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Marc Cohn — True Companion
Album: Marc Cohn
Avg rating:
6.3

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1019









Released: 1991
Length: 4:04
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Baby I've been searching like everybody else
Can't say nothing different about myself
Sometimes I'm an angel and sometimes I'm cruel
But when it comes to love I'm just another fool

Yes I've climbed a mountain
I'm gonna swim the sea
There ain't no act of God, girl
Could keep you safe from me
My arms are reaching out,
out across this canyon

I'm asking you to be my true companion
True companion
True companion

So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my descision that its you alright
When I take your hand, I watch my heart set sail
I'll take my trembling fingers, and I'll lift up your veil
Then I'll take you home and with wild abandon
Make love to you just like a true companion
You are my true companion
I got a true companion
Whoa true companion

When the years have done irreparable harm
I can see us walking slowly arm in arm,
Just like that couple on the corner do
Cause girl I will always be in love with you
When I look in your eyes, I still see that spark
Until the shadows fall, until the room grows dark

Then when I leave this earth I'll be with the angels standing
I'll be out there waiting for my true companion
Just for my true companion
True companion
True companion
Comments (164)add comment
i love his voice.
 ziggytrix wrote:

"There ain't no act of God, girl
Could keep you safe from me"

WTF? How about a restraining order?



How about you keep your head out of your ass for a bit. It's figurative poetry. Such as "I command you to sing to me, Autumn, with the rustle of your leaves." 

You. Moron.
I skip this song every time it comes on. Creepy af. 
 rtrudeau wrote:

Today's fight card is really something, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have Cynics versus Romantics! It promises to be a real death match! No two groups have ever hated each other like these two! The sound track to today's match will be Marc Cohn's True Companion, which will be sure to stir things up. Just a moment (covers mic). I am told that the Romantics are weeping uncontrollably and may not be able to continue. Wait a moment (covers mic again). It appears that the Cynics have busted a gut laughing. We will  have to refund your money, I am sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen. My apologies.



I am finding these 2 sides fighting INTERNALLY! Today the romantic is winning (and actually always does when I hear this song) much as I hate to admit it!  
 Matt_Maurer wrote:

My wedding song for my beautiful wife. My one and only True Companion. Xx



Ditto, Great choice Matt
This song will always remind me of my first wife who died WAY too young. Our lives were unfolding together when this album came out. 
 geonuine wrote:


Hey woke person, metaphorical speech and lyrics are not yet prohibited from your gender studies. So give it a rest 

I'm no woke at all, but I find this song creepy or just plain bad.

There's like million better ways to say to a girl "I love you" or "you could/should be mine". So many great poems about unrequited love being written for hundreds of years. This one just plain sucks, regardless of time.
 rhlrstn wrote:

Seriously a creepy lyric right there..


Hey woke person, metaphorical speech and lyrics are not yet prohibited from your gender studies. So give it a rest 
 radioparadise9 wrote:


"So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my descision that its you alright"

Arrogant domineering jerk

No indication that the "Companion" has consented to any of his fantasies

Run a mile girl!


  


Easy the silliest comment from any 'woke' person.
 rtrudeau wrote:
Today's fight card is really something, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have Cynics versus Romantics! It promises to be a real death match! No two groups have ever hated each other like these two! The sound track to today's match will be Marc Cohn's True Companion, which will be sure to stir things up. Just a moment (covers mic). I am told that the Romantics are weeping uncontrollably and may not be able to continue. Wait a moment (covers mic again). It appears that the Cynics have busted a gut laughing. We will  have to refund your money, I am sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen. My apologies.
 
This is one of the best, most insightful comments I have seen in 20 years of listening to Radio Paradise. When I saw that the listeners had rated it an average of 6.0 I thought "WTF", this is a great song that deserves at least an 8. But when I read this comment , the first one listed here even though it is from 11 years ago, and then read all of the "cynical" comments below, the light went off in my mind and I understood the 6 rating. I am, and have always been, a hopeless romantic, even though I am 69 years old, have had many relationships, and "get" all the many reasons relationships don't work. But I have never thought of these lyrics in terms of "stalking", or "abuse", or anything other than the singer really loves this woman and just wants to be with her, with nothing weird in his intentions. Wow! 
 sfuller wrote





 

Also our song


"So don't you dare and try to walk away
I've got my heart set on our wedding day
I've got this vision of a girl in white
Made my descision that its you alright"

Arrogant domineering jerk

No indication that the "Companion" has consented to any of his fantasies

Run a mile girl!


  
 ziggytrix wrote:
"There ain't no act of God, girl
Could keep you safe from me"

WTF? How about a restraining order?
 
Seriously a creepy lyric right there..
 Matt_Maurer wrote:
My wedding song for my beautiful wife. My one and only True Companion. Xx
 

Likewise.
My wedding song for my beautiful wife. My one and only True Companion. Xx
Definitely stalker overtones here. pxd
Thank you again RP. I missed this guy somehow. It wasn't until I heard him singing "Walking in Memphis" and I turned off my "Oh sounds Commercial" radar that I gave Marc the credit he deserves. this is another fine song.
You mean poor people's BS?

 
Hannio wrote:


Springsteen-like voice and schmaltz.  So basically a BS clone.
 

Still a beauty after all these years.
"There ain't no act of God, girl
Could keep you safe from me"

WTF? How about a restraining order?
pathetic lyrics 
 xkolibuul wrote:

Spoken like a true cynic.  Next...

 
Perhaps, but this song is still in the realm of such classics as "Honey" or "Watching Scotty Grow" by Bobby Goldsboro, only less fun.
I am a romantic (also a cynic) but this song BLOWS.
 Proclivities wrote:
One does not have to be "jaded" or "cynical" to dislike this song - it's awful.

 
Spoken like a true cynic.  Next...
Ode to a dog ? {#Ask}
nimesay wrote:

...I know it's sentimental, but it's lovely.


Whoa -  sorry: at times, "sleazy" is the word that crept slyly into my mind.  Sounds a bit like a smooth-talking bully-boy, used to having his own way with women, demonstrating how it's done.  Not that I have much of an imagination.


One does not have to be "jaded" or "cynical" to dislike this song - it's awful.

Today's fight card is really something, Ladies and Gentlemen. We have Cynics versus Romantics! It promises to be a real death match! No two groups have ever hated each other like these two! The sound track to today's match will be Marc Cohn's True Companion, which will be sure to stir things up. Just a moment (covers mic). I am told that the Romantics are weeping uncontrollably and may not be able to continue. Wait a moment (covers mic again). It appears that the Cynics have busted a gut laughing. We will  have to refund your money, I am sorry, Ladies and Gentlemen. My apologies.
 isaacsonar wrote:
I logged in for the first time in over a year just to give this song a 1. I seriously had to check and make sure this was still RP!

 
Ha!  Just did the same thing to downgrade my previous 2 to a 1!

 shayborg wrote:
Very Springsteen-y voice but the lyrics are way too schmaltzy for me.
 

Springsteen-like voice and schmaltz.  So basically a BS clone.
 madhoop wrote:


Thirded....  Beautiful lyrics
 
Fourthed.  I know it's sentimental, but it's lovely.  Props for him for being so honest.

Marc Cohn has much better than this.  This is the weakest song on his excellent debut album.
For my Honeyhoney, IWLYFAAD.

{#Heartkiss}
I logged in for the first time in over a year just to give this song a 1. I seriously had to check and make sure this was still RP!

 pacificbeth wrote:
This stands on its own merit. . .the passion in this piece, the lyricism. . .it's sad when a jaded listener's only reference point is whether it sounds better or worse than some other artist—some numerical scale in the critic's head; what about feeling—which is what music is attempting to elicit.
 

Word.
Thirded
michaelgmitchell wrote:
Seconded.
 


Say 'true companion' one more time ... c'mon...I dare ya!
 michaelgmitchell wrote:
Seconded.
 

Thirded....  Beautiful lyrics
...tastes bad!..
blehhhhhh
 alux wrote:
Bunch of friggin' cynics. Schmaltz or not, this is a gorgeous song. We romantics are going to revel in it no matter what you say.
 Seconded.


 inindian wrote:


Mmm, what a band they could form, Marc Cohn dueting with Michael Bolton, Kenny G on sax and perhaps Carlos Santana noodling in the background!
 
