In 1971 I was caught unawares
Leonard Cohen invaded my slumber
I blame my friends
who placed Cohen on the turntable
again and again
from dusk 'til dawn
That night I bonded with Leonard Cohen
but he was unaware
I immediately set out to capture those songs
I stole my brother's guitar
but he later squeezed me for cash
In 1973 I unleashed some songs
onto an unexpected audience
at the college folk club
I cremated Joan of Arc
and drowned Suzanne
the audience applauded
but I immediately went into retirement
my nerves were greater than the desire
Over the next 25 years I built up a repertoire
but not for public consumption
until I discovered other Cohen friends
I planned my comeback and unleashed my songs
onto an expected audience
at Cohen gatherings
and my desire became greater than my nerves
In 2002 I set out to record some of these songs
for my curiosity
for my posterity
for my legacy
and for my 50th birthday
The selection is ready
They are not perfect
but they are mine
and yours to embrace
or discard
it doesn't matter which
Appreciate them at a level of your choosing
Leonard remains unaware
for only he is allowed to torture us with his songs
I can only echo them.
The above notes I wrote a few years when I eventually got round to doing something that I promised to myself that I would do one day...and that was to put some songs on a cd as a self memento of how I had spent my time in solitary over my formative years and beyond
At the gathering in London last week somebody suggested that I put something on youtube (and I'm sorry I can't remember who suggested it amongst the sea of Cohenites...if it was you then this is all your doing
) Now, this was something that had previously crossed my mind when I saw Manna's superb youtube performance and thought at the time..'that's a good idea!..but do I have the technology?' So during the last week I found some time (Liz was away visiting a friend for a few days in Banbury and I wasn't cross
(droll)... I go to London..she goes to Banbury.... fair exchange except no legends in Banbury) and the tripod I once nearly threw out fitted my digital camera perfectly....so I had a go. Charlie the cat looked on curiously, as cats do, and at one stage nearly got in on the act (only visual..no cat's chorus).After the first song I then navigated myself around youtube and followed all the instructions and 'hey presto' there I was. It was quite surreal seeing myself singing back to me...damn, I am thinning on top
With the cd I had the technology of a proper microphone and using a 4 track recorder for extra vocals and guitar and then mixing it in a computer.
With this youtube thingy it's just me in front of my digital camera which has a pinprick of a microphone in it.
The above notes I think still apply:
They are not perfect
but they are mine
and yours to embrace
or discard
it doesn't matter which
Appreciate them at a level of your choosing
Leonard remains unaware
for only he is allowed to torture us with his songs
I can only echo them.
It keeps me out of mischief anyway.
Pete
p.s. there are 6 songs and as you will see, one of them cannot be Cohen's.
I'll add more as the dark evenings descend..that is a promised threat
.