Everybody knows about the Tower of Song :: Lullabys for insomniacs
Keep Art Alive :: Art by Joshua Petker
The clock turns time from one day to the next, and I count the hours in my head until the unwelcome buzz of morning will pull me out from dream’s reverie. There is never enough sleep when your mind fills with words to write, desires to consider, and a lifetime of a losing battle to contend with. Music soothes though, and sometimes acts as lullaby. Here’s to the other creatures of the night who struggle with the unrequited mistress of slumber, here are two songs from the incomprable Leonard Cohen, that I am hoping will help to lull my eyes to close, perchance to dream.
Everybody Knows (live) :: Leonard Cohen
“Everybody knows that you love me baby,
everybody knows that you really do,
everybody knows that you’ve been faithful,
ah, give or take a night or two.
Everybody knows you’ve been discreet,
but there were so many people you just had to meet,
without your clothes;
and everybody knows.”
Tower of Song (live) :: Leonard Cohen
“I was born like this,
I had no choice,
I was born with the gift of a golden voice,
and twenty-seven angels from the Great Beyond,
they tied me to this table right here,
in the Tower of Song.”
Ah, dear Leonard. I saw him last year in London. Extraordinary/
I saw him a few years back, in the desert, and he was amazing, humble, class, and yes, extraordinary. His music speaks to me like no other sometimes, especially during sleepless nights. How was the show you saw last year?
Yes. All those things. A two hour set in which he was utterly charming. I saw him twice many years earlier, once with Jennifer Warnes singing backing vocals, and each concert was special.
Charming and humble were two words I left with, and, of course, amazing. Envious that you have seen him more than once.