About LC not singing, If It Be Your Will...

[Box_of_Rain]

I am sorry anyone would take this in a negative way.

It's not negative in the slightest. And if you think it is, I would suggest reevaluating your thoughts.

There's a give and take between fans and artists. The energy doesn't only flow in one direction.

Is it really so awful and outlandish to request a song?

[lizzytysh]

No, it is not awful or outlandish, at all, Box of Rain... and I can understand your wanting to hear Leonard sing it .


~ Lizzy

[Box_of_Rain]

Thanks Lizzy! I was almost starting to feel guilty! Ha ha!

[MaryB]

I also would love to see LC do this song live (THE song I requested to be played at my funeral) while I'm still alive - or at least share a part of it with the Webb Sisters, 'if it be his will'.
Although,I'm just happy with anything he decides for his concerts.
Best regards,
Mary

[tomsakic]

"If It Be Your Will" being (as LC said himself) Leonard Cohen's best song, he really should be singing it, or not have it there at all. The Webb Sisters' version is very nice, but, nothing more. As somebody once wrote about Jennifer Warnes' album, in its angelic harmonies it's cleaning out all Leonard Cohen's ambiguities.

[lizzytysh]

I have the solution [even though I may not be able to experience and enjoy it myself]... if they will move the Webb Sister's performance of the song into the main part of the show... and then [begging] Leonard is free to sing it himself in one of the final encores.

I love it that Leonard doesn't try to milk the audience for the encores. He virtually comes right back, after only a fair amount of applause... but not the usual, excessive amount 'required' by performers for encores. Leonard creates the feeling that he is the happy one to perform more songs, rather than just his obliging us for more to make us happy. It's the most equal dynamic I've experienced in encore situations.

To think of having any complaints regarding Leonard's performances is audacious, truly audacious. There's only one word befitting his singing for us, at all. Gratitude.

Still, at the end of the day, just focusing strictly on that one, particular song, not the fact that Leonard is out there performing for us... Tom's assessment is pretty right on, with some disagreement. I feel the Webb Sisters's performance goes beyond just being "very nice, nothing more." Still, compared to what Leonard's performance of that signature song would be, that description would be the appropriate contrast. This is a song of great import and one that so many have listed as their own favourite, much less Leonard's assessment of it as his best. Those ambiguities are essential to Leonard's work. There are some rare exceptions, to which I do not apply this... however, in my heart, so is his voice. When his voice is here no more, there will be a required adjustment. Whatever happens, I remain grateful.

This topic is a struggle. I would deeply love to hear Leonard sing If It Be Your Will... and, if he ever does, I pray I will be there.


~ Lizzy

[Edited to place the italics as originally intended, on "he" rather than "is."

[friscogrl]

I have been giving this topic some thought as well. I was sitting with box of rain when she said she wondered why Leonard wasn't singing If It Be Your Will. We'll probably never know the reason for this and I like most people here would love to hear Leonard sing this song. But that being said I feel the Webb sisters did an outstanding job. And if you ask them I am sure they would not say this was just a song to them. Leonard introduces the song with a brief explanation of the song's conception and that it was more of a prayer. The Webb Sisters voices, their instrumentation and the lighting give this song the spiritual atmosphere it deserves. Also Leonard stands off to the side holding his hat to his heart while they sing. I feel their is a mutual feeling of respect being shared while this song is be performed. And I for one would not have wanted to missed this performance.

Frisco

[lizzytysh]

You're right, too, in what you're saying, Frisco. It's a situation fraught and rife with ambivalence for me. The way Leonard enjoys the Webb Sisters singing of his song makes me want to ask who is it here who would want to deny him such pleasure. Not me... for sure. Leonard is the architect of his creation and its application. Perhaps, those of us who just want it both ways may one day find ourselves having gotten it. Perhaps, not.

I'm glad I was there to enjoy it with Leonard.


~ Lizzy

[hydriot]

One of the (many) interesting things about Leonard is that, unlike most artists in most fields, he is not at all proprietorial. He seems to get a positive buzz out of sending his creations out into the wide world to be covered by other performers.

When I watched him watching the Webb Sisters perform If It Be Your Will, fedora clutched to his chest, the impression I had was that he had just released two white doves from a cage and was enjoying following their soaring antics across an empty sky.

