leonardcohenforum.com

The Leonard Cohen page on Song Meanings.net

http://www.songmeanings.net/artist/view/songs/6211/

Thanks, Quasand! Put the site on my Favorites as I need all the help I can get to interpret Leonard's brilliant lyrics!

Be suspicious of this website.

Be especially sceptical of people who use the word 'clearly'. Thus, A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes is explained as: "This song is clearly about the Vietnam Soldier's experience". Oh really? And I thought the reference to the army just might have something to do with the military coup which took place in Greece on 21 April 1967.

I always wondered what was the meaning of "The Old Revolution". I thought it was a reference to Vietnam War. After reading your message, I wonder if what you say about "A Bunch Of Lonesome Heroes" can apply to "The Old Revolution".

Hello,
I just read on the genius great reference to army by using words hero and a bunch,
but still everytime i listen this song, ut makes me think about King Midas who has donkey ears and his desire is to turn everything he touches into gold, which becomes his curse.
Maybe he wants to tell his story before becoming cursed of his desires?
also Midas's kingdom attacked by army like crickets ( says wikipedia) maybe just a coincidence, what do you think?

To me "A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes" has always been one of Leonard's most enigmatic songs

Eylul, as for the reference to crickets, Cohen seemed to have had some sort of fascination with those insects, they are mentioned in several of his songs and poems. If B4real notices this post, she may provide us with many examples. I always enjoyed the sounds of the crickets in the summer, and later in fall when the cold weather set in, the eeriness when their numbers diminish: first to just a few calling to each other...then to just two...and then to just one calling plaintively without response. Then one night there are no cricket sounds--until the following summer.

4

its4inthemorning wrote: ↑Thu Feb 01, 2024 5:52 pm Eylul, as for the reference to crickets, Cohen seemed to have had some sort of fascination with those insects, they are mentioned in several of his songs and poems. If B4real notices this post, she may provide us with many examples.

4

Here you go 4, your request is my command

I sing this for the crickets
~ A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes

And the crickets are breaking
his heart with their song
~ Ballad of the Absent Mare

And the crickets are playing
their final song
~ Ballad of the Absent Mare
@ Melbourne 1980

Now the crickets are singing
~ Night Comes On

No one calls the crickets vain
~ Song of Destruction
from Night Magic musical 1985

How many crickets
~ Song To Make Me Still
poem & song sung by Anjani Thomas @Feast of Cohen 2013

Some more poems:
I sing this for the crickets
~ Who Will Finally Say

Like the hairy legs of crickets
~ You Broke The Thin Highway

When the crickets
~ Summer Haiku

He referred me to the crickets when I had to sing
~ Psalm 21 & My Teacher

The little ghosts of crickets sang Another Man Done Gone
~ The Night I Joined

To the crickets and his clocks going in and out of sync...
And his crickets and his clocks going in and out of sync.
~ Formal In His Thought Of Her

We were listening to the crickets…
Kone, Roshi said, you should write cricket poem…
I’ve already written a cricket poem…
Yah, Kone, you should write cricket poem…
We listened to the crickets a while longer…
Yah, Cricket.
Roshi, give me your idea of a cricket poem.
Ha ha. Okay:
Dark night (said Roshi)
Cricket sound break out
Cricket girl friend listening…
Suddenly break out cricket sound…
~ Formal In His Thought Of Her commentary

Crickets and lizards make lace out of the edges of my thought
~ The Promise commentary

The crickets give a pulse to the night
~ The Beetle commentary

Silence

And a deeper silence

When the crickets

Hesitate

Summer Haiku

Bev, you are amazing!

4

Thanks 4, but not difficult to do and I enjoyed doing it!
Besides, I'll take any opportunity to keep Leonard's lines to the fore