L.C. Song Hunt

General discussion about Leonard Cohen's songs and albums
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Hi Bev,
B4real wrote:The album I had in mind was Live Songs. "Improvisation" is an extended instrumental guitar trio version of the vamp from "You Know Who I Am".
Oh, ok. You're right. Interesting.

And I take back my comment about your clue.
B4real wrote:Over to you now!
Well, if anybody else wants to take a shot, I wouldn't mind.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi,

Those who try to lower their carbon footprints by supporting CSA(s) (Community Supported
Agriculture) might frown upon what a song character does. Please name the song.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Nice one.

Is it 'Coffee and bananas that come all the way from Japan"?
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

The serving choice in "Suzanne" that you alluded to is correct, of course. :)
In "Suzanne" we hear:
And she feeds you tea and oranges
That come all the way from China
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Thank you, Steven.


Two songs.

One makes a plea.

The other one doesn't adhere to that plea.

21 years passed between the releases of the first and of the second song.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

Here's a guess: "Story of Isaac" and the predecesssor of "Anthem," "The Bells" from Night Magic. "Story of
Isaac" and "Anthem" occurred to me as possibly the songs right away. Couldn't reconcile them with the 21 years
stipulation in your question, despite L.C. having stated that it took him 10 years to complete "Anthem."
"The Bells," though, does narrow the difference. Can't say whether it does so to the extent of 21 years.

"Story of Isaac" makes this plea against child sacrifice:
You who build these altars now
to sacrifice these children,
you must not do it anymore.

"The Bells" alludes to a child sacrifice if a lyric line is interpreted to be a reference to the belief that
God sacrficed his child, Jesus. The line in "The Bells" and "Anthem" appears as:
Forget your perfect offering

"Story of Isaac" and, indeed the stoppage of Abraham's intended bloody handiwork upon Isaac, can easily be taken
as pleas against child sacrifice. There isn't the same directness and stridency in "The Bells." Of course, perfect
offerings, biblically speaking, are inclusive of sacrifices other than Jesus. However, when people interpret the
"perect offering" in "The Bells" as a reference to Jesus, some will assess that there wasn't an adherence to a plea,
with the narrative of Isaac preceding that of the crucifixion.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Hi Steven,

Thanks.

Your idea is more interesting and more elaborate than the simple one I had in mind.

My two songs come from 'Songs Of Love And Hate' and 'The Future'.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

Songs Of Love And Hate includes "Joan of Arc," with lines that can be understood as a
plea against war:
She said, "I'm tired of the war,
I want the kind of work I had before,

"Anthem," found in The Future, has lines that reference the continuance of war:
Ah the wars they will
be fought again

Haven't checked whether the songs are 21 years apart.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Hello again, Steven.

That's quite close to my idea.

But my songs are different ones.

The second song is 'The Future'.

Now it should be really easy. :-)
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

With your last hint in mind, here's this guess. "Sing Another Song, Boys" has a plea for the future:
He says, "Yes, I might go to sleep
but kindly leave, leave the future,
leave it open."

"The Future" has lyrics prophesying a future with a condition of closedness:
I've seen the future, brother:
it is murder.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Yes, Steven, you are absolutely right. Thanks for playing!
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi,

The New Testament requires something in addition to faith and forgiving
others for salvation. This something is mentioned in what song?
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi,

Timing this out. "The Future" repeats the word "repent" many times.
Acts 3:19 is the applicable verse.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

You know your Bible better than I do, obviously.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

Can't say that I do know it better. Obviously, though, you and others here know more L.C. stuff
than I do (including some in the silent majority we seldom if ever hear from). :)
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