L.C. Song Hunt

General discussion about Leonard Cohen's songs and albums
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

"The walls of this hotel are paper-thin ..."?
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

Yes, "Paper-Thin Hotel" it is: "I stood there with my ear against the wall" and "I listened to your
kisses at the door."
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Maybe do another one? - I'm out of ideas.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

O.K. If the spirit leads you to post another question later on, please do so. Perhaps someone else
would like to ask the next question.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Steven wrote: If the spirit leads you to post another question
At first I thought this was the beginning of a new riddle ...
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Well, maybe it is ...
Steven wrote:If the spirit leads you to post another question later on, please do so.
What do I have to make the spirit do to lead me there?

One might say that the song that gives the answer to that question was partly inspired by Cato the Elder.
Last edited by Hartmut on Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Steven wrote: Is it "A Thousand Kisses Deep"?
For the record:

- There's an LC ... song that actually (kind of) mentions our game.

"riddle"

-The ... song also mentions superior competitors of the author.

Diz and Ray.

- And mentions a Golem-like being that children like to create.

"snowman"

- And the necessity of deception.

"I know you had to lie to me ..."

- Now the riddle is almost too easy, again.

Again: "riddle"

- A part of this song probably takes place on New Year's Eve.

"Auld Lang Syne"
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

One could argue that the song in question also is about cosmetic surgery.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

I doubt that this song is correct, but this is the best guess I can come up with: "Lover Lover Lover."
The cosmetic surgery hint could apply to: "Then let me start again, I cried, / Oh please let me
start again. / I want a face that's fair," Cato the Elder is credited with: "Rem tene, verba sequentur."
The translation, as you know, is "Grasp (or stick to) the subject and the words will follow." I suppose
this could be what you had in mind with the question about the spirit leading. Most reliably productive
artists can attest that inspiration often comes about during the perspiration producing part of the work,
i.e. when they're engaged in the subject. As with the song, I have little confidence that the quote
attributed to Cato the Elder is what you had in mind; it's a good one, nonetheless. :) L.C. Song Hunt
questions flow out of (and into) an engagement with L.C.'s songs.
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

Correct answer. Excellent explanations!

My explanations are ... a bit simpler:

- What do I have to make the spirit do to lead me there?

Let "it rise up pure and free".

- The song was partly inspired by Cato the Elder.

Cato is famous for adding his sentence about destroying Carthage at the end of every speech, no matter what the subject of the speech. The narrator in "Lover, ..." does a similar thing.
Steven wrote:The translation, as you know,
You are very generous ...
Steven wrote:the quote attributed to Cato the Elder [...] it's a good one, nonetheless.
Yes.
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi,

A reference to a nursery rhyme appears in what song?
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Goldin
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Goldin »

Hi Steven,

Is it Lullaby?
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Roman,

You are correct, though "Lullaby" isn't the one I have in mind. "Lullaby" implicitly references
(or draws from) a number of nursery rhymes. "Lullaby" has gentle, non-predatory events, as a
good lullaby should: "Well the mouse ate the crumb / Then the cat ate the crust / Now they've
fallen in love."
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Hartmut
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Hartmut »

I'm pretty sure you're talking about the line "You see Jack and Jill they're going to join their misery" in "Why don't you try ".
Steven
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Re: L.C. Song Hunt

Post by Steven »

Hi Hartmut,

You are correct.

Hi Roman and Hartmut,

Each of you qualifies to ask the next question.
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