Songs from a room es un álbum de Leonard Cohen, publicado en 1969 por Columbia. El disco incluye 10 canciones, entre ellas «Bird on the wire», «Story of Isaac», «A bunch of lonesome heros» y «The partisan».
Sobre el álbum
El segundo álbum de estudio, Songs from a Room, de 1969, continúa y profundiza en la senda del minimalismo y la introspección de su aclamado debut. Grabado en Nashville, pero alejado del sonido country de la ciudad, este disco es aún más austero y despojado que su predecesor. Es una obra que exige una escucha atenta y que recompensa con una belleza desoladora.
La producción, a cargo de Bob Johnston, es deliberadamente sencilla, poniendo todo el foco en la voz y las letras de Leonard Cohen. La instrumentación es mínima: su guitarra, un bajo y, en ocasiones, sutiles toques de armónica, violín o piano. El álbum tiene una atmósfera de confesión nocturna, como si estuviera grabado en la habitación que le da título.
El disco contiene algunas de sus composiciones más icónicas. La que abre el disco, "Bird on the Wire", es un himno a la libertad y a la redención que se ha convertido en una de sus canciones más versionadas. Mientras tanto, "Story of Isaac" es una poderosa alegoría antibelicista, y "The Partisan" es una emotiva versión de un canto de la resistencia francesa.
"Songs from a Room" es una obra de una coherencia y una intensidad sobrecogedoras. Es un disco que consolida el estilo de un artista que no hacía concesiones, un poeta que encontraba la belleza en la oscuridad y que, con los mínimos elementos, era capaz de crear un universo de una profundidad infinita.
Listado de Canciones
- Bird on the wire
Letra
Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free. Like a worm on a hook, Like a knight from some old fashioned book I have saved all my ribbons for thee. If I, if I have been unkind, I hope that you can just let it go by. If I, if I have been untrue I hope you know it was never to you. Like a baby, stillborn, Like a beast with his horn I have torn everyone who reached out for me. But I swear by this song And by all that I have done wrong I will make it all up to thee. I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch, He said to me, "You must not ask for so much." And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door, She cried to me, "Hey, why not ask for more?" Oh like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir have tried in my way to be free. - Story of Isaac
Letra
The door it opened slowly, My father he came in, I was nine years old. And he stood so tall above me, His blue eyes they were shining And his voice was very cold. He said, "I've had a vision And you know I'm strong and holy, I must do what I've been told." So he started up the mountain, I was running, he was walking, And his axe was made of gold. Well, the trees they got much smaller, The lake a lady's mirror, We stopped to drink some wine. Then he threw the bottle over. Broke a minute later And he put his hand on mine. Thought I saw an eagle But it might have been a vulture, I never could decide. Then my father built an altar, He looked once behind his shoulder, He knew I would not hide. You who build these altars now To sacrifice these children, You must not do it anymore. A scheme is not a vision And you never have been tempted By a demon or a god. You who stand above them now, Your hatchets blunt and bloody, You were not there before, When I lay upon a mountain And my father's hand was trembling With the beauty of the word. And if you call me brother now, Forgive me if I inquire, "just according to whose plan?" When it all comes down to dust I will kill you if I must, I will help you if I can. When it all comes down to dust I will help you if I must, I will kill you if I can. And mercy on our uniform, Man of peace or man of war, The peacock spreads his fan. - A bunch of lonesome heros
- The partisan
Letra
Leonard Cohen - The Partisan The Partisan When they poured across the border I was cautioned to surrender, This I could not do; I took my gun and vanished. I have changed my name so often, I've lost my wife and children But I have many friends, And some of them are with me. An old woman gave us shelter, Kept us hidden in the garret, Then the soldiers came; She died without a whisper. There were three of us this morning I'm the only one this evening But I must go on; The frontiers are my prison. Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing, Through the graves the wind is blowing, Freedom soon will come; Then we'll come from the shadows. Les allemands e'taient chez moi, Ils me dirent, "r�©signe toi," Mais je n'ai pas peur; J'ai repris mon �¢me. The germans were at my home They said, "sign yourself," But I am not afraid I have retaken my soul. J'ai change' cent fois de nom, J'ai perdu femme et enfants Mais j'ai tant d'amis; J'ai la france entie're. I've changed names a hundred times I have lost wife and children But I have so many friends I have all of france Un vieil homme dans un grenier Pour la nuit nous a cache', Les allemands l'ont pris; Il est mort sans surprise. An old man, in an attic Hid us for the night The Germans captured him He died without surprise. Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing, Through the graves the wind is blowing, Freedom soon will come; Then we'll come from the shadows. - Seems so long ago, nancy
Letra
It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone, looking ate the Late Late show through a semi-precious stone. In the House of Honesty her father was on trial, in the House of Mystery there was no one at all, there was no one at all. It seems so long ago, none of us were strong; Nancy wore green stockings and she slept with everyone. She never said she'd wait for us although she was alone, I think she fell in love for us in nineteen sixty one, in nineteen sixty one. It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone, a forty five beside her head, an open telephone. We told her she was beautiful, we told her she was free but none of us would meet her in the House of Mystery, the House of Mystery. And now you look around you, see her everywhere, many use her body, many comb her hair. In the hollow of the night when you are cold and numb you hear her talking freely then, she's happy that you've come, she's happy that you've come. - The old revolution
Letra
I finally broke into the prison, I found my place in the chain. Even damnation is poisoned with rainbows, All the brave young men They're waiting now to see a signal Which some killer will be lighting for pay. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture, You whom I cannot betray. I fought in the old revolution On the side of the ghost and the King. Of course I was very young And I thought that we were winning; I can't pretend I still feel very much like singing As they carry the bodies away. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture Lately you've started to stutter As though you had nothing to say. To all of my architects let me be traitor. Now let me say I myself gave the order To sleep and to search and to destroy. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture Yes, you who are broken by power, You who are absent all day, You who are kings for the sake of your children's story, The hand of your beggar is burdened down with money, The hand of your lover is clay. Into this furnace I ask you now to venture - The butcher
Letra
I came upon a butcher, He was slaughtering a lamb, I accused him there With his tortured lamb. He said, Listen to me, child, I am what I am and you, you are my only son. Well, I found a silver needle, I put it into my arm. It did some good, Did some harm. But the nights were cold And it almost kept me warm, How come the night is long? I saw some flowers growing up Where that lamb fell down Was I supposed to praise my Lord, Make some kind of joyful sound? He said, Listen, listen to me now, I go round and round And you, you are my only child. Do not leave me now, Do not leave me now, I'm broken down From a recent fall. Blood upon my body And ice upon my soul, Lead on, my son, it is your world. - You know who I an
- Lady midnight
Letra
I came by myself to a very crowded place; I was looking for someone who had lines in her face. I found her there but she was past all concern; I asked her to hold me, I said, "Lady, unfold me," But she scorned me and she told me I was dead and I could never return. Well, I argued all night like so many have before, Saying, "Whatever you give me, I seem to need so much more." Then she pointed at me where I kneeled on her floor, She said, "Don't try to use me or slyly refuse me, Just win me or lose me, It is this that the darkness is for." I cried, "Oh, Lady Midnight, I fear that you grow old, The stars eat your body and the wind makes you cold." "If we cry now," she said, "it will just be ignored." So I walked through the morning, sweet early morning, I could hear my lady calling, "You've won me, you've won me, my lord, You've won me, you've won me, my lord, Yes, you've won me, you've won me, my lord, Ah, you've won me, you've won me, my lord, Ah, you've won me, you've won me, my lord." - Tonigt will be fine