leonardcohenforum.com

Hi -

Things have been going really well in the John K. world! The family is well, the kids are on summer break, and it's even sunny out today.

Music news: After more starts and stops than I can count, I have an actual plan to record my first CD. My hesitations to do it at home with just acoustic guitar and computer-generated sounds have been overcome, mainly because it will be in the studio with live musicians! Stay tuned...

In the meantime, here are two songs you may like. Both are on my website under "tunes and vids" if you're inclined to listen.

http://www.johnkloberdanz.com

Thanks, and be well.

John K.

Sunday Morning
She woke up Sunday morning
Can't recall the night before
The outside light was on
And she had never closed the door

Not in the mood for breakfast
So she poured herself a drink
Stared around the empty house
And tried not to think

This quiet house
This quiet town
This quiet street
What happens now?

She woke up Sunday morning
With nowhere much to go
The kids were with their father
Exactly where, she didn't know

She sat down on the porch steps
No one walked by that she knew
Friends had tired of her sadness
They had better things to do

This quiet house
This quiet town
This quiet street
What happens now?

She woke up Sunday morning
And she talked to the TV
It said, "Next year will be better
Just you wait and see"


You Are You
The way that things are I can see
Are the way that these things have to be
And all the reasons that we are through
Are because you are you are you

You tried so hard to treat me right
And you tried to be there every night
But temptation gave the chance to be untrue
And prove that you are you are you

You are you are you
And there was nothing I could do
And I know it’s just the way it’s gonna be
Because I am me am me

I could ask God why there is war
Or why so many people must be poor
I could ask God why the sky is blue
Or why you are you are you

And I know it doesn’t matter in the end
So I’m not gonna try to pretend
Because I’m much better off being free
Because I am me am me

You are you are you
And there was nothing I could do
And I know it’s just the way it’s gonna be
Because I am me am me

John K. composed [slightly adjusted for continuity]:
>She awoke on Sunday morning, unable to recall the events of the previous evening. The outside light was still on and the front door ajar. Her children were someplace with their father. Instead of eating anything the gin-sodden lush decided upon a liquid breakfast, while glancing around the quiet room trying to subdue any predictions about what was going to become of the place. The street was quiet, the whole damned town was like a morgue. Having no place to go, she sat down on the porch steps - but no acquaintances walked past. Friends had become sick to death of the miserable slut and abandoned her like the plague. She walked back into the lounge and the television spoke to her. It said: "Things will improve later on, just you mark my words."

I like this, John, because like 'Beautiful Losers' it has a paranormal ending. But tell me, did the TV really speak to her or was it just the drink affecting her mind?

John K. adjusted Geoffrey's adjustments:
She awoke on Sunday morning, unable to recall the events of the previous evening. The outside light was still on and the front door ajar. Her children no longer lived with her, having been taken away by their father for their own well-being; she is no longer in touch with them, and she's not even exactly sure where they live. Instead of eating anything this poor unhappy woman decided upon a liquid "breakfast" (it now being the afternoon), while glancing around the quiet room trying to subdue any predictions about what was going to become of the place. The street was quiet, the whole damned town was like a morgue; it's a weekday and everyone's at work. Having no place to go, she sat down on the porch steps - but no acquaintances walk past anymore. Friends are no longer able to be there emotionally for her, so they have resorted to walking down other streets so that they might avoid her. She walked back into the lounge and the television spoke to her, the mindless afternoon programing of American TV. A talk show host with a self-help guru, explaining how to improve one's lot in life, and she was certain that the message was for her. However, having no plan, or emotional resources to make things better, it's always "next year" that things will improve.

I like this, John, because like 'Beautiful Losers' it has a paranormal ending. But tell me, did the TV really speak to her or was it just the drink affecting her mind?

Thank you Geoffrey. I've incorporated my answer in the rewrite above.

John K wrote:
>Thank you Geoffrey. I've incorporated my answer in the rewrite above.

OK, just goes to show that a lot of information can be gleaned from reading between the lines.
--------------------------------------------------------
>You are you

>The way that things are I can see
>are the way that these things have to be
>and all the reasons that we are through
>are because you are you are you.

