Famous Blue Raincoat
Solveig Slettahjell Lyrics
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It's four in the morning, the end of December.
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 little house.
I 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 that you planned to go clear, did you ever go clear?
On 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 there.
You came home without Lili Marlène.
And then you treated my woman to a flake of your life.
And when she came back, 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 away, she sends her regards.
And what can I tell you, my brother, my killer?
what can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you
I guess I forgive you, I'm glad you stood in my way.
If you ever come by here for Jane or for me
Well, your enemy is sleeping and his woman is free.
Yes, and thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes.
I thought it was there for good, so I never tried.
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
The night that you planned to go clear.
Sincerely, L Cohen.
In Famous Blue Raincoat, Leonard Cohen writes a letter to an old friend and lover, reminiscing about the past and seeking closure. It's four in the morning and the end of December, and Cohen is writing this letter just to check on how his friend is doing. He tells his friend that he's currently living in New York and enjoying it, listening to music on Clinton Street all evening. However, he also mentions that his friend is living in the desert, building a little house and seemingly living for nothing. Cohen hopes that his friend is keeping some sort of record and asks if he had ever gone clear.
Cohen then brings up their last meeting, where his friend looked much older and was wearing his famous blue raincoat, which was torn at the shoulder. He was waiting at the station to meet every train, but he didn't come back with Lili Marlène. Instead, he gave Cohen's woman a "flake of his life," and when she returned, she was nobody's wife. Cohen ends the letter by saying that he misses his friend and forgives him, but he's also glad that he stood in his way, and if he ever came back, Cohen's enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.
Line by Line Meaning
It's four in the morning, the end of December.
It's a late hour and year-end with emotions high.
I'm writing you now, just to see if you're better.
I'm sending you this letter hoping that you are doing well.
New York is cold but I like where I'm living.
Despite the chilly weather, I enjoy living in New York.
There's music on Clinton Street, all through the evening.
The sounds of music can be heard on Clinton Street all night long.
I hear that you're building your little house.
I've heard that you have been constructing your own home.
Deep in the desert, you're living for nothing now.
You're residing in the barren desert for nothing in particular.
I hope you're keeping some kind of record.
I hope you are documenting events in your life.
Yes, and Jane came by with a lock of your hair.
Incidentally, Jane dropped by with a lock of your hair.
She said that you gave it to her
She claims that you gifted it to her.
That night that you planned to go clear, did you ever go clear?
Did you follow through with your plans to leave and start anew?
On the last time we saw you, you looked so much older.
The last time we met, it seemed as if you've aged exponentially.
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder.
The iconic blue coat with which you're known for had a damaged shoulder.
You'd been to the station to meet every train there.
You had gone to the train station, repeatedly waiting for someone.
You came home without Lili Marlène.
Your efforts went to waste as Lili Marlène did not come home with you.
And then you treated my woman to a flake of your life.
You've showered my lady with a slice of your existence.
And when she came back, she was nobody's wife.
Following her return, she no longer bore the title of someone's spouse.
Well, I see you there with a rose in your teeth.
In my mind's eye, I perceive you with a flower held tight between your teeth.
One more thin gypsy thief!
You remain the same indigent, wandering robber.
Well, I see Jane's away, she sends her regards.
Jane is out of town but wanted to send her greetings nonetheless.
And what can I tell you, my brother, my killer?
What words can I say to you, my sibling, my assailant?
what can I possibly say? I guess that I miss you.
There's really not much I can say, other than the fact that I miss you.
I guess I forgive you, I'm glad you stood in my way.
I believe that I have forgiven you, in fact, I am grateful for how you've impeded me.
If you ever come by here for Jane or for me,
Should you come here for Jane, or even myself,
Well, your enemy is sleeping and his woman is free.
Be aware that your foe is sleeping, and his lady is unattached.
Yes, and thanks for the trouble you took from her eyes.
I would like to express gratitude for the torment you have spared her.
I thought it was there for good, so I never tried.
As I had believed her suffering to be permanent, I never attempted to alleviate it myself.
And Jane came by with a lock of your hair.
Again, Jane stopped by, this time bearing a lock of your hair.
She said that you gave it to her
She insists that you had granted her the hair as a present.
The night that you planned to go clear.
It was the same evening you had intended to depart and turn over a new leaf.
Sincerely, L Cohen.
Cordially, L Cohen.
Writer(s): Leonard Cohen Copyright: Sony/ATV Songs LLC
Contributed by Amelia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.