Leonard Cohen - Memories Lyrics






Frankie Lane, he was singing Jezebel
I pinned an Iron Cross to my lapel
I walked up to the tallest and the blondest girl
I said, Look, you don't know me now but very soon you will
So won't you let me see
I said "won't you let me see"
I said "won't you let me see
Your naked body?"
Just dance me to the dark side of the gym
Chances are I'll let you do most anything
I know you're hungry, I can hear it in your voice
And there are many parts of me to touch, you have your choice
Ah but no you cannot see
She said "no you cannot see"
She said "no you cannot see
My naked body"

So We're dancing close, the band is playing Stardust
Balloons and paper streamers floating down on us
She says, You've got a minute left to fall in love
In solemn moments such as this I have put my trust
And all my faith to see
I said all my faith to see
I said all my faith to see
Her naked body





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Leonard Cohen Memories Comments
  1. A.... G....

    Anyone here after watching a white, white day (2019)

  2. H.... T....

    This song gives me Christmas vibes...

    H.... T....

    Haha I get New Years Party vibes from it.

  3. M.... A....

    Have you heard Bob Dylan at the end of the song?

  4. p.... ....

    Leonard Cohen, Bowie, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Morrissey, Suede and Matt Monro. Thank you for making my horrible life bearable. X

  5. T.... 1....

    It would be perfecty fit on a Scrosese movie

  6. D.... ....

    Er einhver hér frá Hvítum, hvítum degi?

  7. S.... Y....

    Log full

  8. L.... F....

    Logan fuller anyone??

  9. p.... w....

    This is the song you play on a boombox outside your ex's house in the rain at midnight when you're shitfaced.

    'SANDRA COME BACK TO ME, SANDRA I STILL LOVE YOU, PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE!'

    p.... w....

    Concisely hilarious & insightful comment Phil - I like the way you think !
    Regards, John McKay

  10. M.... 7....

    Dane Burman Battle Commander!!!❤❤❤

  11. N.... A....

    BATTLE COMANDER.

    N.... A....

    Fuck. Yes.

  12. s.... ....

    Has a showing up late and embarrassingly piss drunk to a New Year's Eve party feel to it.

    s.... ....

    Happy ny from Australia :^ )

    s.... ....

    Lived this song a few times under circumstances you perfectly described.

  13. J.... G....

    This song makes me put on a stupid grin. Great song as pick-me-up first thing in the morning! Or as a drinking song.

  14. J.... D....

    This song is special, I think. Cohen does seem overreaching, but I think the idea that the arrangements and instrumentation are beyond him, that he is shouting over it, that he's fighting this wall of sound that's threatening to suffocate him....this is a kind of "death."

    It's why I love this whole album. Spector took away all his agency once Cohen recorded the vocals, shutting him out the studio, and sort of subjecting him to the music. He's at its mercy just like he's at the mercy of the women who rule the album, who have him on a string. I don't think this album would have been nearly as good if it sounded polished. Spector was crazy, but he knew exactly what he was doing. To fit the theme of finding yourself past your prime (something Spector probably projected onto Cohen, though Cohen himself was always concerned with death) he had to let the music eat Cohen alive.

    J.... D....

    THANK YOU! Every negative review I read honestly just makes this album better.

    J.... D....

    Very interesting interpretation!

    J.... D....

    This is an incredibly perceptive little exegesis of this song and the album surrounding it, which so many pan, and find generally confounding. I loved this album from the minute I learned it existed. The very idea of Cohen, wallowing in his ironic heartthrob status, as he's literally flayed alive by it was so brilliant, obvious and titillating, I knew it couldn't be anything less than a masterpiece. I hadn't heard a note of it, but I could tell from the title alone that I was going to love it and it was likely going to be my favorite Cohen album, which it was and remains, for many reasons I both can and can't quite explain. This is one of the ones I couldn't, and I thank you for it.

    J.... D....

    @Mort Subite I read years ago on a magazine if I recall and he stated, I quote: the album is or was a complete failure. That he took a dim or distant view of the album as a whole is confusing. I think it's a gem in the pebbles of the 70's era.

    J.... D....

    bravo, perfect!

  15. C.... F....

    The last unabashed stud Canada produced.
    Happy Dominion Day 2018!

  16. L.... M....

    Favourite rendition of Memories is on Field Commander Cohen The world will miss L.Cohen dearly.

  17. t.... ....

    The National covered this in Toronto last night, admitting that they kind of ripped it off with "Dark Side of the Gym" it was most excellent. Long live Leonard Cohen.

    t.... ....

    theproleswillrise. woo I can imagine how good was that. Memorable piece

    t.... ....

    I wouldn't say that they "kinda ripped it off".... I'd use the word "reference" or "homage", you are kinda implying that Matt was trying to secretly steal someone else's work, which is obviously not true, he always claimed that Leonard was one of his biggest heroes.

    t.... ....

    Except that I didn't imply anything. Matt said it at the show after the song. He's self deprecating. A few years ago at Dream Serenade, Matt said The National ripped off Hayden's entire career and thanked him for it (Dream Serenade is a benefit show put on by Hayden).

    t.... ....

    They made a cover of Memories as a wedding gift for Bryce Dessner together with Ragnar Kjartansson and Sufjan Stevens. Check this out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFeeb5rN11U
    You're sooooooo lucky to hear it live!

  18. N.... ....

    This album, while it has some good tracks, is utterly absurd in context of Cohen's work. Fuck Phil Spector.

  19. S.... R....

    I don't dislike this at all. I'm sure Leonard had fun doing it. Why not something different?

  20. G.... S....

    It is a song that give me a special feeling.

  21. b.... j....

    Lenny bruce would have loved leonard.!!!!!

  22. B.... ....

    I read somewhere that all the vocal tracks were just a prototype to help the musicians or something like that. It amazes me, cause Leonard's singing here is completely amazing.

  23. a.... m....

    Despite the recording process, Leonard clearly held an affection for this song. He performed it for a few years and there was a fun video he made for CityTV in the early 80s featuring Claudia Moore and Robert Derosier and the man himself. He's grinning and sending himself up all through it. It was actually the moment I fell in love with him. I really miss him.

  24. H.... F....

    Good album to play for the summer!

  25. L.... D....

    Frankie Lane, he was singing Jezebel
    I pinned an Iron Cross to my lapel
    I walked up to the tallest and the blondest girl
    I said, Look, you don't know me now but very soon you will
    So won't you let me see
    I said "won't you let me see"
    I said "won't you let me see
    Your naked body?"

    Just dance me to the dark side of the gym
    Chances are I'll let you do most anything
    I know you're hungry, I can hear it in your voice
    And there are many parts of me to touch, you have your choice
    Ah but no you cannot see
    She said "no you cannot see"
    She said "no you cannot see
    My naked body"

    So We're dancing close, the band is playing Stardust
    Balloons and paper streamers floating down on us
    She says, You've got a minute left to fall in love
    In solemn moments such as this I have put my trust
    And all my faith to see
    I said all my faith to see
    I said all my faith to see
    Her naked body

    L.... D....

    Thanks from bolor o MS cg br

  26. I.... W....

    Love it :)

  27. b.... j....

    I love a chorus.i could listen to a chorus sing the alphabet.

  28. b.... j....

    sorry but I think the lp is really good.i,m crazy but some of the songs sound like spector voice singing.

  29. h.... ....

    Thank you for being a kindred spirit in my journey through life Mr. Cohen. You might not strum your guitar again, but you will live on in the hearts of millions.

  30. r.... d....

    RIP Mr. Cohen

  31. c.... ....

    rip bitch. god damn

    c.... ....

    coolgothsweater bitch yourself. Resect to Mr. Cohen. S.V.

  32. R.... W....

    Fantastic!

  33. J.... J....

    the Death of a Ladies' Man.

  34. C.... C....

    RIP Leonard Cohen.

  35. a.... ....

    Agreed. This album is nuts, but I kind of love that it's off. This song in particular feels so desperate.

    a.... ....

    It's certainly worth the price of admission!!!

  36. J.... L....

    Can't blame Leonard for trying to do something a little different. But, this is out of his realm. Over-reaching. He has the lyrics for some effective songs arranged like this -- if the songs were meant to be sung by Bobby Rydell. It was 1977 when Cohen recorded this not 1963. Phil Spector...may have centered everything on this album, but the target is not always in the center. Nice sax solo on this track, but this is not the Leonard everyone appreciates. Definitely out of his comfort zone. I have a funny feeling Leonard would have been better off with Brian Wilson as a producer. At least Brian knows Leonard would never sound good with Beach Boy production values.

    J.... L....

    Anyone who would think this came out in 63 is completely out of touch with humanity

    J.... L....

    Acoustic has no consecutive Cs. Righteousness goes better with good spelling.

    J.... L....

    I think this is brilliant, and pure Leonard in the way that it wont ever exist again. Its the cup you drink from and dont understand whats in it, except that its bitter but you want more.

    J.... L....

    Phil Spector wasn't just a producer here... he also composed the music. This is Spector's album as much as it is Cohen's

    J.... L....

    @jcBurton2094 and it ended up brilliant.

  37. d.... l....

    the most emotion leo's ever sang.... was about not being able to see this girls naked body. it creeps me out that phil spector helped him write this album.

    d.... l....

    Have you heard 'Leaving Greensleeves'? I'd say that was more emotional than this.

    d.... l....

    You think sex is creepy? Funnily enough it's people like you who end up murdering prostitutes and staging spree killings on college campuses.

    d.... l....

    What’s creepy about that?

  38. K.... G....

    "Won't you let me see your naked body?"

  39. M.... l....

    Super !!!! J adore !!!

  40. t.... ....

    So beautiful :)