Amazingly deep and articulate text. Bravo.

>You tried so hard to treat me right
>and you tried to be there every night
>but temptation gave the chance to be untrue
>and prove that you are you are you.

In other words: this bed-hopping trollop's love of cock got the better of it.

>You are you are you
>and there was nothing I could do
>and I know it's just the way it’s gonna be
>because I am me am me.

Nothing you could do? You could have been a man and given the cow the smack across the chops that it kept asking for.

>I could ask God why there is war
>or why so many people must be poor
>I could ask God why the sky is blue
>or why you are you are you.

You could also ask him what you did to deserve that two-timing witch.

>And I know it doesn't matter in the end
>so I'm not gonna try to pretend
>because I'm much better off being free
>because I am me am me.

So, she has literally turned you into a wanker.

>You are you are you
>and there was nothing I could do
>and I know it's just the way it's gonna be
>because I am me am me.

With such a defeatist attitude you will go far.

Geoffrey wrote: OK, just goes to show that a lot of information can be gleaned from reading between the lines.

Well, there's not too much to read between in "You are You", LOL. Unlike most of my songs, this one is mostly a true story. The nothing I could do thought ties in with asking why the sky is blue, it is what it is and you are you, a rose is a rose is a rose, and I can't change it. It's just the way it's gonna be.

BTW, this was written in 1994 and the "you" of the story is NOT Mrs. K, LOL, we had not yet met.

John K wrote:
>Unlike most of my songs, this one is mostly a true story. BTW, this was written in 1994 and the "you" of the story is NOT Mrs. K, LOL, we had not yet met.

well, ok. but to get respect from a woman and keep her faithful a good back-hander right across the kisser every once in a while spices up the relationship and never does any harm. they like to feel that the man is in charge - it makes them feel loved and safe. watch cats mating, for example. the foreplay consists of growling, hissing, clawing and screaming. resistance arouses the male, and the female thoroughly enjoys fighting back until she gives in and surrenders to passion. so be aggressive, make her feel feminine and irresistible - show her pure primitive animal instinct. she will never again drop her knickers for passers-by, but will love only you forever.

Where did the kinder, gentler Geoffrey disappear to?

imaginary friend wrote:Where did the kinder, gentler Geoffrey disappear to?

That's so funny...I kinda like him this way better.

imaginary friend asked:
>Where did the kinder, gentler Geoffrey disappear to?


You misunderstand. Let us look to the women of Iran, who could have revolted long ago had they so had the inclination. They have contentedly lived subordinate lives beneath their burqas. I know there is currently a well-intentioned campaign to 'westernise' them, and if it succeeds the blissful history of their matrimonial culture could disappear forever. Domestic arguing about who has the last word will ensue, and the household will become a disharmonious battleground. Their children will be confused, for as Matthew 6:24 states: "No one can serve two masters; either they will hate the one and love the other - or else be devoted to one and despise the other." It is noteworthy that since the western world's suffragette movement gave women equal rights, child psychologists have had their hands full. A woman needs to know her place, it's called 'being cruel to be kind'. If a man is "kind and gentle" - as you put it - a woman will use him as a doormat and all hell will break loose. Women can't help it, it's in their nature. They want a macho man. Give them a soft useless little pathetic weed and you can kiss goodbye all authority and order. In a song called '977' Chrissie Hynde tells that only when she was whipped with a belt did she realise that she was loved.
--------------------------
977

Every time I end up waking up in some hotel without my set of keys.
Coming to, remembering the way you turned me out when I was on my knees.
You think that was one up for you, but I know I scored something too.

When I see the way you have to struggle just to do a little simple thing,
I feel apologetic just because I'm not particularly suffering.
So I let you take me down; I'm like your rent-a-clown.

When I saw my baby cry I knew that he loved me.
That was some great victory, he cried because of me.
He hit me with his belt, but his tears were all I felt.
When I saw my baby cry I knew he loved me.

When you try and push me down and cut me back if I attack your attitude,
I rise up to the challenge 'cos I like to taste the sugar of your violent mood.
Just like a stormy sea; you're natural poetry to me.
-------------------------------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GYo-wXLsbM