And their immensely popular works will be played nonstop in the beanstalk elevator all the way to geosynchronous orbit.
This stands on its own merit. . .the passion in this piece, the lyricism. . .it's sad when a jaded listener's only reference point is whether it sounds better or worse than some other artist--some numerical scale in the critic's head; what about feeling--which is what music is attempting to elicit.
trekhead wrote:
Joe Cocker Lite.7.
Mmm, what a band they could form, Marc Cohn dueting with Michael Bolton, Kenny G on sax and perhaps Carlos Santana noodling in the background!
Good stuff.
I think we've found a "true companion" to Wind Beneath My Wings in the sucko-barfo song category.
luca77 wrote:
Yeah it's a bit Michael Bolton for me...
agreed in full
Joe Cocker Lite. 7.
This song kind of creeped me out. For some reason his "true companion" sounds unwilling to me... which makes the guy sounds like a stalker. Or maybe just a bit clingy...?
Bunch of friggin' cynics. Schmaltz or not, this is a gorgeous song. We romantics are going to revel in it no matter what you say.
vandal wrote:
schmaltz also schmalz (shmÀlts) n. 1. Informal a. Excessively sentimental art or music. b. Maudlin sentimentality. 2. Liquid fat, especially chicken fat.
Yeah it's a bit Michael Bolton for me...
element1 wrote:
Whatever. I suppose you wouldn't be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and figure that he might actually mean "make love." Marc is a family man. He is talking here about a "true companion."
Thanks for posting a response to that comment.
Simply lovely.
karljonasson wrote:
I was willing to give this the benefit of the doubt until he had to throw in, "make love to you". That is the ultimate unforgivable sin of songwriting - cowardice. Say "HAVE SEX WITH YOU". We all know that's what you mean! Quit being a wuss. I hate when songwriters do that.
Whatever. I suppose you wouldn't be willing to give him the benefit of the doubt and figure that he might actually mean "make love." Marc is a family man. He is talking here about a "true companion."
This was so beautiful! Congrats Bill and Rebecca
Congrats on the anniversary!
What IS this Anniversary?? Chicken Fat? No, wait. That's not until the 40th...
trekhead wrote:
Awww....
I've always loved this song but after hearing Bill's story I'll never forget it.
aww..sweet... 'the song we danced to at our wedding' from Bill to Rebecca.
Awwwwwww song dedication. Congratulations to many happy years, you two!
Awww....
schmaltz also schmalz (shmÀlts) n. 1. Informal a. Excessively sentimental art or music. b. Maudlin sentimentality. 2. Liquid fat, especially chicken fat.
Norah Jones followed by Marc Cohn. Call it MOR RP
shayborg wrote:
Very Springsteen-y voice but the lyrics are way too schmaltzy for me.
Very true.
My 11-year old son says this is too slow and very boring. It's his first time listening to RP.
junebaby65 wrote:
The only other song I've heard from this guy is Walking in Memphis, which I loathe.
Yeah, I could never figure out why that Memphis song got all the airplay it did, at least here in Austin. His voice reminds me of a Springsteen clone band that had a semi-popular hit song back in the 80s called "On the Dark Side" or some such derivative blahditty blah. I think they were called Eddie and the Cruisers, or Benny and the Beavers, or sumthin' along those lines ... Anyway, this one isn't too good either.
This guy has a great voice but the whole thing is just too ... earnest. Wins the "fromage du jour" award hands down.
Very Springsteen-y voice but the lyrics are way too schmaltzy for me.
maryte wrote:
I, too, like this in a romantic, sappy way. Makes me tear up a bit. But if you really want to go for the King Kong of Things That Cannot Be, try Kate Bush's Never Be Mine: I look at you and see My life that might have been: Your face just ghostly in the smoke. They're setting fire to the cornfields As you're taking me home. The smell of burning fields Will now mean you and here. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be, But I know that this will never be mine. Ooh, the thrill and the hurting. The thrill and the hurting. I know that this will never be mine. I want you as the dream, Not the reality. That clumsy goodbye-kiss could fool me, But I'm looking back over my shoulder At you, happy without me. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be, But I know that this will never be mine. Ooh, the thrill and the hurting Will never be mine. The thrill and the hurting, It will never be mine. It can never be. The thrill and the hurting Will never be mine.
Downloading it now, thanks.
Yep, that about covers every romantic cliché known to man.
Cover me in cheese I love this sappy stuff!
With the sound turned way down it kind of sounded like Warren Zevon. The only other song I've heard from this guy is Walking in Memphis, which I loathe. He's a local guy so I should be easy on him........I guess.
A buddy of mine had this song played at his wedding (first dance). He has since passed away and this song still puts a lump in my throat.
