Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

This section is dedicated to the new studio album and the Dublin concert video
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Joe Way
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Re: Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

Post by Joe Way »

One of my favorite lines is when Leonard sings, "it was good, it wasn't boring." And it is the little inflection on how he sings "good" that does it for me.

Joe
"Say a prayer for the cowboy..."
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lindyasimus
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Re: Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

Post by lindyasimus »

A very cheeky switch on the usual "moment on your lips and lifetime on your thighs" warning to women about eating sweets!

Cheshire gal wrote:Slow: A great song.

'A weekend on your lips, a lifetime in your eyes' :D :D :D

I love this Album.
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lindyasimus
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Re: Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

Post by lindyasimus »

Sun makes perfect sense if the original concept is to do with unrelenting rain.


Greengage wrote:
AlanM wrote:
Greengage wrote: "Was our prayer so damn unworthy
The sun rejected it?"
The official lyrics are:
"Was our prayer so damn unworthy
The Son rejected it?"

http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/popula ... s.html#113

I think this meaning of Son/sun is a New Testament reference rather than an Old Testament/Talmud one.
Son is quite different to sun in meaning, both here and elsewhere.

Alan
Ah, I was wondering about that.

Makes a little more sense, it being 'Son' rather than 'sun'. Sun felt a little pagan and the figure of Jesus has a way of turning up in LC:s lyrics.
(another of my favourite lines of his are:
Show me the place where The Word became a man
show me the place where the suffering began
)
Athnuachan
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Re: Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

Post by Athnuachan »

What a pity this thread has wandered off course from its original intention, memorable lines from "Popular Problems" - great idea, Cheshire Gal !
(There are many other threads for those who like to analyse. )

3 of many lines that stand out for me are:

"You left me with the dishes and a baby in the bath".

"The king so kind and solemn
He wears a bloody crown."

"It was good, it wasn't boring " - this about the "story of the gypsies and the Jews".
Such courage and honesty here - this is exactly how a child would have reacted to such stories!

And this is great too:
"The party's over,
But I've landed on my feet".
Ring the bells that still can ring...
AlexandraLaughing
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Re: Popular Problems: Memorable Lines

Post by AlexandraLaughing »

Almost every line of 'Did I ever Love You?' is memorable. My currents favourite lines from that song (this five minutes) are 'Is it still raining Back in November?' 'Was I ever someone who could love you forever?'; 'Did I ever fight you? You don't need to answer'; 'It's spring and it's summer and it's winter forever'.

Otherwise:

'It's not because I'm old, it's not because I'm dead'

'Drove you to the station, Never asked you why'

'Did you really love the city, or did you just pretend?'

'My father says I'm chosen, my mother says I'm not'

'I'll be standing on the corner where there used to be a street'

'It's almost like salvation- it's almost like the blues'

'You got me wishing our little love would last' (I hope this line is about his granddaughter and that she will inspire him to go on at least another ten years!)
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