HOW COULD I HAVE DOUBTED

I stopped looking for you
I stopped waiting for you
I stopped dying for you
and I started dying for myself

I aged rapidly
I became fat in the face
and soft in the gut
and I forgot that I ever loved you

I was old
I had no focus, no mission
I wandered around eating and buying
bigger and bigger clothes
and I forgot why I hated
every long moment that was mine to fill

Why did you come back to me tonight

I can’t even get off this chair
Tears run down my cheeks
I am in love again
I can live like this

  — Leonard Cohen (b. 1934), Canadian poet, composer, author

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any length of time knows that I have pretty eclectic (or at least broad-based) musical tastes; ranging from jazz to (old) country to punk and back again.

Amnesty International released a CD a few months back of various artists covering John Lennon songs, to raise money to help the refugees from Darfur.

One of those song’s is Regina Spektor’s cover of “Real Love” … yet another shining example of an artist taking someone else’s song, and making it her own, like Green Day’s cover of “Working Class Hero”, from the same album.

All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dream
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they
really were doing
Was waiting for love

Don’t need to be alone
No need to be alone

It’s real love
It’s real, yes it’s real love
It’s real

From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love

Don’t need to be afraid
No need to be afraid

It’s real love
It’s real, yes it’s real love
It’s real

Thought I’d been in love before,
But in my heart I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Don’t need to be alone
No need to be alone

It’s real love
Yes it’s real, yes it’s real love
It’s real, yes it’s real love…

EELS - HEY MAN (Now You’re Really Living)

Do you know what it’s like to fall on the floor,
And cry your guts out ’til you got no more?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Have you ever made love to a beautiful girl
Made you feel like it’s not such a bad world?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Now you’re really giving everything,
And you’re really getting all you gave,
Now you’re really living what
This life is all about.

Well I just saw the sun rise over the hill,
Never used to give me much of a thrill,
But hey man, now I’m really living.

Do you know what it’s like to care too much,
’bout someone that you’re never gonna get to touch?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Have you ever sat down in the fresh cut grass,
And thought about the moment and when it will pass?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Now you’re really giving everything,
And you’re really getting all you gave,
Now you’re really living what
This life is all about.

Now what would you say if i told you that
Everyone thinks you’re a crazy old cat?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Do you know what it’s like to fall on the floor,
And cry your guts out ’til you got no more?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Have you ever made love to a beautiful girl
Made you feel like it’s not such a bad world?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

People sing:
Do you know what it’s like to fall on the floor,
And cry your guts out ’til you got no more?
Hey man, now you’re really living.

Just saw the sun rise over the hill,
Never used to give me much of a thrill,
But hey man, now I’m really living.