Ballad of the Absent Mare

Ask and answer questions about Leonard Cohen, his work, this forum and the websites!
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anneporter
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by anneporter »

Chris, like you, I am fascinated by this song. I have told my family I want it sung at my funeral. I haven't heard of a live version.

Anne
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Davido
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Davido »

Anne, Chris,
There are very few live recordings of' Ballad of the Absent Mare'.
Leonard has sung this song live during his 1979 and 1980 tours. The oldest known live recording is København, Danmark - (Falkoner Teatret),October 17, 1979.
Others:
Hannover, Deutschland - (Kuppelsaal)
November 11, 1979
Melbourne, Australia - (Comedy Theatre)
March 8, 1980
Philadelphia, PA, USA, 1985/04/30
You can check/research the live recordings here:
http://www.leonardcohenlive.com/concerts.htm
- and I can send you a recording.
Dave
Last edited by Davido on Sun Mar 22, 2009 6:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies"~ Groucho Marx
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anneporter
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by anneporter »

Good old reliable Dave.

You seem to have an answer for everything Cohen.

I would love a recording. That is a generous offer. I wonder what I could send you in return....
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Davido
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Davido »

Hey,Anne - less of the 'old' ... :lol:
PM your address please.
Dave
"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies"~ Groucho Marx
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anneporter
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by anneporter »

Dave,
At least I didn't call you "old Woman", like Arthur said to Dennis in Monty Python and the Holy Grail
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Ten Bulls

Post by News Gal »

Here's a link to an online copy of Ten Bulls:

http://www.iloveulove.com/spirituality/ ... nbulls.htm

It's been years since I read this, I had a copy in high school and just found it again on my bookshelf.
ᎤᏩᎬᏗᏒ ᏥᎪᏩᏘᎲ, ᎯᎩᎾᎵᎢ, ᎠᏓᎯᏍᏗ ᎨᏐ. Uwagvdisv tsigowatihv, higinali'i , adahisdi geso (I've seen the future brother, it is murder.)
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anneporter
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by anneporter »

Thank you, Newsgal, for the 10 Bulls. You can have no idea just how synchronous that posting is. I am presently working out my design for a tarot card based on the Absent Mare, and I think those illustrations are going to help me a lot. I scarcely know when I am looking for something, and presto! this forum provides it!

Anne
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Detour »

This is one of my favorite Cohen songs, I'd love to hear him do it live and in person. The only live recording I've heard of this song was played at a party I went to many years ago, and it was a live bootleg cover by Nanci Griffith. Oh how I've wished to hear that one again, but I didn't know the person who had the recording, and I've never been able to track it down. :(

Much thanks for the links to Jennifer Warnes story, and also the link to Ten Bulls. Those explain so much and I'm richer today for having read them.
Tamaraz
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Tamaraz »

I see this is an old thread! But I just discovered this song....listening to it, I thought of the bible story of the lost sheep....and God searching for his lost one.....and never giving up....and pulling her back with love not a whip....what an amazing song.....
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by cohenadmirer »

Live performance by Leonard - 1985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOwzGmDNgQ
Leonard's work resonates
Brighton 1979; Dublin , Manchester june 2008; glasgow, manchester Nov 2008; Liverpool july 2009 ; Barcelona Sept 2009 ;marseille, lille september2010: Ghent August 2012;Barcelona October 2012;Montreal x2 November 2012: 2013; Saint John NB April 2013; Brussels June 2013;Manchester August 2013; Leeds , Birmingham September 2013; Amsterdam September 2013
Athnuachan
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Athnuachan »

Thanks David.
I love this underrated LC song.
It expresses so well the "panic of loss", whatever the loss is.
I know all about the oxen, but I still feel it was inspired mainly by the loss of his beloved at that time, the mare used as metaphor, beautifully so - cowboys and their horses, a whole lost world evoked there.

I don't welcome cover versions, usually, much preferring the original, but for Emmylou I will make an exception!
I love both his and hers.
Last edited by Athnuachan on Mon Aug 10, 2015 3:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
Ring the bells that still can ring...
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Kush
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Kush »

I had originally posted this link in the Other Music section and just saw this old thread and the reference to Emmylou...thought I would post it here as well.

Ballad of the Runaway Horse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJPll_5lPc
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Hartmut
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Re: AW: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Hartmut »

cohenadmirer wrote:Live performance by Leonard - 1985

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfOwzGmDNgQ
Thanks for the link!
Athnuachan
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Re: Ballad of the Absent Mare

Post by Athnuachan »

Kush wrote:I had originally posted this link in the Other Music section and just saw this old thread and the reference to Emmylou...thought I would post it here as well.

Ballad of the Runaway Horse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCJPll_5lPc
,

Thanks for the link Kush.
My two favourite versions of this lovely song are Leonard's original and Emmylou's version.
Ring the bells that still can ring...
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