[Davido]

One of the (many) interesting things about Leonard is that, unlike most artists in most fields, he is not at all proprietorial. He seems to get a positive buzz out of sending his creations out into the wide world to be covered by other performers.

When I watched him watching the Webb Sisters perform If It Be Your Will, fedora clutched to his chest, the impression I had was that he had just released two white doves from a cage and was enjoying following their soaring antics across an empty sky.

Well said, Hydriot - I totally agree.
The Webb Sisters' performance of the song is outstanding, and one of the highlights of the show (IMO). It is also further evidence of Leonard's generosity and humility.
Ultimately, covering Leonard's songs is the only sure way of 'keeping them alive'.
Dave

[UrPal]

That's an interesting observation, Davido.

It brings to mind a personal story of relevance. I suggested that a 25 year old, who went to see LC a number of times last year and now loves him, have a listen to the newly released Webb Sisters live version of IIBYW the other night. She listened to the section where LC recites the lyric as poetry at the start of the song but took the earphones off immediately the sisters started playing. I looked at her puzzled. "Too much like classical music", she explained.

I only recite the facts. Whether there is a lesson depends, I guess, on whether that particular 25 year old is typical of her generation. My suspicion is that she is rather more open to "older music" than most, in which case perhaps the artist who covers and the market to which they pitch (i.e. the future rather than the past) is as important as the simple fact of coverage.

I should say for the sake of completeness that I am not being critical of the Webb Sisters' version of the song. I agree that as an "Enyaesque" performance of the song, it's a perfect rendition and the purity of female harmony and gentle arpeggiated accompaniment is top class. I enjoyed it every time I heard it in the moment and like the recorded version too.

Maybe when my particular one off sampling of the youth market is older she will come to appreciate this version of the song more? I don't know. If she's like me, then she will. But still prefer something a bit more ragged around the edges as a general rule.

[Box_of_Rain]

I can't believe it.

[Box_of_Rain]

Ok, I'm going to have to admit it, this thread has been a little upsetting to me. I know I shouldn't take it personally!

To me, it's not about the Webb sisters. Their rendition is special. That harp is amazing. I also loved Anthony in the tribute sing that song, that was really incredible too. It's not about that.

If, for some reason LC does not want to sing the song. That is his choice, of course. It's simply important for me to, shout it out (If It Be Your Will)! In some ways, I think it's like saying, Hey! We love you so much!

I can't help think about The Grateful Dead. There was this song, St. Stephen, everyone wanted to hear...for years they never played it...and finally they broke it out again. I've been thinking about this thread and what if, Jerry Garcia, said, wait a minute, I'm going to bring out some other guitarist to play that for you, and I'm just going to sit back here and admire the sound! No. That would not have worked. The deadheads would definitely have protested. Jerry once said, which I thought was so great, that he didn't take the deadheads for granted....that he was a little nervous before a show, that he worried we wouldn't like something (it's really funny and crazy he would think something like that)....he said something like that...something like, we were a hard crowd to please....of course we felt he could do anything and we would be so happy. But the truth was, we were critical. We weren't a lazy bunch, we listened to every note, and loved it, no matter how he played it, we were just happy to hear him play, even when he began to forget the words.

Now, don't get me wrong...I'm not saying LC takes us for granted at, at all!!! But I am saying that we need to admit what we want...that we don't follow blindly...

I can't believe that anyone would not like to hear LC sing, If It Be Your Will. I don't understand how there can be an argument. Maybe it's just in my head!

You noticed the way LC appreciates everyone on the stage (not only the Webb sisters), and all of us too!

Maybe someone had the right idea. Just play the song twice!!!

[UrPal]

The reservation I have about LC singing If It Be Your Will himself is that for it to work for him he'd have to play it intimately - just him and the guitar with maybe a bit of Roscoe Beck on bass sidling by in the background - and in a big venue that might not work to achieve the best transition of the song to the listener. So maybe it's best that the Webb Sisters continue to do their thing.

If you want to hear LC do the song beautifully and recently in a quasi-live atmosphere (and in a form about as informal and personal as you get) check out the version he extemporised at the end of his interview on that Norwegian Radio thing a couple of years back. To be honest, after that anything else is likely to prove a disappointment anyway.

[Box_of_Rain]

I actually did think about that. It could be done. All he would have to do is bring out a chair and an acoustic guitar, I think there could be a little backup...

Keep thinking positive!