Cohen, Leonard - Dress Rehearsal Rag Lyrics

If I wore knickers they’d evaporate with his annunciation of Rosicrucians

When I'm really down this somehow makes me feel better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSqcDE3GWA0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhWCVm7Lvto&t=104s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cIW1n3oP_g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dv2p3j-KKA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrgpZ0fUixs&t=95s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOgpT5rEKIU

Once there was a path
And a girl with chestnut hair,
And you passed the summers
Picking all of the berries that grew there
There were times she was a woman,
Oh, there were times she was just a child,
And you held her in the shadows
Where the raspberries grow wild.


AAAAAAAH this is perfect

This isn't a rag.

This song presents its (dark) imagery in a way that will probably never be matched. Only Leonard Cohen can do that. I gave myself a 12 year hiatus on Cohen. Missed his concert in Germany somewhere in 2010 and did not listen to any of his songs on purpose for more than a decade. In this time, the world lost Cohen too. Now I am back to listening to Songs of Love And Hate. It is great to be in touch with this album of sheer genius again. Flow of lyrics and emotions is just the same after a long gap. Dress Rehearsal Rag still tops almost everything else I ever heard.

the most emotional part of the song is where Santa comes forward with a razor and shows you where to hit. Brilliance.

Could not agree more..just tonight a great friend introduced me to a young West Australian rapper called Complete - who has heart breakingly, yet succinctly put the suicidal inner monologue into a brilliant track called 'Jordan'....Strong language warning, but that is part of its hard hitting reality... https://youtu.be/EFXZqyl8xKE

@Yowie Mountain Just heard the Complete rap song. Very powerful.

I love the beginning so much. He plays so aggressively that acoustic guitar

230968 that’s right. I agree. I love the whole album. And studied the lyrics. But the beginning of this song is something special.

@Eli Malaga Now I agree with you. I mean I tend to take it personally if such a great song is treated with less than the praise it deserves. I agree with you when you say that the entire album is just adorable.

@230968 i am a Cohen fanatic too. I would react like you.

@Eli Malaga I hope you paid attention to the lyrics where different ideas come to the mind of the protagonist and he sways between using the razor or not. He gets hope from remembering good things from his past (raspberries and his love, for example) or things he could still try (find a job by speaking to his friends or finding love again) but his thoughts automatically come back to the wrist and razor seems to be the only "sensible" option. Very well thought out and skillfully penned lyrics. This song imho scores enough points to be called a masterpiece just from the way that Cohen talks to himself in second person in it so craftily. I am yet to listen to other work from Cohen. I think I have two of his albums on CD but still waiting to be "unwrapped". I actually fell in love with Songs of Love and Hate album some years ago. Then I stopped listening to it and decided to revert to it later. I spent some 12 years before recently resuming listening to it. Of course things had faded from the memory over time. The only ideas I could remember were no letters in the mailbox, money lenders daughter, hump on someone's back, and prince who needed a shave. In the last two weeks or so after I am listening to the album again, I can only say that I am now a bigger fan of the album than I was a decade ago.

Where the Raspberries grow wild , pictures in my mind these words

Namasta, Master, Teacher, Friend and Stranger.

Emily DICKINSON he is not....and whoever he is singing this to (hopefully to himself) is a magnificent indictment of a life----a life of PRIDE, of debauchery catching up with you, inevitably----a "dime-a-dozen"...It IS special because we are (as Dietrich sings in " Illusions" (Hollander----1930's) literally "in love with PAIN"....although I know some people who refuse to put material like this into their minds...Of course, if your mind is NOT deeply in shreds, and you have some wits about you one can learn much from all this ----why do you think we read Hamlet and Othello?...... But...do I hear "poor man's Dylan" in here?... I have no idea...he stands, clearly, it seems, on his own.....Must read more about him...Unquestionably the album is a gem of the most "corrupt" modes of our soul ----I mean, the two songs I have heard as of yet.....

Ooh, listen to some more, Raymond. I have been in love with this man for 48 years. 'Famous Blue Raincoat', for example, is lovely.

@Hazel Woodward THANK YOU for your time, dear Hazel!......I shall.......He is extraordinary.......

If you're unfamiliar with him, you'll be surprised at the change in his voice as he ages. He goes from what you hear here (A little Dylan, a little Lou Reed, perhaps) to a deep, morose voice.

@Astro Zombie (AstroZombie-----egads!! ...Hahaha....) THANKS, man (?)....for taking the time....I just (finally) ordered the entire CD (forget about streaming---I'm NOT gonna start at 57!) from Amazon......NOW I can masochistically remember all the horrors of my past...Hahaha...No, seriously, THANK YOU for that note---I shall be checking the many years as he goes "up" and "down" with that magnificent voice.....Cheers....

In other words...next time I'm going to go through with it.

Happy Christmas

If I want to commit suicide that's my business!

Dear God, I hate this song. It hits way too close, nay, it severs the bone. It is THE reason I adore Leonard Cohen. He taught me things.

"A kite is a victim you are sure of
You love it because it pulls
Gentle enough to call you master
strong enough to call you fool."

My first bit of enlightenment in high school.

I love that poem. I love all my Cohen poetry books and I like his novels but they're a bit freaky! Most of all I love his music! And I love this song for the same reason you do, I think.
It brings back some good memories and at the same time it expresses my present feelings. ♥️

I love the way you put "I don't own this blah blah"!!

Most depressive song I have ever heard. Beautiful!

Это Зоопарк

Oh, I know this song by stab in my heart. I went out to buy something new. Leonard Cohen was the new Bob Dylan. EVERY
singer/songwriter was the new Bob Dylan at that point. So I bought this album. Avalanche floored me. Didn't get it. Liked it but... Didn't get Next Year's Man. But...THIS came on. Oh, I got this one. I knew this one with my soul, even if I was 16. I immediately went back to the record store and said give me everything, which was only two more albums. It was some time before I even got to Famous Blue Raincoat, which I like even better. This is simply an album that belongs on the level of Blonde on Blonde. And Leonard, I know that you are trading shots with Hank.

Do you get the other ones now?

Beautiful you survived your tragic HERO...It must have toughened you up....taught you some great lessons....pity for all those who must have KILLED themselves after listening to this repeatedly........

The new Bob Dylan? No. They were contemporaries. Cohen wasn't a new anything.

who's bob dylan?

Which key is this song in?

Peak Brel - Influenced Cohen. RIP.

(And not just because it feels like something from Scott 2, either...)

who's that?

@CloudCuckooAmbassador He's probably referring to Jacques Brel. Sorry for the long wait, I actually wanted to reply you in September, as I found out your comment then. Memory ain't my strong site, still, have fun with that discovery :D

Toxicity 86 many thanks!

Thank you, Leonard Cohen.

Four o'clock in the afternoon 
And I didn't feel like very much. 
I said to myself, "Where are you golden boy, 
Where is your famous golden touch?" 
I thought you knew where 
All of the elephants lie down, 
I thought you were the crown prince 
Of all the wheels in Ivory Town.

Just take a look at your body now, 
There's nothing much to save 
And a bitter voice in the mirror cries, 
"Hey, Prince, you need a shave."

Now if you can manage to get 
Your trembling fingers to behave, 
Why don't you try unwrapping 
A stainless steel razor blade?

That's right, it's come to this, 
Yes it's come to this, 
And wasn't it a long way down, 
Wasn't it a strange way down?

There's no hot water 
And the cold is running thin. 
Well, what do you expect from 
The kind of places you've been living in?

Don't drink from that cup, 
It's all caked and cracked along the rim. 
That's not the electric light, my friend, 
That is your vision growing dim.

Cover up your face with soap, there, 
Now you're Santa Claus. 
And you've got a gift for anyone 
Who will give you his applause.

I thought you were a racing man, 
Ah, but you couldn't take the pace. 
That's a funeral in the mirror 
And it's stopping at your face.

That's right, it's come to this, 
Yes it's come to this, 
And wasn't it a long way down, 
Ah wasn't it a strange way down?

Once there was a path 
And a girl with chestnut hair, 
And you passed the summers 
Picking all of the berries that grew there
There were times she was a woman, 
Oh, there were times she was just a child, 
And you held her in the shadows 
Where the raspberries grow wild.

And you climbed the twilight mountains 
And you sang about the view, 
And everywhere that you wandered 
Love seemed to go along with you. 
That's a hard one to remember, 
Yes it makes you clench your fist.

And then the veins stand out like highways, 
All along your wrist. 
And yes it's come to this, 
It's come to this, 
And wasn't it a long way down, 
Wasn't it a strange way down?

You can still find a job, 
Go out and talk to a friend. 
On the back of every magazine 
There are those coupons you can send. 
Why don't you join the Rosicrucians, 
They can give you back your hope, 
You can find your love with diagrams 
On a plain brown envelope.

But you've used up all your coupons 
Except the one that seems 
To be written on your wrist 
Along with several thousand dreams.

Now Santa Claus comes forward, 
That's a razor in his mit
And he puts on his dark glasses 
And he shows you where to hit
And then the cameras pan, 
The stand in stunt man, 
Dress rehearsal rag, 
It's just the dress rehearsal rag, 
You know this dress rehearsal rag, 
It's just a dress rehearsal rag.

