Famous Blue Raincoat

Ach, Leonard, der ewige Rauner…
«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.»

Hier der Text und ein Video, wie er den Song als alter Mann nochmals singt.
1971, als der Song erstmals veröffentlicht wurde (auf «Songs of Love and Hate»)
machte man ja noch nicht so viele Videos.

Natürlich ist der blaue Regenmantel des Alter Egos aus dem Song
Cohens eigener gewesen, und Lower East Side / Clinton Street
war damals tatsächlich sein Zuhause.
In der Gegend wohnten viele Latinos – darum wohl
die beschwingte Abendmusik, von der die Rede ist.

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
And 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