Chelsea Hotel 1 and 2

[worrdman1]

I forget what section on this site it has the words for both versions of these songs. However I noticed that in the Tel Aviv concert in 1972 and the Germany performance of Chelsea Hotel, which I believe is on the documentary Bird On A Wire, are the same lyrically, different from what the site says. I like Chelsea Hotel 1 much better for some reason. For those of you curious, the lyrics are as follows.

This is what he says in the Tel Aviv Concert 1972.

"There is a new song that we just a, wrote a couple weeks ago. It takes place in the Chelsea Hotel in New York City. And it's for a brave woman who uh, put an end to it all."

I remember you well in the chelsea hotel
you were talkin' so brave and so sweet
giving me head on the unmade bed
while the limousines wait in the street
and those were the reasons and that was New York
I was runnin' for the money and the flesh
say it again
I was runnin for the money and the flesh
and that was called love for the workers in song
and it still is for those of us left

ah but you got away didn't ya babe?
ya just threw it all to the ground
you got away they can't pay ya now
for makin' your sweet little sound can they?
makin' your sweet little sound on the jukebox
makin' your sweet little sound on the radio
makin your sweet little sound

I remember you well in the chelsea hotel
in the winter of 67'
my friends of that year they were all gettin' queer
and me i was just getting even

and those were the reasons and that was new york
i was runnin' for the money and the flesh
that was called love for the workers in song
and it still is for those of us left

ah but you got away didn't ya babe
ya just turned your back on the pain
you got away oh, your deepest dream
racin' the midnight train babe
racin' the midnight train all naked
racin' the midnight feet on the gravel
racin' the midnight train, yes you caught it baby
racin' the midnight train on your way to me now
racin' the midnight we can't follolw you
racin' the midnight train.'

I remember you well in the chelsea hotel
then i went down to tennessee
Sat by the stream listening to nothin' else
but holding my honorable dream

Willy York from the Big East fork
he came there to talk with me
and we fed the pea fowl the bread for their pride
the stream there it's still runnin' inside

ah but you got away didn't ya babe?
ya just threw it all to the ground
you got away they can't pay ya now
for making your sweet little sound
im so tired
makin your sweet little sound
im thinkin' of ya babe
making your sweet little sound
did it happen baby
were ya standing here just like i am?
tired singing all that clappin'
people listenin' nobody knew it
makin' your sweet little sound
I can hear ya now
go into the jukebox
I choose your records
I listen all night now
makin' your sweet little sound baby
makin' your sweet little sound on the jukebox
guess i got nothin more to say to ya baby
I mean so long. gotta leave ya now.
little sound.

[lizzytysh]

Hi Worrdman ~

These lyrics give a much stronger sense of Leonard's caring for the woman and the person, Janis Joplin.


~ Lizzy

[tomsakic]

However I noticed that in the Tel Aviv concert in 1972 and the Germany performance of Chelsea Hotel, which I believe is on the documentary Bird On A Wire, are the same lyrically, different from what the site says.

Tel Aviv 1972 performance is the one you can see in Bird on a Wire documentary. There's no actual recording of 1972 Tel Aviv show - the CD circulating around has been taken down to CDR from the film.

Chelsea Hotel 2 has been recorded for 1974's New Skin for the Old Ceremony, and performed from 1974 tour onward.