According to the Walking In Memphis Songfacts, Cohn was discovered by Carly Simon in the mid-'80s when he was with a 14-piece band called The Supreme Court. Atlantic Records signed him in 1989, but the first attempts to record his debut album with Tracy Chapman 's producer David Kerschenbaum failed. Ten months later, he tried again, producing the set himself with help from the little-known Ben Wisch, who had helped him with his demos. Finally released in 1991 when Cohn was 31 years old, his self-titled debut album was a huge hit, thanks to the massive success of "Walking In Memphis." Cohn won the 1991 Grammy for Best New Artist award, beating out both Boyz II Men and Seal. Cohn never matched the chart success of this song, but like his musical heroes Van Morrison, Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne , he remained a critical and artistic success as a songwriter and performer.
He has issued two other studio albums to date, The Rainy Season (1993) and Burning the Daze (1998), both on Atlantic Records. A self-released live compilation, Live 04-05 (2005), is being sold at concerts on his current tour.
He is the most famous graduate of Beachwood High School in Beachwood, Ohio, a Cleveland suburb. He attended Oberlin College as well. In addition, Cohn is notably married to ABC News journalist Elizabeth Vargas whom he met at the 1999 US Open after being introduced by Andre Agassi. Cohn and Vargas have two sons: Zachary Raphael (born on January 31, 2003) and Samuel Wyatt (born on August 16, 2006). Cohn has two other children— Max and Emily—from a previous marriage.
On August 7, 2005, Cohn was shot in the head during an attempted carjacking, following a concert with Suzanne Vega in Denver, Colorado. He was hospitalized and released the next day. The remaining concerts on the tour were cancelled.
Cohn released The Very Best Of Marc Cohn in June 2006, and his 4th studio album, Join The Parade, was released on October 9, 2007. He continues to tour to this day. For photographs and additional information visit Marc's official website, www.MarcCohn.net.
Rest for the Weary
Marc Cohn Lyrics
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But his work was never done
He stood behind a counter
And he smiled at everyone
He bought himself a business
Worked seven days a week
Took a holiday for Christmas
Then he fell asleep beside the tree
One day
There's love for the lonely
One day
They walk in the sun
One day
Rest for the weary
Rest for the weary ones
Now my mother stood beside him
She did what she could do
But if you look at some old photograph
She looks tired too
I hope there was some laughter
Cause I know there were some tears
Now all I can say is I pray to God
That after all those years
After all those years
That one day
One day
There's love for the lonely
One day
They walk in the sun
One day
Rest for the weary
Rest for the weary ones
Now I'm just another traveler
On another winding road
I'm trying to walk some kind of line
I'm trying to pull some kind of load
Now sometimes I move real easy
Sometimes I can't catch my breath
Sometimes I see my father's footsteps
And man it scares me half to death
But one day
One day
There's love for the lonely
One day
We walk in the sun
One day
Rest for the weary
Rest for the weary ones
The song "Rest for the Weary" by Marc Cohn is about the hard work and struggles that his parents had to endure. His father worked long hours, owning a business and working seven days a week, leaving him with very little time for himself or his family. The song talks about how his father worked during the holidays and fell asleep beside the tree, showing the exhaustion and lack of rest he faced.
The song also focuses on the fact that Cohn's mother was always alongside her husband, doing what she could to support him, but she too appeared tired in old photographs. Cohn expresses hope that the couple found moments of laughter amid their tears. He prays that his parents can find rest and relief from their hard work, hoping for a future where there is love and joy.
Cohn himself acknowledges that he is now another traveler with his own challenges, trying to find the right balance in life. He notes that sometimes it feels like he is following in his father's footsteps, which scares him. But he expresses optimism that one day there will be rest, love, and joy for all those who have struggled for so long.
Overall, the song seems to be a reflection on the difficulties of working hard and the importance of finding moments of happiness and rest. It acknowledges the sacrifices that parents make for their families and seeks to offer hope for a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
My father was a working man
My dad was a man who worked hard
But his work was never done
He was always working, never taking a break
He stood behind a counter
He worked at a store or shop, serving customers
And he smiled at everyone
Despite being tired, he put on a happy face for others
He bought himself a business
He invested in his own enterprise
Worked seven days a week
He didn't take a day off from work
Took a holiday for Christmas
He only took one day off for Christmas
Then he fell asleep beside the tree
After working hard, he found himself tired and fell asleep
But one day
Yet there is still hope for a better future
There's love for the lonely
Love exists even for those without companionship
They walk in the sun
They get to enjoy life, free from burdens
Rest for the weary
A chance to rest for those who have worked hard
Rest for the weary ones
A chance to rest for those who have worked hard and are tired
Now my mother stood beside him
My mother supported my father
She did what she could do
She did all she could to help
But if you look at some old photograph
Old photographs show that she was also tired
She looks tired too
She seemed to be worn out from life
I hope there was some laughter
I hope they found joy in life
Cause I know there were some tears
But I also know that life wasn't always easy for them
Now all I can say is I pray to God
Now that they're gone, all I can do is hope and pray
That after all those years
After all that time they spent working hard
Now I'm just another traveler
Now I'm just another person, moving through life
On another winding road
On a path that is sometimes unclear and unpredictable
I'm trying to walk some kind of line
I'm doing my best to stay on track
I'm trying to pull some kind of load
I'm trying to carry my share of responsibilities
Now sometimes I move real easy
Sometimes things in life come easy to me
Sometimes I can't catch my breath
But at other times, life can be challenging and overwhelming
Sometimes I see my father's footsteps
I can see the legacy my father left behind
And man it scares me half to death
This can be both inspiring and intimidating
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind