☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics are about a complex relationship between different people.
- It is about a letter that Cohen writes to someone who has caused him pain in the past.
- There is a mention of a 'famous blue raincoat' that alludes to a difficult past of the recipient.
- The lyrics also mention a person named Jane, who seems to have a connection to the recipient of the letter.
- At the end of the letter, Cohen shows forgiveness and invites the recipient to come by, but also makes it clear that his enemy is sleeping and his wife is free.
Interpretation
In the lyrics of the song "Famous Blue Raincoat" by
Leonard Cohen, it is about a complex relationship between different people. Cohen writes a letter to someone he refers to as "my brother, my killer". It seems that this letter is addressed to a former friend who has caused him pain in the past.
The letter begins with Cohen writing at four in the morning in December. He inquires if the recipient is doing better and describes how cold it is in New York, where he lives. He also mentions the music on Clinton Street that permeates the evening.
The lyrics also mention the person wearing the "famous blue raincoat". This raincoat is torn at the shoulder, which could indicate that the wearer has been through many hard times. It is also mentioned that the recipient of the letter has influenced Cohen's wife's life by giving her a "flake of your life". When she returned, she was no longer anyone's wife.
The song lyrics also mention "Jane", who sends greetings to Cohen. It is unclear who Jane is, but she seems to have some connection to the recipient of the letter.
At the end of the letter, Cohen says that he misses the recipient and has forgiven him. He encourages him to drop by if he wants, but makes it clear that his enemy is sleeping and his wife is free. The lyrics end with gratitude for the troubles the recipient has taken from Cohen's wife's eyes.
Overall, the lyrics of the song "Famous Blue Raincoat" by Leonard Cohen are a poetic letter that addresses the complexity of relationships and the mix of forgiveness and loss. The lyrics leave room for interpretation and provoke reflection on the meaning of the past and forgiveness.