All the JOKES (and nothing else!)

[Wenslauw]

Post them here! The ones I heard in Copenhagen briefly summarised:

- being a young man with a dream when he went on a concert tour the last time
- having taken just about every medicine against depression between the last tour and this one
- singing something like this old face instead of leather mask in I'm your man

Don't remember all of it, but I think he made some of these in Toronto (and other concerts?) too.

[Paul Zagreb]

Manchester 20 June
I particularly liked the introduction to the (absolutely amazing) If It Be Your Will ... along the lines of (it is not word for word, for sure!) "This is a song I wrote when I thought I might never be able to sing again - quite worrying when I never could sing in the first place"

[brokenhill]

Similarly not doing justice to the actual words but, "I tried the major religions but cheerfulness kept breaking out" keeps making me smile three weeks later

[Womanfromaroom]

Sometimes just his very dry remarks - for example his answer to the overwhelmingly enthusiastic reactions from the Amsterdam audience to his - admittedly rather basic - keyboard skills: "You are very kind", with a wry smile.
Also later, while the Webb sisters, two of his background singers, kept repeating the same chorus lines (no text, jut syllables), he said something like: "You know, I have always tried to solve the great complexities of our existence; I have tried all the religions, but I think tonight I have finally found the solution to it all. I will share it with you, as I am not the guy who keeps these things selfishly to himself!" (Laughter from the audience, then curious silence. Leonard Cohen, pointing at the Webb sisters): "This is all there is to it; listen to them; it' s "da-da-da-da-da-da..."
And if you were there that evening, you know he is right!

[Wenslauw]

heh, he did that in Copenhagen too.

[UrPal]

Similarly not doing justice to the actual words but, "I tried the major religions but cheerfulness kept breaking out" keeps making me smile three weeks later

The full version of this is rather more rounded and subtle being both a form of confessional and a nugget of acquired wisdom as well as an appropriate lead into Anthem as the song it introduces.

I suggest anyone yet to see the show should steer clear of this thread. Otherwise you'll know the script off by heart yourself...

[kindave]

I agree with the last comment regarding those going to see future concerts, to avoid this thread. It is a script of sorts. Those who had the pleasure of attending a concert know that these comments, or some version thereof, are spoken regularly. Why is it necessary to post these remarks and ruin those special moments for other fans and concert-goers. It is ruining the show for some people. Posting the setlist is one thing. But, I don't believe there is a need to expose every little jewel in the brilliantly shining crown. This thread should be pulled.

just my opinion.

[UrPal]

This thread should at least come with a health warning: a spoiler alert like on imdb or whatever when outlining movie plots.

Reading a joke is rarely as funny as the moment of personal delivery - you can't, for example and by reference to the introduction to Anthem I had quoted in my last post, by reproducing the words re-create the way they are delivered or the pauses infilled with audience laughter and applause that lie between each segment of the monologue as it "builds" towards the punchline.

On reflection I've therefore edited my earlier post to remove the quoted section.

[Womanfromaroom]

Well, you guys make it sound like a real sacrilege to write about the "jokes" and as if the people who are actually impudent enough to do so spoil the fun for anyone else who ist still going to attend the concerts... Calm down I would say! If ANYONE can think for themselves, it should be Leonard-Cohen-fans, even those who have not yet been to a concert; anyone who wants to read this thread is, I think, welcome to do so - and who is not interested and wants to hear the funny remarks (or others!) still to come for themselves is not forced to be here, is he (or she)?

[paddieu]

as a deaf person i appreciate the info very much.

if u dont wanna know what 'jokes' he might have said, why open this thread ?