New York in the 60s


Sites:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hotel_Chelsea
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122722618

 

Listen/View:
Patti Smith, “Because the Night”

    Take me now baby here as I am
    Pull me close, try and understand
    Desire is hunger is the fire I breathe
    Love is a banquet on which we feed

    Come on now try and understand
    The way I feel when I’m in your hands
    Take my hand come undercover
    They can’t hurt you now,
    Can’t hurt you now, can’t hurt you now

    Because the night belongs to lovers
    Because the night belongs to lust
    Because the night belongs to lovers
    Because the night belongs to us

    Have I doubt when I’m alone
    Love is a ring, the telephone
    Love is an angel disguised as lust
    Here in our bed until the morning comes
    Come on now try and understand
    The way I feel under your command
    Take my hand as the sun descends
    They can’t touch you now,
    Can’t touch you now, can’t touch you now
    Because the night belongs to lovers …

    With love we sleep
    With doubt the vicious circle
    Turn and burns
    Without you I cannot live
    Forgive, the yearning burning
    I believe it’s time, too real to feel
    So touch me now, touch me now, touch me now
    Because the night belongs to lovers …

    Because tonight there are two lovers
    If we believe in the night we trust
    Because tonight there are two lovers …

Leonard Cohen, “Chelsea Hotel”

    I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
    you were talking so brave and so sweet,
    giving me head on the unmade bed,
    while the limousines wait in the street.
    Those were the reasons and that was New York,
    we were running for the money and the flesh.
    And that was called love for the workers in song
    probably still is for those of them left.

    Ah but you got away, didn’t you babe,
    you just turned your back on the crowd,
    you got away, I never once heard you say,
    I need you, I don’t need you,
    I need you, I don’t need you
    and all of that jiving around.

    I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
    you were famous, your heart was a legend.
    You told me again you preferred handsome men
    but for me you would make an exception.
    And clenching your fist for the ones like us
    who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
    you fixed yourself, you said, “Well never mind,
    we are ugly but we have the music.”

    And then you got away, didn’t you babe…

    I don’t mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
    I can’t keep track of each fallen robin.
    I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
    that’s all, I don’t even think of you that often.

Optional:
Patti Smith, “Gloria”

New York in the 60s Blog Posts

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