Leonard Cohen — Closing Time
Album: The FutureAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 289
Length: 5:53
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So we're drinking and we're dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
and she's rubbing half the world against her thigh
Every drinker every dancer
lifts a happy face to thank her
the fiddler fiddles something so sublime
all the women tear their blouses off
the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found and partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
We're lonely, we're romantic
and the cider's laced with acid
and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?"
And the moon is swimming naked
and the summer night is fragrant
with a mighty expectation of relief
So we struggle and we stagger
down the snakes and up the ladder
to the tower where the blessed hours chime
and I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
but CLOSING TIME
I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn't make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too
I loved you for your body
there's a voice that sounds like God to me
declaring that your body's really you
I loved you when our love was blessed
and I love you now there's nothing left
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
by the winds of change and the weeds of sex
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME
We're drinking and we're dancing
but there's nothing really happening.
The place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she's a hundred but she's wearing
something tight
I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
which you can't reveal to the Ears of Youth
except to say it isn't worth a dime
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the Devil and it's once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
and she's rubbing half the world against her thigh
Every drinker every dancer
lifts a happy face to thank her
the fiddler fiddles something so sublime
all the women tear their blouses off
the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found and partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
We're lonely, we're romantic
and the cider's laced with acid
and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?"
And the moon is swimming naked
and the summer night is fragrant
with a mighty expectation of relief
So we struggle and we stagger
down the snakes and up the ladder
to the tower where the blessed hours chime
and I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
but CLOSING TIME
I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn't make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too
I loved you for your body
there's a voice that sounds like God to me
declaring that your body's really you
I loved you when our love was blessed
and I love you now there's nothing left
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
by the winds of change and the weeds of sex
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME
We're drinking and we're dancing
but there's nothing really happening.
The place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she's a hundred but she's wearing
something tight
I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
which you can't reveal to the Ears of Youth
except to say it isn't worth a dime
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the Devil and it's once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME
Comments (52)add comment
What is guy who interrupts lady lead vocals?
I've become a misfit. This is a great song!
ok... is this the connection, Bill? Leonard Cohen owned that voice! Madrugada is not in the same league. Just wondering? Please, no more Madrugada!
The Fairport Convention cover of this song is much better...
This song doesn't seem to know when to end.
I'd have bet big money that this would be rated at least 7 among the RP crowd. And lost.
It was played on 'regular' radio in Canada a lot back in the day. (Cohen is Canadian, for those who need interpolation in that last sentence.)
It was played on 'regular' radio in Canada a lot back in the day. (Cohen is Canadian, for those who need interpolation in that last sentence.)
what's this crap?!?!
Aww, c'mon!
I just cannot make myself at home in this stuff. Really weird.
I just cannot make myself at home in this stuff. Really weird.
I love LC, I like this song, but I would like to hears something from his latest live album. It completely rocks.
Listen. I used to hate Leonard Cohen. My parents would listen to him all the time. I still think his voice could use some work, but I've come to enjoy this song in particular. My thoughts about Leonard are similar to how I feel about Neil Young. I used to hate his whiny voice as a child. Now I can both relate to and appreciate his music.
I like Leonard Cohen but I thought this was ABBA when it first came on....
There is some country music that uses female back ups in this same way, trucker music. Not my favorite at all. Ergh!
larice wrote:
Unfortunately...he also claims to be a singer. YiKES!
I loved listening to this, his voice is mesmerizing. I love the lyrics. Cohen is such a talented poet/artist.
Unfortunately...he also claims to be a singer. YiKES!
sub-arctic wrote:
Ditto.
Ditto ^ 3.
Ditto.
Ditto ^ 3.
Love Len's lyrics, but I can't stand the way he often uses those female backing singers.
sub-arctic wrote:
Ditto.
Double-ditto.
Ditto.
Double-ditto.
Leonard along with the likes of Tom Waits and Elvis Costello are song writing Gods!!! 
Puttin' this album on my "buy" list.
Remember: Someday it will be Closing Time for each and everyone of us. Dance on the polka dots while you are able and put a tip into the fiddler's cup.
AliGator wrote:
Ditto.