This song just doesn't seem to fit in at Radio Paradise...it's more suitable for Delilah After Dark.
What's this song about? … true companion … oh, o.k. got it … true companion, true companion … yeah I got you, true companion, right … true companion ... hey I heard you the first 10 times … true companion, true companion, true companion …. Hey would you just shut the fu*k up already buddy?! … true companion ... AGGH!!
Cynaera wrote:
Okay. I'm a sap. I'm a romantic. And, I have someone I adore, but who doesn't adore me. "True Companion" just makes me wish for things that cannot be, which might be why I love it. To those who slam the song, I can only say I'm sorry you've become so jaded that you don't understand the very basic nature of true, unblemished love. And, before you take offense, please refer to the first paragraph, and don't hurt me. Just allow me my stupid fantasy, and my tears.
I, too, like this in a romantic, sappy way. Makes me tear up a bit. But if you really want to go for the King Kong of Things That Cannot Be, try Kate Bush's Never Be Mine: I look at you and see My life that might have been: Your face just ghostly in the smoke. They're setting fire to the cornfields As you're taking me home. The smell of burning fields Will now mean you and here. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be, But I know that this will never be mine. Ooh, the thrill and the hurting. The thrill and the hurting. I know that this will never be mine. I want you as the dream, Not the reality. That clumsy goodbye-kiss could fool me, But I'm looking back over my shoulder At you, happy without me. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be. This is what I need. This is where I want to be, But I know that this will never be mine. Ooh, the thrill and the hurting Will never be mine. The thrill and the hurting, It will never be mine. It can never be. The thrill and the hurting Will never be mine.
hansk wrote:
Sorry, but I don't get it. Yes, the harmonies are nice, but I can't help but getting creeped out by the lyrics. Does he even know this girl? C'mon, "There ain't no act of God girl Could keep you safe from me?" I can imagine his "true companion's" roommate saying: "Hey, it's that creep again who wants to marry you!" "Oh, gross, tell him I moved away!"
Yeah,that is a creepy phrase. ______________ There are plenty of love ballads I like better than this one, I'm not totally jaded just yet, thanks... Try "Sleep On" as sung by Alison Krauss, on her "Now That I've Found You" collection. Unless you cant take a real country song. And her work as part of AKUS, especially the album So Long So Wrong, and the album Every Time You Say Goodbye
rgrace wrote:
This warhorse needs to be put out to pasture - or sent to the glue factory.
HERE, HERE. Excuse me, I have to go vomit now.
This warhorse needs to be put out to pasture - or sent to the glue factory.
I hate this song so much that I registered to say please, please, for the love of all that is good, stop playing this piece of garbage. Thank you.
Sorry, but I don't get it. Yes, the harmonies are nice, but I can't help but getting creeped out by the lyrics. Does he even know this girl? C'mon, "There ain't no act of God girl Could keep you safe from me?" I can imagine his "true companion's" roommate saying: "Hey, it's that creep again who wants to marry you!" "Oh, gross, tell him I moved away!"
This one really touched me this morning....
Geecheeboy wrote:
Love is great; colors are brighter, happiness is everywhere, optimistic possibilities abound, anything is possible, and every song speaks exactly what you feel. This is one of those songs. Sappy? Depends on where you are in your life when you hear it, and it is reflective, sort of an audio Rorschach inkblot. Subjective, but shows who you are, at least at the moment.
Man,that's some heavy sh#&!!!
Love is great; colors are brighter, happiness is everywhere, optimistic possibilities abound, anything is possible, and every song speaks exactly what you feel. This is one of those songs. Sappy? Depends on where you are in your life when you hear it, and it is reflective, sort of an audio Rorschach inkblot. Subjective, but shows who you are, at least at the moment.
The world has enough cynics. I can be one myself sometimes. We need more romantics. I know EXACTLY where you're coming from. Cynaera wrote:
Okay. I'm a sap. I'm a romantic. And, I have someone I adore, but who doesn't adore me. "True Companion" just makes me wish for things that cannot be, which might be why I love it. To those who slam the song, I can only say I'm sorry you've become so jaded that you don't understand the very basic nature of true, unblemished love. And, before you take offense, please refer to the first paragraph, and don't hurt me. Just allow me my stupid fantasy, and my tears.
No, but somebody playing a Fender Telecaster at "10" would suffice. So how does a tune like this stab you in the eardrums? Hard for a piano to do that, unless your ears are rather oversize... pinkfu wrote:
