Well, Mark’s been at it again this time on the US Jesu/Sun Kil Moon tour with Leonard Cohen’s Famous Blue Raincoat song. Two versions have turn up on YouTube in the last week or two so I’ve just got to put both here off course. He’s also booked to play a Cohen tribute night tomorrow in San Francisco so if even more Cohen covers turn up I’ll add it to this post or make a new one again.
Both these are different really, below is the earlier one were he just sung the opening words acappella style and the above video this is the whole band playing the full song. Seems like it’s an outside gig and police sirens can be heard as he sings the line “New York is cold but I like where I’m living, There’s music on Clinton Street all through the evening” which is kind of cool. I do hope a better recording of this track, maybe even in a recording studio would be nice but these will do for the moment.
Famous Blue Raincoat is from one of my most fave Cohen albums called Song Of Love And Hate which I’ve written a whole post about too. I’ve actually written a lot about both Mark and Leonard on my blog if you wanted taken a look?
Famous Blue Raincoat lyrics
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 deep in the desert
You’re living for nothing now, 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?
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, and
You came home without Lili Marlene
And 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 the rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well, I see Jane’s awake
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
That night that you planned to go clear
Sincerely, L Cohen
Edit (28/11/16) Well now, a third version of Famous Blue Raincoat with just Mark singing and Marc Capelle piano player. Maybe could be the best?
a1000mistakes 