I get the feeling that you know the words by heart, not by looking them up. (Same as me). I stared at your picture wondering what your story might be? Anyway, if you were having problems when you wrote the lyrics 2 years ago, I hope all is better now. You're a very handsome young man. (Assuming that's your picture!)💕

@Moon Dancer Beautiful comment. Do you happen to know what Dress Rehearsal Rag is supposed to mean? My English is generally good, but I fail to make a confident interpretation of this title. Is it supposed to signal that thr main character merely plays a role in a drama, not living authentically? I also know the lyrics by heart. Strange feeling of lovely affinity poured through my heart as I read your poetic comment. Love, J

a song of feeling, a song of truth, a song of anger, a song of vibrant lyrics that pin you to the seat and make you listen as you absorb each and every word and verse.......a song that you may see your self in, and it is certainly a song that will open your eyes and let you see inside the anguish that others may be going through as we fight this battle of life......love it

Could not agree more..just tonight a great friend introduced me to a young West Australian rapper called Complete - who has heart breakingly, yet succinctly put the suicidal inner monologue into a brilliant track.... https://youtu.be/EFXZqyl8xKE

String language warning, but that is what makes it so real - it is the language of disenfranchised youth

Mi pobre traducción al español;
Cuatro de la mañana
Y me sentí muy poco
Me dije a mí mismo; ¿Dónde estas tú, chico dorado?
¿Dónde está tu famoso toque áureo?

Pensé que sabías dónde
Se acuestan todos los elefantes,
Pensé que eras el príncipe heredero
de todos las ruedas en la ciudad del Marfil.

Ahora, sólo da una mirada a tu cuerpo
No hay mucho que salvar.
Y una amarga voz en el espejo llora.
"Hey, Príncipe necesitas una rasurada

Wow, si puedes arreglarte para conseguir
que tus temblorosos dedos se controlen,
¿Por qué no intentas desenvolver
una cuchilla de afeitas de acero inoxidable?

CORO

No bebas de esa copa,
está toda endurecida y rota de los bordes.
Esa no es la luz eléctrica, mi amigo,
Esa es tu visión oscureciéndose.

Ahí, Cubre tu cara con jabón,
Ahora eres Santa Claus,
Y tú tienes un regalo para cualquiera
que te dé su aplauso.

Creí que eras un aficionado a las carreras
Ah, pero tú no podrás tomar el ritmo,
Es un funeral menor
y se detiene en tu cara.

Una vez hubo un camino
Y una chica con el pelo castaño,
Y tú pasaste los veranos
recogiendo todas las bayas que crecieron allí.

CORO

Hubo tiempos en que ella era una mujer,
Hubo tiempos en que ella era sólo un(a) niñ@,
Y tú la sostuviste en las sombras
en donde las frambuesas crecen salvajes.

Y tú escalaste las montañas,
Y tú cantaste sobre lo que viste,
y en cada lugar en que te maravillaste
el amor parecía ir contigo.

Esto es difícil de recordar,
Sí, esto te hace apretar el puño.
Y entonces las venas destacan como carreteras
a largo de tus muñecas.

Tú todavía puedes encontrar un trabajo,
Sal afuera y habla con un amigo.
En la contraportada de todas las revistas
hay esos cupones que puedes enviar.

CORO

¿Por qué no te unes a los Rosacruces?
Ellos pueden devolverte tu esperanza.
Puedes encontrar tu amor con diagramas
sobre una carta marrón claro.

Pero has utilizado tus cupones
excepto el que parece
estar escrita en tu muñeca
junto con varios miles de sueños.

Ahora, Santa Claus se presenta,
Es una navaja en su MIT*
Y él se pone sus gafas oscuras,
Él te muestra dónde golpear.

Y entonces las cámaras graban
el puesto del Stunt-man
Un Ensayo**
Es solo un Ensayo**
Tú conoces este Ensayo**
Es solo un Ensayo**"

CORO;
Está bien, ha llegado a esto
Sí, ha llegado a esto.
Y no era un largo camino para bajar
¿No era una extraña manera de bajar?

*No puede encontrar el significado
**El título es un poco complicado de traducir. Por lo que investigue un Dress Rehearsal Rag es un ensayo n los circos o teatros,

Nota; Esta traducción es bastante mala si tienen una sugerencia sobre la traducción no duden en comentármelo. :D

This album must be the album of all time if you have ever experienced anything ...deep...and profound...and...mundane (and that is worse of all) xxx Paths can lead to nowhere.
Shagging is nothing is it, L?

So true ⚘

Uuuummm....ICONIZING, perhaps????.........

Wasn't it a long way down ..... Story of my life

That's so true for me also and yet on the surface how successful I must seem. Interesting dichotomy for certain. 34 years old, corporate director of food and beverage operations for a private hotel group...yet what's on the surface and what's inside don't always align do they? But we're all damaged fundamentally in one way or another...isn't that part of what makes us human?

@Gregory Goldberg Wow your life sounds just like mine several years ago.

@Gregory Goldberg that is true in a superficial kind of way. do you ask why and find your own way out of the morass

Thanks so much for uploading!This is one of my all-time favorite Leonard Cohen songs :-)

un génie.....