I need an emoticon that has one of these little smileface guys stabbing itself in the ears with something sharp. How do you search for something like that?
Okay. I'm a sap. I'm a romantic. And, I have someone I adore, but who doesn't adore me. "True Companion" just makes me wish for things that cannot be, which might be why I love it. To those who slam the song, I can only say I'm sorry you've become so jaded that you don't understand the very basic nature of true, unblemished love. And, before you take offense, please refer to the first paragraph, and don't hurt me. Just allow me my stupid fantasy, and my tears.
I need an emoticon that has one of these little smileface guys stabbing itself in the ears with something sharp. How do you search for something like that?
wow, no love for Marc Cohn? And while I appreciated his two follow-up albums, this one is by far the best, not that there's anything wrong with that. Marc himself joked that he got all his hits out of the way on his first album so he wouldn't have to worry about writing anymore.
kingfish2004 wrote:
Its Halladise Radio! HA HA Not a bad song, not something I would want to hear everyday. But it has it place in a large mix.
If I never heard another song by Marc Cohn, it would be too soon. His voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to my ears.
Makes me long for a tall warm glass of honey. Just chug it down in big thick slurps, sweet enough to kill you right on the spot. Yum.
pdhski wrote:
Great song thought I found her once...maybe she's still out there
Damned if she didn't find me! Eight months on now and every moment has been sweet. Don't ever give up on love folks.
jksteacher wrote:
Marc Cohn reminds me of that guy from Five For Fighting. 'Not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing, but it certainly is something.... Actually, it isn't good.
Five for fighting meets Meatloaf This song just gets worse and worse. Horrible lyrics.
Marc Cohn reminds me of that guy from Five For Fighting. 'Not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing, but it certainly is something.... Actually, it isn't good.
mattt wrote:
I guess I'm the only one who thinks this sounds a little bit dangerous. With lyrics about no power of God keeping "you safe from me," and he's made is decision, and he's got this vision about how it's the way it will be... Doesn't sound like the person being sung to will have much say in the matter. I guess it's romantic in that Every Breath You Take sort of way. -mt-
Yeah, good old-fashioned Stalker Love
Successfully used as a proposal song on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
I guess I'm the only one who thinks this sounds a little bit dangerous. With lyrics about no power of God keeping "you safe from me," and he's made is decision, and he's got this vision about how it's the way it will be... Doesn't sound like the person being sung to will have much say in the matter. I guess it's romantic in that Every Breath You Take sort of way. -mt-
miahfost wrote:
Sappy.
Exactly!
hippiechick wrote:
From the choice of songs today, either it's Bill's and Rebecca's anniversary, or they had a fight and he's trying to make up with her!
lol...that made me spit on my screen!
From the choice of songs today, either it's Bill's and Rebecca's anniversary, or they had a fight and he's trying to make up with her!
tHIS, wALKING IN mEMPHIS AND sILVER tHUNDERBIRD....AND mARC cOHEN WAS DONE...But he said something in those songs
Dirktooth wrote:
Schmaltz it may be, but it sounds like honest schmaltz to my ears.
Honesty can't save a bad song...
When it all comes down....I'm willing to bet this song lifted a lot of hearts and made for some very pleasant moments. Schmaltz it may be, but it sounds like honest schmaltz to my ears.
RayRay wrote:
Is this Radio Paradise or a Hallmark commercial?
Its Halladise Radio! HA HA Not a bad song, not something I would want to hear everyday. But it has it place in a large mix.
Is this Radio Paradise or a Hallmark commercial?
Sappy.
Nothing wrong with this one!
very nice song...
I still love this one.
Awwww again. That was pretty dang sweet.
AWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BTW, MC is from my hometown, Cleveland Hts, OH
aw, bill, you and rebecca are so sweet together! I hope you're having a lovely and lovey valentine's day, and thanks so much for creating radioparadise.com, the best source for the best music on the airwaves!!
What a freakin' beautiful song.
I was going to get up from my desk, but now I just can't. I so love this song. Thanks Bill and Happy Valentine's Day to you too!
Sorry, Mr. Cohn is like fingernails on slate blackboards for me.
Let me tell you kids something: When you hand your partner/wife the relevent words of this song on a Birthday Card you have scored some very major points indeed. Thank god for people like Marc Cohn who can put down in words what we only feel, ( hopefully )
classic wrap-around: so bad, it's really quite good. an 8