Take This Longing and Joan Of Arc... But recently the partial recording of Isle of Wight appeared, where LC introduces One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong with allsuions and references which he usually used about Nico (in few shows he introduced those songs as songs about tallest, blond girl from Nazi poster he couldn't have...). But I may be wrong about One Of Us..., last week there was an article in which we learned that LC was also in Edie Sedgwick room in Chelsea Hotel and that she burned candles... What reminded me on first line of One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong.Vauxhall wrote:I was under the impression that only "Take This Longing" was about Nico.
Teddy Thompson on Came So Far For Beauty in Dublin
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Leonard was besotted by Nico and by all accounts put a lot of time and energy into trying to win her over - all to no avail (Take this Longing). This,and his comments at the IOW festival, have always led me to believe that 'One of us cannot be wrong' was also about Nico.
But the Warhol/Sedwick/Nico et al connections in the 60s were such that Edie Sedgwick could be the subject of Leonard's song.
When Sedgwick and Warhol parted company (acrimomiously) in 1966, Warhol apparently edited out Sedgwick's appearance from his film 'The Chelsea Girls' and substituted Nico.
Personally, I would still go for Nico as the subject of Leonard's song, but I suppose only Leonard would know the truth! But, you know what they say,
if you can remember the 60s, you weren't really there!
But the Warhol/Sedwick/Nico et al connections in the 60s were such that Edie Sedgwick could be the subject of Leonard's song.
When Sedgwick and Warhol parted company (acrimomiously) in 1966, Warhol apparently edited out Sedgwick's appearance from his film 'The Chelsea Girls' and substituted Nico.
Personally, I would still go for Nico as the subject of Leonard's song, but I suppose only Leonard would know the truth! But, you know what they say,
if you can remember the 60s, you weren't really there!
...just some random thoughts, ... (-- gossip ...)
The Stone's "19th Nervous Breakdown"
and Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" were about Edie Sedgwick.
(That is to say, I have read this enough different times enough
different places that it must be true.)
And it's also almost certainly true that many of the songs
on "Blond On Blond" were more or less about Edie.
(Except obviously not "Sad Eyed Lady of The Low Lands",
(although it was once said to be) - because Dylan on "Sara"
on "Desire" says explicitly that he was
"Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,
Writin' "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you." - ie, -Sara.)
And I don't know, but I don't think there's any doubt that the title itself
---Blond on Blond --- meant Nico and Edie.
(Sara of course wasn't blond.)
And then there's that curiously titled song,
"One Of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" on Blond On Blond,
- which obviously inspired Cohen's title: "One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong,"
- (which song, maybe, has to do with Edie and|or Nico, too)
Dylan had a relationship with Edie. I think it was basically a kindred-spirit
brother-sister kind of thing. She is described in many places, and I just
want to point out that she was a talented artist (--she could draw
a very realistic looking squirrel, for example,) and she was small and frail.
As a matter of fact she was approximately exactly the same physique
as Bob Dylan himself at the time. So I think they were basically good buddies.
Nico was different. Tall and cold.
And Sara was warm and earthy. And Dylan married Sara.
(Which would have been my choice too.)
After just seeing still photographs of Edie or Nico
people have said that they just don't get it. But from what I've
read and seen of them on film here and there,
they were both very intriguing, high-quality dames.
(Apart from being totally fucked-up, of course.)
The song "4th Time Around" on Blond On Blond
starts out with:
"When she said,
'Don't waste your words, they're just lies,'
I cried, she was deaf. "
- and that might have meant Nico. I don't know.
In any case her partial-deafness had an effect on how she sang.
"She sings like a tone deaf, transexual, German horse."
someone said ( http://cacophonyandcoffee.blogspot.com/ ... r-lot.html )
(--at least he didn't say "like a German trout" ;)
But I wouldn't put it that way.
And Dylan and Cohen and Warhol and Lou Reed and
lots of others, liked it, -for something there was about it,
-whatever it was.
Dylan mentions "La Dolce Vita" in "Motorpsycho Nitemare"
on "Another Side Of Bob Dylan" from 1964.
Nico played a bit part in that movie.
And so Dylan might have remembered her from that. Or not.
In any case the first person he gave "I'll Keep It With Mine"
to sing, was Nico. So either he thought her voice was
right for it, somehow, or something about the song
reminded him of her. Or maybe he actually wrote it
with her in mind.
(Dylan back then also had a thing about a French singer, - Franciose Hardy)
The Stone's "19th Nervous Breakdown"
and Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" were about Edie Sedgwick.
(That is to say, I have read this enough different times enough
different places that it must be true.)
And it's also almost certainly true that many of the songs
on "Blond On Blond" were more or less about Edie.
(Except obviously not "Sad Eyed Lady of The Low Lands",
(although it was once said to be) - because Dylan on "Sara"
on "Desire" says explicitly that he was
"Stayin' up for days in the Chelsea Hotel,
Writin' "Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" for you." - ie, -Sara.)
And I don't know, but I don't think there's any doubt that the title itself
---Blond on Blond --- meant Nico and Edie.
(Sara of course wasn't blond.)
And then there's that curiously titled song,
"One Of Us Must Know (Sooner or Later)" on Blond On Blond,
- which obviously inspired Cohen's title: "One Of Us Cannot Be Wrong,"
- (which song, maybe, has to do with Edie and|or Nico, too)
Dylan had a relationship with Edie. I think it was basically a kindred-spirit
brother-sister kind of thing. She is described in many places, and I just
want to point out that she was a talented artist (--she could draw
a very realistic looking squirrel, for example,) and she was small and frail.
As a matter of fact she was approximately exactly the same physique
as Bob Dylan himself at the time. So I think they were basically good buddies.
Nico was different. Tall and cold.
And Sara was warm and earthy. And Dylan married Sara.
(Which would have been my choice too.)
After just seeing still photographs of Edie or Nico
people have said that they just don't get it. But from what I've
read and seen of them on film here and there,
they were both very intriguing, high-quality dames.
(Apart from being totally fucked-up, of course.)
The song "4th Time Around" on Blond On Blond
starts out with:
"When she said,
'Don't waste your words, they're just lies,'
I cried, she was deaf. "
- and that might have meant Nico. I don't know.
In any case her partial-deafness had an effect on how she sang.
"She sings like a tone deaf, transexual, German horse."
someone said ( http://cacophonyandcoffee.blogspot.com/ ... r-lot.html )
(--at least he didn't say "like a German trout" ;)
But I wouldn't put it that way.
And Dylan and Cohen and Warhol and Lou Reed and
lots of others, liked it, -for something there was about it,
-whatever it was.
Dylan mentions "La Dolce Vita" in "Motorpsycho Nitemare"
on "Another Side Of Bob Dylan" from 1964.
Nico played a bit part in that movie.
And so Dylan might have remembered her from that. Or not.
In any case the first person he gave "I'll Keep It With Mine"
to sing, was Nico. So either he thought her voice was
right for it, somehow, or something about the song
reminded him of her. Or maybe he actually wrote it
with her in mind.
(Dylan back then also had a thing about a French singer, - Franciose Hardy)
I'll Keep it with Mine
(Bob Dylan)
You will search, babe, at any cost,
But how long, babe, can you search for what's not lost ?
Everybody will help you,
Some people are very kind.
But if I can save you any time,
Come on, give it to me,
I'll keep it with mine.
I can't help it if you might think I am odd
If I say I'm not loving you for what you are
But for what you're not.
Everybody will help you,
Discover what you set out to find
But if I can save you any time,
Come on, give it to me,
I'll keep it with mine.
The train leaves at half past ten
But it'll be back tomorrow same time again.
The conductor, he's weary,
Still stuck on the line.
But if I can save you any time,
Come on, give it to me,
I'll keep it with mine.
Wasn't Just Like A Woman about Allen Ginsberg? 
(At least that's what he said...)
I'd agree that, after that news about Cohen/Sedgwick, we can now count both blondes into the account of songs from Chelsea... Particularly with that interesting connection with Dylan's song title.
(At least that's what he said...)I'd agree that, after that news about Cohen/Sedgwick, we can now count both blondes into the account of songs from Chelsea... Particularly with that interesting connection with Dylan's song title.
Leonard Cohen Newswire / bookoflonging.com (retired) / leonardcohencroatia.com (retired)
Love love Teddy Thompson and really glad to see a thread here about him. Just for any NYers, this is short notice but will definitely be worth it:
Teddy will be playing in New York, NY as Tony Scherr`s Special Guest
Marion's Marquee on January 15, 2007 at 8:00 PM.
Where:
Marion's Marquee Lounge
354 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
Catch the show and come back with some pictures, audio, videos or reviews![/b]
Teddy will be playing in New York, NY as Tony Scherr`s Special Guest
Marion's Marquee on January 15, 2007 at 8:00 PM.
Where:
Marion's Marquee Lounge
354 Bowery
New York, NY 10012
Catch the show and come back with some pictures, audio, videos or reviews![/b]
Cricketc -- we were not able to get in for this show, but Teddy's Darfur Benefit on December 21, 2006 at the Living Room in NYC was well attended and well received!!!
Here are a few - not very sharp - pics from the Darfur Benefit
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/ ... 0Thompson/
Here's a link to audio of Teddy's set and the closing number with most of the cast including Martha Wainwright and Kami Thompson (sorry, not great audio)
http://www.savefile.com/files/417566
And, I know there are many Martha Wainwright fans on the board, so here's a link to audio of Martha's set -- 5 songs (3-4 new ones and BMFA).
http://www.savefile.com/files/417488
For more more info on Teddy and Martha see
marthawainwright.com
teddythompson.com
Here are a few - not very sharp - pics from the Darfur Benefit
http://s29.photobucket.com/albums/c281/ ... 0Thompson/
Here's a link to audio of Teddy's set and the closing number with most of the cast including Martha Wainwright and Kami Thompson (sorry, not great audio)
http://www.savefile.com/files/417566
And, I know there are many Martha Wainwright fans on the board, so here's a link to audio of Martha's set -- 5 songs (3-4 new ones and BMFA).
http://www.savefile.com/files/417488
For more more info on Teddy and Martha see
marthawainwright.com
teddythompson.com