I had to turn it off.
Ditto.
I loved listening to this, his voice is mesmerizing. I love the lyrics. Cohen is such a talented poet/artist.
I had to turn it off.
sounds like he's singing about my kind of place.
pretty fantastic lyrics here, but as a song, painful at best
I'll substitute Lyle Lovett's "Closing Time" for this yawnfest any ole day.
The Lyrics are fantastic for this song: - Of course the man is a poet:
Ah we're drinking and we're dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
she's rubbing half the world against her thigh
And every drinker every dancer
lifts a happy face to thank her
the fiddler fiddles something so sublime
all the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME Ah we're lonely, we're romantic
and the cider's laced with acid
and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?"
And the moon is swimming naked
and the summer night is fragrant
with a mighty expectation of relief
So we struggle and we stagger
down the snakes and up the ladder
to the tower where the blessed hours chime
and I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
but CLOSING TIME
I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
CLOSING TIME
I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn't make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too
and I loved you for your body
there's a voice that sounds like God to me
declaring, declaring, declaring that your body's really you
And I loved you when our love was blessed
and I love you now there's nothing left
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
And I just don't care what happens next
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME Yeah I missed you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah we're drinking and we're dancing
but there's nothing really happening
and the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she's a hundred but she's wearing
something tight
and I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
which you can't reveal to the Ears of Youth
except to say it isn't worth a dime
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME
The whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME Oh the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
It's CLOSING TIME
And it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops
It's CLOSING TIME
I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
It's CLOSING TIME
The Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
But CLOSING TIME
I loved you when our love was blessed
I love you now there's nothing left
But CLOSING TIME
I miss you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex.
Ah we're drinking and we're dancing
and the band is really happening
and the Johnny Walker wisdom running high
And my very sweet companion
she's the Angel of Compassion
she's rubbing half the world against her thigh
And every drinker every dancer
lifts a happy face to thank her
the fiddler fiddles something so sublime
all the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
and it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops:
it's CLOSING TIME Ah we're lonely, we're romantic
and the cider's laced with acid
and the Holy Spirit's crying, "Where's the beef?"
And the moon is swimming naked
and the summer night is fragrant
with a mighty expectation of relief
So we struggle and we stagger
down the snakes and up the ladder
to the tower where the blessed hours chime
and I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
but CLOSING TIME
I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
the Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
CLOSING TIME
I loved you for your beauty
but that doesn't make a fool of me:
you were in it for your beauty too
and I loved you for your body
there's a voice that sounds like God to me
declaring, declaring, declaring that your body's really you
And I loved you when our love was blessed
and I love you now there's nothing left
but sorrow and a sense of overtime
and I missed you since the place got wrecked
And I just don't care what happens next
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME Yeah I missed you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex
looks like freedom but it feels like death
it's something in between, I guess
it's CLOSING TIME
Yeah we're drinking and we're dancing
but there's nothing really happening
and the place is dead as Heaven on a Saturday night
And my very close companion
gets me fumbling gets me laughing
she's a hundred but she's wearing
something tight
and I lift my glass to the Awful Truth
which you can't reveal to the Ears of Youth
except to say it isn't worth a dime
And the whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME
The whole damn place goes crazy twice
and it's once for the devil and once for Christ
but the Boss don't like these dizzy heights
we're busted in the blinding lights,
busted in the blinding lights
of CLOSING TIME Oh the women tear their blouses off
and the men they dance on the polka-dots
It's CLOSING TIME
And it's partner found, it's partner lost
and it's hell to pay when the fiddler stops
It's CLOSING TIME
I swear it happened just like this:
a sigh, a cry, a hungry kiss
It's CLOSING TIME
The Gates of Love they budged an inch
I can't say much has happened since
But CLOSING TIME
I loved you when our love was blessed
I love you now there's nothing left
But CLOSING TIME
I miss you since the place got wrecked
By the winds of change and the weeds of sex.
Brilliant, just brilliant.
WebTech3 wrote:
Love Leonard Cohen! The voice, the lyrics, the poetry, the insight. The man's still brilliant.
