Her credits include being an original cast member of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1968), the female lead (Sheila) in the Los Angeles company of Hair (1968), a number 1 single "The Right Time of the Night" (1977) and 3 Oscars for Best Song - "It Goes Like it Goes," from Norma Rae (1980), "Up Where We Belong," (with Joe Cocker) from "An Officer and a Gentleman" (1982), & "I've Had the Time of My Life," (with Bill Medley) from "Dirty Dancing" (1987). (Her duets with Cocker & Medley were also #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.)
She toured with Leonard Cohen in 1972 & 1979. In 1987, she recorded "Famous Blue Raincoat" - an album of Cohen's compositions.
Famous Blue Raincoat
Jennifer Warnes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
New York is cold, but I like where I'm living
There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening
I hear that you're building your house deep in the desert
Are you living for nothing now?
Hope you're keeping some kind of record
Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night when you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?
Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You'd been to the station to meet every train
But she never turned up, I mean Lili Marlene
So you treated some woman to a flake of your life
And when she got home she was nobody's wife
Well, I see you there with a rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well, I see Jane's awake
Mhmm
She sends her regards
And what can I tell you?
Oh, what can I tell you?
What can I possibly say?
I guess that I miss you
I guess I forgive you
I'm glad that you stood in my way
And if you ever come by here
Be it for Jane or for me
I want you to know your enemy's sleeping
I want you to know your woman is free
Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
I thought it was there for good so I never really tried
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night when you planned to go clear
Sincerely, a friend
The lyrics to Jennifer Warnes's song Famous Blue Raincoat describe a letter written by the singer to an old friend who betrayed her by having an affair with her lover. The song is written in the form of a letter, with the singer addressing her friend as "my brother, my killer" throughout. The song is full of cryptic references and allusions, leaving much of it open to interpretation.
The opening lines of the song set the stage - it's four in the morning, the end of December, and the singer is writing to her friend to see if he's doing better. She tells him that she likes where she's living (in New York), despite the cold winter weather. The music on Clinton Street, she says, keeps her going.
The song goes on to describe the friend's life in California, where he's building a house in the desert. The singer wonders if he's found any purpose there, and if he's keeping any kind of record. She then references a girl named Jane who came to visit her with a lock of the friend's hair. The friend had apparently given it to her on the night when he planned to go "clear". The singer asks if he ever did go clear, leaving the meaning to be interpreted by the listener.
The second half of the song is more abstract, with references to the friend's famous blue raincoat (which was torn at the shoulder the last time they met), and a woman he treated to a "flake of his life" who ended up married to someone else. The song ends with the singer saying that she misses her friend, forgives him, and that she's glad he stood in her way. She also tells him that if he ever comes to New York, he should know that his "enemy" (her lover) is sleeping, and that his woman (the singer) is free.
Line by Line Meaning
It's four in the morning, the end of December
This letter is being written at an odd hour, almost symbolizing the thoughts of the writer - unconventional and different from the norms.
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
The writer has something that she is willing to offer or reach out to the addressee and is possibly curious about how he progresses.
New York is cold, but I like where I'm living
New York, being cold, is a metaphor to the relationship that the writer and the addressee may have shared, but the writer does like the space and memories she holds to it.
There's music on Clinton Street all through the evening
Clinton Street, known for music and art, could be an allusion to the good times they might have both shared in the hustle of a city life.
I hear that you're building your house deep in the desert
The addressee is possibly distancing himself from the crowded and lonely city life trying to find peace in the quiet desert that he is building a house in.
Are you living for nothing now?
The writer possibly wonders why the addressee chose to move and what he is doing now, and questions if it is what he always wanted or dreamed of.
Hope you're keeping some kind of record
The writer is sincerely interested in the addressee's eventful journey and hopes that he is keeping up with some form of record- possibly to share at a later time.
Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair
Jane delivers one of the remnants to the writer of the addressee's memories, probably to remind her of the good times shared.
She said that you gave it to her
The lock of hair is proof that the addressee may have shared a close relationship with Jane and possibly an indication that there could be more the writer does not know of.
That night when you planned to go clear
This night that the addressee intended to start anew is probably being talked about for a specific reason, not only as the night when he gave away his hairlock to Jane.
Did you ever go clear?
The writer is uncertain of whether the addressee went ahead with the plans he had hoped for on that fateful night or if things changed along his journey.
Ah, the last time we saw you, you looked so much older
Time has moved forward, and since the writer last saw the addressee, many things may have changed or progressed for him, symbolized by the difference in appearance.
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
The torn raincoat could be a metaphor elaborating how the addressee's emotions could be wearing and tearing him apart slowly and how he is unable to control it.
You'd been to the station to meet every train
The addressee is possibly waiting for something, possibly love or a significant other, in a train station, but never found what he was looking for.
But she never turned up, I mean Lili Marlene
The addressee's waiting was never met with a positive response, and Lili Marlene, who he may have been waiting for, did not come - possibly a lost or failed love.
So you treated some woman to a flake of your life
The addressee gave a part of his life to a woman as he was trying to find himself and his true purpose amidst confusion.
And when she got home she was nobody's wife
Even though an affair may have taken place with the addressee, nothing meaningful came out of it for the woman, and she is now again lost, just like him.
Well, I see you there with a rose in your teeth
A rose in teeth may signify the end of something or a broken relationship possibly, which may have left the addressee damaged - someone who the writer was not ready for.
One more thin gypsy thief
The addressee is probably a master of leaving without a trace or in a thief’s manner, always moving and never settling down permanently.
Well, I see Jane's awake
The writer is alerted about Jane, possibly trying to indicate that there is something significant happening again, and history may repeat itself.
She sends her regards
Jane must have sent her good wishes for the addressee to the writer to have in mind when she is communicating with him once again.
And what can I tell you? Oh, what can I tell you?
The writer might wonder what she can tell the addressee that he does not already know, what can she say that would truly make a difference?
What can I possibly say?
The writer understands that she might have limited words that can accurately express her concern and feelings towards the addressee at the moment.
I guess that I miss you
The addressee's conversations with the writer must have helped her understand his character, leading her to have feelings for him in a way she can't ignore.
I guess I forgive you
The writer probably understands the addressee's flaws, and while holding judgements back, she may have been able to forgive him.
I'm glad that you stood in my way
The addressee may have done something that may have delayed the writer unexpectedly, leading to an acquaintance that she is now grateful for.
And if you ever come by here
The writer acknowledges that the addressee has a significant influence on her, and if they were to meet again, it could possibly be an essential meeting for the writer.
Be it for Jane or for me
Jane and the writer both would like to see the addressee, and both would benefit from hearing his side of the story.
I want you to know your enemy's sleeping
The writer likes the addressee to understand that anyone he once might have perceived as an enemy is no longer considered one, which may relax him when meeting her again.
I want you to know your woman is free
The addressee may have to hear that the writer is not bound or is with anyone, which eliminates any potential conditions and makes their meeting potentially more comfortable.
Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
The writer is thankful to the addressee for the emotional relief or ordeals he helps resolve or ease for Jane.
I thought it was there for good so I never really tried
The writer presumed that there was no need for closure, but after communicating with the addressee, feels that there is more she could have done to help him, and never really tried enough.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind