JPF Home Page Forums Lyric and MP3 Feedback MP3 Feedback Forum Looking for Leonard Cohen

It's been a while since I posted anything, so I thought I would put one up. Some of you all who post on the other forum have probably already heard this. I struggle a lot w/depression and it's been a bad summer for me in that regard. This song was born from an idea I had after seeing my songwriting idol, Leonard Cohen in concert. He was wonderful, but I felt so down afterwards. I decided to write a song about that "perish in the grasping idea" and also my own lack of inspiration and struggle w/depression, especially in the context of this songwriting endeavor. I don't know about you guys, but I invest so much time and energy into it and I struggle to keep things in perspective. For me, it's supposed to be a hobby, but it's a hobby that borders on obsession. I tried to write this in a way that would emulate Leonard's style. He has this way of balancing sorrow and humor, and he always uses some Biblical imagery as well. So I was attempting to incorporate all of these elements in my lyric. A gentleman named Roger Davis from the other song forum did a really nice addition to my guitar/vocal with the strings.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=9112029

I'm looking for Leonard Cohen
Leonard, where have you been?
My whistle, it keeps blowing
and my train wreck is just round the bend

I'm looking for your answers
won't you show me what to do
I wonder if it matters
Leonard, am I getting through?

Won't you shine your light
through the crack in my night
won't you heal me with your song
Won't you come to my tomb
Dance me into your room
And direct me to where I belong?

I'm looking for your torch out there
burning somewhere in the rain
you tell me there's some beauty there
in the middle of all of the pain

You say all have sinned
And we're sinning again
And we've all fallen short from the mark
And we're telling our lies
And we wear our disguise
Could we all be lost to the dark?

But I'm looking for you poet
Won't you show me what you know?
I'm doomed here and you know it
And Leonard where did you go?

Leonard where did you go? x 3

Wendy, Beautifully written and performed song. Holy smokes! Listening right now as I comment. Not a misstep in the song so far and its almost over. Now it's over and I'm giving it my highest score: a 10. So I'll have to go rearrange my top 5 JPF songs.

I know Depression is an awful cross to carry through life. All I can say is that you've created something beautiful out of your pain. This song lights a candle in the darkness. Bravo!

P.S. I was never a big Leonard Cohen fan until I heard "Hallelujah" just a couple days ago. Now I am.

dan

HI Wendy - Thanks for sharing your story and song. This is really beautiful - from lyric to melody and production. I'm a fan! Favorite line - "burning somewhere in the rain."

Songwriting is a hobby for me as well and at times it does border on obsession! At other times when I'm not obsessed with it I stress out worried I've lost the creative spark. Your torch is burning bright!

Hi,

HEY....good to see ya again.

THIS is very nice...
you tell me there's some beauty there
in the middle of all of the pain

You always sing so pretty, thank you for sharing your sounds with us !

Calvin


http://www.soundclick.com/bands/0/calvinstewart

Great lyrics and heartfelt performance. I like that bass work that comes in on the 2nd stanza. Strings were maybe a little heavy-handed, but still OK.

You are quite talented and I always enjoy listening to your stuff. Best of luck with the depression thing -- I know it is just an everyday battle.

Kevin

Hallelujah was discussed on another thread recently, so I have been listening to a few versions of that recently. Here's one by kd lang that is super: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_NpxTWbovE

Kevin, That k.d. Lang version knocked me out, too. The stage presence was absolutely riveting as were her vocals.
dan

What a stunning song and performance Wendy. Wow!

Truly beautiful. This is in my top five of favorite lines ever written by anyone:

"My whistle, it keeps blowing
and my train wreck is just round the bend"

Yeah, "hobby" doesn't quite describe what we do. "Avocation" might be closer but still falls short.

I've never had depression but folks I know and love have to deal with it. I hope you find your way through it.

Scott

Hi Wendy,

So good to see you posting again.

Lyrically, this is a lovely inventive piece. Even without the back-story, it conveys your struggles with the journey in a meaningful and moving way....and you drizzle it with some great imagery. Right off the bat, you got me with these lines:

My whistle, it keeps blowing
and my train wreck is just round the bend

I also enjoyed the way you played around with the rhyme-structure. Your phrasing is so pretty though, you don't hit us over the head with it. Who hasn't wanted to rhyme POET with KNOW IT !

Musically, this is dazzling. I think you indeed captured the Cohen-esque flavor. It's funny someone brought up KD Lang's version of "Hallelujah"; though she has a lower register than you, her vocal has reminded me of yours for a long time. The same beautiful and haunting quality.

About the depression Wendy: you've had a lot on your plate as of late, so don't beat yourself up when feeling bad actually makes sense. Still, when it "gets in the way", that's where it gets tricky. The subject of "suffering for one's art" is a contraversial one, but I find this quote from an Institute of Contemporary Art study says it best:

"As the ICA panel concluded, for the best artists, the drive to create is so strong that it can withstand almost any amount of suffering - and the life experience it gives them serves only to make their works more powerful."

So thank you for sharing with us Wendy -- and hang in there. As always, your music is worth waiting for.

Cheers,
Beth

It is easy to see the Leonard Cohen influence, and not a bad take on his style either, good song worked for me.

Really nice, fits your style perfectly, Wendy! Actually, I've heard Leonard lives in Nashville these days! :-)

Hi Wendy,

This is just awesome, on all fronts. So strong lyrically and the slight touch of strings and bass are a perfect addition to your wistful melody and the tempo keeps it from becoming a dirge.

"Won't you shine your light
through the crack in my night"

I think you are the light!

Ricki

Wendy , wow ... this is a great write . Very heartfelt performance .

Keep up the good work .

All the best
Jan

Wendy,

I do not think I can add anything substantial that has not yet been said. So, I'll just pile on with the others and say.."Wow...what a stunning song"!

I'm impressed...I'd give anything to be able to write like that. And your vpoice is so sweet and engaging. This is a fabulous song, performed equally fabulously...as I said, stunning!!!!!

Standing up and applauding!!!!!

Best of luck with your personal situation. I'll keep you in prayers.

All the best...

Alan

This is beautiful Wendy. Hugely poetic and sad. All the best with this tune. It's ready for prime time IMO.

A VERY small nit w/ Roger's strings. The voicings of the various instruments - Cello, Viola and Violins seem to fade in and out a bit. They're very beautiful, but they also drive me a little crazy... eg some notes of the cello part really seem to stick out more than others. I don't know how to fix it and like I said it's really the only VERY small critique I have of the whole piece. And overall, it's a very effective part too.

I listened twice and enjoyed it more the 2nd time!

Peace,

Ian

Hi Wendy,

Very lovely song. I can relate to all the depression. That seems to be my middle name. You've got a wonderful voice and a great talent for song writting.

I'm glad you shared it with us.

take care,
glen

Beautiful Wendy !

Frickin' Wendy, you really know how to get to me. This is one of your best. Straightforward, calm and heartbreaking.

When I first listened, I was thinking that second verse shouldn't sound like the first, but should have different chords, and transition us into the chorus...but then I saw the rest of the structure and realized that probably wouldn't work. But I will say that two verses of that same pattern felt too long to me...

Strings work very well for this song, nice touch.

Hope that train wreck never happens. I hope it fervently. I love your music and the fine mind behind it. And that crack of light, that torch you're looking for, doesn't need any sort of door...just blow on the coal of your own heart. That's where the light is.

All I can say is Beautiful Wendy. I too suffer from depression so I can relate. It's not an easy road and you've captured the mood in music. Good for you.

Stevie

I think Leonard is an aquired taste for some people. It's almost better sometimes to listen to a few covers of his stuff, rather than his original. One of my favorite covers is Madeline Peyroux's cover of Blue Alert. I pasted-in a link to a version from YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMJMsIaRYDQ

Thanks so much for listening and for your kind words. The song probably still needs some more work, but I'm resting with it for now.

Hey Kevin,

Thanks for listening and commenting. I know what you mean about songwriting. It seems like a little monkey riding on my back at times. But I do enjoy the process of creating that communication. It allows for both music and words, probably two of the most important things in the world in my estimation. I think I would be lost without it. But it makes me crazy too. I guess it's like parenting in that regard.

Hey Calvin,

Thanks very much for listening and commenting. Wish I could sing prettier (as opposed to just making sounds).

Killer vocals, you are a natural.
Your lyrics are too good, I'm almost speechless...almost.
Even that simple guitar strum lends a classic feel to the song.
And Standing Ovation to the Gentleman and his strings... I would love to make his acquaintance.
I think I may have met you when I first join JPF but I must say you are a special talent.
As for your pains my dear,"Through thorns come roses and from lemons, lemonade" Mister Nelson

Keep doing the beautiful work you do.

Nelson

Won't you shine your light
through the crack in my night

Me likes Wendy ! ! Keep smiling, K ?

Hi Wendy

I think Leonard would love to hear this one!!! Find a way to share it with him. You have your very own special style of writing that always intrigues me. Another well written lyric and melody and yes, I love the addtion of strings.

I'm sorry Wendy that you struggle with the big "D". These might seem like small things to help, but sometimes it's the little things that do help...fresh air and lots of Vit D (most people are dangerously low in their Vit D, but we need sunshine, it builds our bones and our moods, exercise even if it's a brisk walk, healthy foods, enough sleep, and lots of water. Surround yourself as much as possible w/good/happy things and try to remove the negative things that may be hindering a good mood. Last, BUT definitely not least, is prayer. Put prayer before the despair. If that despair shows it's horrid little head, pray it away at first glance.

Your friend and fan,
Lynn

Kevin,

Thanks for coming by to listen and for your kind words. I love Hallelujah. It's a great song, but one of my all time faves is the EmmyLou Harris cover of Leonard's song, Ballad of the Absent Mare, called Ballad of a Runaway Horse in EmmyLou's version. What a broken-hearted song this is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLnncuskFhcn

Roger had my crappy guitar track and vocal to work with and really did wonders with this. I need to burn a copy of it and listen in my car. I've only listened under the headphones and the stings sound pretty good to me. But I see that Ian mentioned them too. I might get some local musicians to redo this at some point, but who knows if and when that would happen. Another thing to add to the list, I suppose.

Absolutely beautiful Wendy. One of my favorites posted this year. Would have been a top five if the voting wasn't over. Fantastic writing and the vocals are to die for.

Rick

Hey Wendy,

Yes, this does a very fine balancing act between the two emotions. Great vocal line and delivery here. It's heartfelt without being morose. Nice job.

cheers, niteshift

PS - yes, I suffer the affliction as well. Not pleasant, but it creates good art. The black dog often creates angst, which creates art, so it does have it's upside I wrote a short aricle which may bring a smile. http://niteshiftmusic.blogspot.com/2009/08/bring-on-angst-its-good-for-creative.html

Hey Scott,

Thanks for giving this a listen. The "whistle/train wreck" line was kind of a late add. But I had been walking around with this in my head since October, so by the time I wrote it down, it flowed pretty easily.

Anyway, thanks again for your kind comments.

Hey Beth,

Thanks for taking the time to comment on this. I'm glad you were able to appreciate the poet/know-it rhyme. One thing I like about Leonard is that balance he achieves between sacred things, love, humor, and sadness. I was attempting to roll all of those into this.

I thank you for the K.D. Lang comment, though I could only practice and take lessons for the rest of my life and still not sound that good.

Anyway, I'm glad to see you are back on the Boards as well.

Thank you very much for listening, Puddleglum.

Thanks for listening, Magne. I had not heard that Leonard lives in Nashville. That would seem natural, since it's a mecca of songs and songwriters. Maybe I should drive-up from Atlanta and stalk him.

Thank you very much for listening, Ricki. The "won't you shine your light through the crack in my night" is a play on the song Anthem where Leonard sings "there's a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in." If I could get Roger to help me again, I might do a finger picked version, but my dance card is pretty full these days. Maybe someday.

Hi Wendy, fellow Atlantan here. What a poignant lyric and sung so beautifully with a mix of longing hope vs. despair. Nailed the emotion perfectly to my ear. A lot of us know the demon of depression by face and name. If only we could do something like this with it. Thanks for this song.

Best,
Scott

Wendy...excellent work.....my wife heard "Hallalujah" on a soap opera afew days ago....she said you ought to try that one..... I did....love the song.....what a unique writing talent L. Cohen.....your song is very good......shows off your skills ....lyric and vocal are very good....Bob