He's great, but this is over-produced. Van Morrison went through a period like this ... basically too much background vocal.
Love Leonard Cohen! The voice, the lyrics, the poetry, the insight. The man's still brilliant.
LLMikeJ wrote:
I just don't listen to Leonard Cohen.
Reading Cohen is the preferred choice...
Listening to him is listening to someone who's has too many sycophantic, obsequious fans that tell him how great he sounds...
tg3k wrote:
next up! Acrobats and Plate Spinners!!
that's the second time today I got to use that
Sounds to me like a musical number done on a 60's or 70's variety show on TV, like the Glen Campbell Hour, or Jimmy Dean's old show.
The lyrics might be the wittiest, most thought provoking words ever written, but I can't hear past the schmaltzy arrangement and backup singers to even consider listening to what's being sung.
next up! Acrobats and Plate Spinners!!
djeneba wrote:
LC has such fantastic stuff, but i think he should stick to his thoughtful, pained dirges instead of musical comedy? is that what this is? it sounds like a very-slowed down version of a Disney musical scene, where cups and saucers dance about merrily while birds are all atwitter.
Did you listen to the lyrics?
majortom505 wrote:
Leonard Cohen is a POET, listen to him for the lyrics, the fact you can tap your feet is a plus!! Not the object!!!!
Gosh darn it, did I lock onto the Poetry Paradise audio stream again? And I was just about to give this a solid 2.
Sounds to me like a musical number done on a 60's or 70's variety show on TV, like the Glen Campbell Hour, or Jimmy Dean's old show.
The lyrics might be the wittiest, most thought provoking words ever written, but I can't hear past the schmaltzy arrangement and backup singers to even consider listening to what's being sung.
Leonard Cohen is a POET, listen to him for the lyrics, the fact you can tap your feet is a plus!! Not the object!!!!
I'm not a great fan but I like several of his songs, including this one.
I have to say most of them are not straight forward and need to grow in you.
But why do you think a singer with no voice manages to be so successful?
Seriously, think about it, a singer with no voice, what an achievment, you have to admire that.
But how? Talent, it has to be the reason. Talent in writing, composing, arranging, and finding musicians and singers around him.
reedifus wrote:
This utterly reeks.
agree...I like some LC, but this one with the little girl sounding vocal backup is rancid.
Beanie wrote:
You don't listen to Leonard Cohen for his voice......
I just don't listen to Leonard Cohen.
Love this song. As a veteran of many (far too many) closing times, I love the imagery of this song and the tune gets stuck in my head everytime I hear it and I spend the rest of the day singing it in my mind. Thanks!
This utterly reeks.
I try so hard with LC but just can't seem to set well with his muzac.
Can we have less--far less--LC, please?
LC has such fantastic stuff, but i think he should stick to his thoughtful, pained dirges instead of musical comedy? is that what this is? it sounds like a very-slowed down version of a Disney musical scene, where cups and saucers dance about merrily while birds are all atwitter.
That was awful. Seriously. Really awful.
What a strange song. I don't know if I like it, but I'm sure glad to hear it. Long live RP.
Beanie wrote:
You don't listen to Leonard Cohen for his voice......
Ya know, I do. I think it's perfect for his songs.
This entire album is great stuff.
Beanie wrote:
You don't listen to Leonard Cohen for his voice......
Now THAT is the understatement of the year! I have an idea -- why doesn't Leonard Cohen hire someone else to sing for him? That way perhaps we can appreciate him more as a poet. We should then tell Bob Dylan about this idea as well....
Mugro wrote:
Is this guy singing or just mumbling?
He sounds like Oscar the Grouch.....
You don't listen to Leonard Cohen for his voice......
I have to agree that EVERY cover of his songs is better than the original! But what a poet!
Hope it's far from closing time for Mr. Cohen, though he turned 70(!) in september 2004.
Not a bad song... great imagery, and unlike many here I actually like his voice.
Is this guy singing or just mumbling?
He sounds like Oscar the Grouch.....
EDIT: I have to come back in here. I cannot imagine that this guy actually gets PAID to put out this poor excuse for music.
Bizarrely intriguing.