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Tori Amos — Famous Blue Raincoat
Album: Tower Of Song
Avg rating:
6.5

Your rating:
Total ratings: 683









Released: 1995
Length: 5:28
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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It's four in the morning, the end of december
I'm writing you now just to see if you're better
New york is cold, but i like where i'm living
There's music on clinton street all through the evening.

I hear that you're building your little house deep in the desert
You're living for nothing now, i hope you're keeping some kind of record.

Yes, and jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear
Did you ever go clear?

Ah, the last time we saw you you looked so much older
Your famous blue raincoat was torn at the shoulder
You'd been to the station to meet every train
And you came home without lili marlene

And you treated my woman to a flake of your life
And when she came back she was nobody's wife.

Well i see you there with the rose in your teeth
One more thin gypsy thief
Well i see jane's awake --

She sends her regards.

And what can i tell you my brother, my killer
What can i possibly say?
I guess that i miss you,
I guess i forgive you
I'm glad you stood in my way.

If you ever come by here, for jane or for me
Your enemy is sleeping, and his woman is free.

Yes, and thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes
I thought it was there for good so i never tried.

And jane came by with a lock of your hair
She said that you gave it to her
That night that you planned to go clear --

Sincerely, leonard cohen
Comments (81)add comment
My ISP was having intermittent connectivity issues yesterday, and for a moment I thought it just came back.
Posted 3 months ago by MJdub    [ Reply ]
Well, at least I get my "American Gods" music fix afterwards.
Posted 3 months ago by kcatalina    [ Reply ]
_crickets_
Posted 3 months ago by acbauer    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:

09/11/23 did this just crap out into silence halfway through or was it just me? abrupt silence happened. 


Yes, still, which might make some happy.

Posted 3 months ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
Pales in comparison to Jennifer Warnes' cover album Famous Blue Raincoat 
Posted 3 months ago by dfphillips1    [ Reply ]
I love this CD. So many good songs on it and this is one of my favourite songs on it.
Posted 3 months ago by Myrna    [ Reply ]
 Lemmes wrote:

November, 23rd 2023 - the same. Too sad.


18th December 2023 - the same
Posted 4 months ago by RodneyAjax    [ Reply ]
 lewisv66 wrote:

Its done the same for me. I guess this particular copy is corrupted somehow.


Yep went dead for awhile
Posted 4 months ago by aubinoak    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:

09/11/23 did this just crap out into silence halfway through or was it just me? abrupt silence happened. 


Its done the same for me. I guess this particular copy is corrupted somehow.
Posted 5 months ago by lewisv66    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:

09/11/23 did this just crap out into silence halfway through or was it just me? abrupt silence happened. 


November, 23rd 2023 - the same. Too sad.
Posted 5 months ago by Lemmes    [ Reply ]
 lily34 wrote:

09/11/23 did this just crap out into silence halfway through or was it just me? abrupt silence happened. 



23/11/23  Hmmm....I find myself thinking the same thing...... 🤔
Posted 5 months ago by redart    [ Reply ]
09/11/23 did this just crap out into silence halfway through or was it just me? abrupt silence happened. 
Posted 7 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
i want to hear lloyd cole do this one.
Posted 9 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Elton John, Billy Joel, Tori amos, Bono all together singing Leonard Cohen? There must be a mistake, they had sign for Franck Sinatra's cover but the deal has changed... To all the minor artist from the world : let Leonard rest in peace.
Posted 5 years ago by Ptijoc    [ Reply ]
I like this.  It is an interesting, enjoyable cover.
Posted 5 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Why, oh why couldn't RP have an outage when this song comes around? {#Frustrated}
Posted 6 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
The implicit first person is "L. Cohen" — as per the last line sung. Incongruous. Also, a bit too much breathy vocal angst. Also incongruous. Better versions do exist, but you do have to make the effort. OK, I guess.
Posted 6 years ago by gmichaelt    [ Reply ]
I love most of Tori's stuff, and I love this song, but I don't much care for this. Lloyd Cole's version is nice.
Posted 6 years ago by nutrod42    [ Reply ]
To me, Tori's always sang like she's in Oscar tryouts for "Most Overblown Pretense in a Song." I know lots of folks like/love her. It just never 'moved me' to do anything other than change the channel.
Posted 6 years ago by smackiepipe    [ Reply ]
I switch off RP for Amos and a few others ...

Thank heavens for local, independent WNRN.
Posted 7 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
Yawn. Sounds pretty pretentious to me. PSD and BRB.
Posted 7 years ago by Ahnyer_Keester    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:
this is an excellent demonstration of why i can't stand tori - it's easier to pick out when it's a cover of what is otherwise a great song. her singing is so totally overwrought, like every minute of her life has been pure suffering and nothing but.

here's how it's done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlpxHhzSp0
 

 
...and it's one of the reasons I like her. To each his own. 
Posted 8 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
It would be nice to hear some songs off the Cohen masterpiece: "Songs of Love and Hate"
Posted 8 years ago by idiot_wind    [ Reply ]
 RabbitEars wrote:
this is an excellent demonstration of why i can't stand tori - it's easier to pick out when it's a cover of what is otherwise a great song. her singing is so totally overwrought, like every minute of her life has been pure suffering and nothing but.

here's how it's done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlpxHhzSp0
 

 
Well said.
Posted 8 years ago by coyote620    [ Reply ]
this is an excellent demonstration of why i can't stand tori - it's easier to pick out when it's a cover of what is otherwise a great song. her singing is so totally overwrought, like every minute of her life has been pure suffering and nothing but.

here's how it's done: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPlpxHhzSp0
 
Posted 8 years ago by RabbitEars    [ Reply ]
 Lazarus wrote:

really really really really nice piano work...  love this song...
 

