house of love

I burnt the house of love tonight
I burnt the house of love tonight
I burnt the house of love tonight

Of other songs, some are Wagnerian nightmares in Spector's style, some are interesting because they have all around the lyrics and extracts of songs which will later become Various Positions and I'm Your Man... Like "The Law", same title, but different song. But I think it announces the themes and motifs:

(Valkyries) You are the messengers
Of celestial machinery
You only arrange
You cannot change the scenery
It is writ in stone
And capitals bold
You do, you do
Just what you're told

And you have fun
Lots of fun
Because you do
What must be done

We've told you once
And we'll tell you again
Creatures that fly
Will only die
If they lie
In the arms of men!

And this we must condemn!


"Hunter's Lullaby" is interesting because it's almost the same song as "Hunter's Lullaby" from Various Positions, sung here by a woman, and credited to Furey-Cohen.

(Judy) Your father's gone a-hunting
Into the forest wild
He cannot take his wife with him
He cannot take his child

Your father's gone a-hunting
In the quicksand and the clay
A woman cannot follow him
Although she knows the way

Your father's gone a-hunting
Through the mirror and the glass
Where only greed can enter
But spirit cannot pass

Your father's gone a-hunting
For the beast he cannot bind
And he's left a baby sleeping
And his blessings all behind

Your father's gone a-hunting
And he's lost my lucky charm
And he's lost the guardian heart
That keeps the hunter from the harm

There's a darkness in the thicket
That was not there before
And among the tangled undergrowth
There is one tangle more

Your father's gone a-hunting

Also, the song "Coming Back"... The title is familiar, and some of the lyrics also... Interesting fact is the early merging of "Coming Back To You" and "Dance Me To The End Of Love" motifs and verses...

Coming Back

(Angels) You can't do this
You must do what
We must do what must be done
(Judy) I hear my baby calling
He is asking to be born
I see the curtains parting
That our kisses have outworn ...

(Angels) Kisses all outworn...

(Judy) I'll raise a tent of shelter
Now though every thread is torn

(Angels) Every thread is torn...

(Judy) I take my life from realms of light
And hang it on a thorn

(Angels) Hanging on a thorn...

(Judy) I hear the children calling
Asking to be born
I see the curtains parting
And my life upon a thorn

The stars have lost their fire
And the moon has lost her voice
And I'm coming back to find you
I have made the human choice.

(Angels) You've made your choice
The world you choose
Garlands of planets and starlight
Now you lose

(Judy) He's the only one who knows me
He's the riddle of my life
And they'll never tell the story
Of the husband and the wife

(Angels) The world she chooses, she loses...

(Judy) He's the stone that broke my heart
The foundation of my home --

(Angels) This we must do!

(Judy) He's the sweetness of the sweetness
Of the sweetness honeycomb

(Angels) We must do what we must do!

(Judy) And he's welcome to his glory
And he's buried in my life
And they'll never tell the story
Of the husband and the wife

(Angels) She takes her life from realms of light

(Valkyries) She hangs it on a thorn

(Angels) She disobeys the law

(Valkyries) The law is broken
You must get them

(Angels) Get him.

(Valkyries) Get them!

Messenger
Listen
Messenger
Do what must be done
And our will be done
Will be done


And VERY familiar closing song:-)

The Bells


(Judy) The birds they sang at break of day
Start again, I heard them say
Nor dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be.

The wars they will be fought again
The holy dove be caught again
Bought and sold and bought again
Until we set them free.

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
The light behind to see.

Add up the parts, not yours the sum
Strike up the march, there is no drum
Every heart to love must come
Like a refugee



In any case, reading to the lyrics, which are totally Leonard's style and motifs and obsessions, is much pleasant than actual listening to the musical. I wish Leonard himslef made music and sung some of those lines. But the CD is must have for a collector... I didn't see the movie itself yet.

I will add only that one songs from the film is not included on the soundtrack, but only on its single - "Slowly I Married Her". I'd like hear that set to music, when Leonard never did it, as he intended. If *anyone* can find this on LP, transfrered to tape, CD, I'd be very happy. I wouldn't mind the film either:-)