Leonard Cohen performs in Israel, defies boycott

Yahoo - AP ^ | 09/24/09 | IAN DEITCH

[Borges]

RAMAT GAN, Israel – Leonard Cohen wowed an adoring audience Thursday night, crooning his iconic ballads at his first show in Israel in 30 years and ignoring a political storm over his appearance.

The 75-year-old singer entertained fans at Ramat Gan stadium near Tel Aviv for more than three hours. Some in the audience wore black fedora hats, a tribute to one of Cohen's trademarks.

The concert sparked a protest long before it took place on a warm night near the Israeli seashore.

Some Palestinian activists called for a boycott because of Israel's punishing invasion of Gaza, aimed at stopping daily rocket attacks. More than 1,150 Palestinians, including hundreds of civilians, were killed in the three-week offensive that ended in mid-January.

Cohen responded by offering to perform in the West Bank city of Ramallah as well. He said all proceeds from the shows would go to Israeli-Palestinian peace organizations.

[Lonely Bull]

Are there any Leonard Cohen fans in Ramallah?

Now I've heard there was a secret chord
That David played, and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for Jews, do you?

[Hildy]

Incredibly lame? Says you. I paid $300 for my ticket to see Leonard Cohen, who I consider a genius, in Vegas this coming November. I can’t wait.

[Hildy]

Perfect you came up with that! Here is my favorite song..I was just going to cut and paste my favorite lines, but because Cohen is a poet, you really have to have the whole thing...

SISTERS OF MERCY

Oh the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or gone.
They were waiting for me when I thought that I just can't go on.
And they brought me their comfort and later they brought me this song.
Oh I hope you run into them, you who've been travelling so long.

Yes you who must leave everything that you cannot control.
It begins with your family, but soon it comes around to your soul.
Well I've been where you're hanging, I think I can see how you're pinned:
When you're not feeling holy, your loneliness says that you've sinned.

Well they lay down beside me, I made my confession to them.
They touched both my eyes and I touched the dew on their hem.
If your life is a leaf that the seasons tear off and condemn
they will bind you with love that is graceful and green as a stem.

[uglybiker]

Everybody knows that you love me, baby
Everybody knows that you really do
Everybody know that you've been faithful
Uh, give or take a time or two
And everybody knows you were so discreet
But there were so many people you just had to meet
With-out your clothes
And everybody knows.

[Hildy]

Here's my absolute favorite...Cohen wrote it with Jennifer Warnes: You can watch it here on YOUTUBE. She performed it on THE SMOTHERS BROTHERS SHOW!!! It's an old song!

SONG OF BERNADETTE

There was a child named bernadette.
I heard the story long ago.
She saw the queen of heaven once
And kept the vision in her soul.

No one beleived what she had seen.
No one beleived what she had heard,
That there were sorrows to be healed
And mercy, mercy in this world.

So many hearts i find
Broke like yours and mine,
Torn by what we've done and can't undo.
I just wanna hold you.
Come on, let me hold you
Like bernadette would do.

We've been around, we fall, we fly.
We mostly fall, we mostly run.
And every now and then we try
To mend the damage that we've done.

Tonight, tonight i just can't rest.
I've got this joy here, here inside my breast.
To think that i did not forget
That child, that song of bernadette.

So many hearts i find,
Hearts like yours and mine,
Torn by what we've done and can't undo.
Well, i just wanna hold you.
Come on, let me hold you
Like bernadette would do.

I just wanna hold you.
Won't you let me hold you
Like bernadette would do.

[Constitution Day]

That is my single favorite version. Heartbreakingly beautiful.

[Hildy]

All of Cohen’s classic songs are spiritual in nature. No matter what religion he calls himself, he believes in a power greater than ourselves and is not afraid to glorify it. The first song I ever learned was Suzanne, and ironically enough, I played it at some festival in Israel when I was 15 years old!