leonardcohenforum.com

Listen to a new song made by The Great Event

at http://thegreatevent.mymusic.dk/funktio ... /?id=59198

The song I think was written during the first wonderful reading of the Leonard Cohen "Book of Mercy"
Peter

I'll listen on Tuesday, at the latest [perhaps, Saturday, if I decide to go into work]. Looking forward to it, Peter.

~ Lizzy

I rather like it. Considering it isn't Cohen singing.

Nice melody, and the words are good - interesting and tell a story, which I like.

Only real quibbles I have with it are that it sounds and looks like a poem, not a song lyric, and the 4-line rhythm starts to get a little too predictable about halfway through the song.

But I couldn't do it!

I enjoyed listening to that. Captivating voice, very interesting lyrics and I thought the ending was very good. Thanks.

Diane

Hi Fljotsdale and Peter ~

I had listened to your song the other day [pre-our Anjani-thread exchange], and made a 5- or 6-line comment on it. However, I didn't get it posted before I was finished, and had to switch modes. Unfortunately, my computer obliterated the Internet access I had, in order to replace it with my work access. That happening depends on the order in which you open things. Very bizarre, in fact. We're all rather disconcerted by it, as you can imagine.

However, I listened to it again, yesterday, but with no time to comment.

It sounded like a poem set to music to me, as well, but even moreso, it rang a bell....so I went looking. Sure enough, there was reason for that fact.

Here's the poem [with 3 edits, at least the last of which was recently; perhaps, to make it more closely align with the way it's now being sung ~ if so, I wish you'd left it, as is, in its poem form, just for comparison, but, oh well, if that's what happened].

I'll print it here, for you, Fljots, plus so I can read along as I listen, again.

Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2002 11:04 am Post subject: Sliding into heaven

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bind me to your heart
for I have lost it all
behold a drunkards tear
towards the gutter fall

I'm nothing but a teardrop
I didn't choose my way
to join the chilling water
the gutter cold and grey

To slide into the darkness
with dirt and filth and brine
as no one could distinguish
the nasty flow from mine

Bind me to your heart
for I have lost it all
I sang towards the rising moon
proceeded with the fall

I felt just like a cogwheel
I knew my place in life
but longed for love and felt the stab,
the panic like a knife

Perceived to be a liar
I whined, but not enough
the Devil has a fleeting trunk
and quickly sheds the slough

Insanity was flaming
with dirt and filth and brine
as no one could distinguish
the wicked word from mine

Bind me to your heart
for I have lost it all
and Paradise I didn't choose
I didn't hear the call

But glowing harps are bursting
a teardrop with the sound
I'm sliding into heaven
while feeling deeply found

To tones of purest beauty
I vanish down the line
till no one can distinguish
the Holy light from mine.

Last edited by peter danielsen on Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:20 pm; edited 3 times in total

Regarding its sung presentation, Peter, I agree with what Fljots has said, on the 'predictability' of the four-line pattern. I would prefer having some variation in the melody, a break, a bridge, for interest ~ maybe, something emotionally soaring, in contrast. There's something in your pattern of singing it that sounds rather Leonard-like.

I really enjoy your voice. It has an honest, and even vulnerable, quality to it ~ as though you're very sincere in the delivery of these words you've written, not just singing a song, and as though you're genuinely seeking.

I love the string instrument being focused in the instrumental introduction, and I really like the syncopation in the music, and the brief 'soars' of the 'electronic'-sounding, keyboard [?] instrument. At any rate, the song was worth listening to....and, of the other ones I've heard by you, I got a much better sense of your pleasant voice.

~ Elizabeth

You put it MUCH better than I did, Lizzy!

And yes, he does have a nice voice, and he does sound rather Leonard-like.

And thanks for the copy/paste. It's a good poem.

Hi Fljots ~

Since I'm not a musician, singer, or songwriter, offering feedback on these things can be challenging. [Generally, I just go with personal taste and how it affects me ~ absent any concrete suggestions.] So, an extra thanks ! However, I thought you did fine and, in fact, built upon what you'd said. In fact, once I heard it, I found what you'd said to be right on target .

~ Lizzy