 
Agreed.  The down tempo works too.

Jennifer Warnes' version may be 'better' but this is decent. 
Posted 8 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Like the song. Like the version referenced below and this one. Tori's spin of this I think captures the original reflective mood and strips it down to a solo piano rendition.
Posted 8 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
 Proclivities wrote:

This tune was written several years before Leo's classic hit.

 
Why is Leonard Cohen still a thing?

Talk about bringing down the room! 
Posted 9 years ago by allenface    [ Reply ]
 Krispian wrote:
Some of the melodies verge dangerously close to Leo Sayer's - When I Need You 

 
This tune was written several years before Leo's classic hit.
Posted 9 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
Let's have Leonard's version...
Posted 9 years ago by pcc    [ Reply ]
Lovely. Downbeat. Next. 
 
Posted 9 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
 oldsaxon wrote:
 yclept wrote:
meh...she manages to suck all the life out of a beautifully simple song and then flatten it with her overworked piano stylings

Jennifer Warne's cover is better 

 
I agree completely. Still a brilliant song.

 
...i prefer tori amos' rendition; like jennifer warnes' joan of arc, it's definitively epic...
Posted 9 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]
 yclept wrote:
meh...she manages to suck all the life out of a beautifully simple song and then flatten it with her overworked piano stylings

Jennifer Warne's cover is better 

 
I agree completely. Still a brilliant song.
Posted 9 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
Give it a rest already....
Posted 9 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
 Krispian wrote:
Some of the melodies verge dangerously close to Leo Sayer's - When I Need You 

 
C'mon, that is not a bad song, but you are 100% correct
Posted 9 years ago by rdo    [ Reply ]
 Krispian wrote:
Some of the melodies verge dangerously close to Leo Sayer's - When I Need You 


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_I_Need_You#Melody_comparison
Posted 10 years ago by jablan    [ Reply ]
Hmmmm can't ejoy it...
 
 
Posted 10 years ago by dellmer93    [ Reply ]
The piano adds layers that engage the ear.  If you think her technique is "overworked" I bet you listen to really boring pop music wherein the band can barely play their instruments.
Posted 10 years ago by ritingon    [ Reply ]
Some of the melodies verge dangerously close to Leo Sayer's - When I Need You 
Posted 10 years ago by Krispian    [ Reply ]
meh...she manages to suck all the life out of a beautifully simple song and then flatten it with her overworked piano stylings

Jennifer Warne's cover is better 
Posted 10 years ago by yclept    [ Reply ]
Don't care who sings it, it's a brilliant song.
Posted 10 years ago by oldsaxon    [ Reply ]
this is a parody... it must be...
Posted 10 years ago by testpilot    [ Reply ]
no, please :(
I understand she must have had a tough time growing up or something, but this is severly depressing, with no obvious point to it.
Leave Mr Cohen alone
Posted 10 years ago by garrettb    [ Reply ]
Always something unsettling about Tori Amos. She doesn't let up. It's always a soundtrack to someone about to break...or go into a reflective tail spin of downward psycho...oppressive babble. I do think this song is interesting and well done...but something as I mentioned seems so unsettling and unpleasant...which makes me never desire to hear Tori Amos.
Posted 10 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]

really really really really nice piano work...  love this song...
 
Posted 10 years ago by Lazarus    [ Reply ]
You gotta be F#!%in' kidding me!!!

Sickening  
Posted 11 years ago by :+:_DL    [ Reply ]
This always gives me chills.  Absolutely gut-wrenching.
Posted 11 years ago by Sarcasm-hime    [ Reply ]
Sorry, it helps to have a bit more grit and a bit less gush  with Leonard...
Posted 11 years ago by Sweet_Virginia    [ Reply ]
 ocbrander wrote:

Completely agree about the Jennifer Warnes version.
 
Me too. Still, this is a 6.
Posted 11 years ago by Huey    [ Reply ]
No thank you....dagnab it tori, enough already!
Posted 11 years ago by emzed    [ Reply ]
 oldman wrote:
I find myself in the position of knocking Tori songs too often. She has many great songs.
This I'm afraid is weak, sounds like she's trying to do too much with the song, the Jennifer Warnes version is far superior. IMHO
 
Agreed. I feel as if I'm obligated to be holding cut raw onions up to my eyes.  Too forced.
Posted 11 years ago by ralphf    [ Reply ]
The only thing I liked about this is all life 2 seconds prior to its start and the rest of life 2 seconds after its finish.
Posted 11 years ago by jadewahoo    [ Reply ]
Nice cover.  Good work, Tori.
Posted 11 years ago by ScottN    [ Reply ]
I'm not a big fan of Tori Amos, but I must say I like this.
Posted 11 years ago by kaybee    [ Reply ]
The only thing I like about this version is the piano.
Posted 11 years ago by Antigone    [ Reply ]
A big Tori fan, I am. Still, after a while ... they all start to sound the same. They just do.
Posted 11 years ago by michaelgmitchell    [ Reply ]
This is a perfect example of why I love Tori.  Hauntingly beautiful.
Posted 11 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
 ocbrander wrote:

Completely agree about the Jennifer Warnes version.
 
I used to have the Jennifer Warnes LP with this song on it.  I had never heard the song before, and I remember I didn't like it then. What a dummy. I wish I had it now.
Posted 11 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
 oldman wrote:
I find myself in the position of knocking Tori songs too often. She has many great songs.
This I'm afraid is weak, sounds like she's trying to do too much with the song, the Jennifer Warnes version is far superior. IMHO
 
Completely agree about the Jennifer Warnes version.
Posted 12 years ago by ocbrander    [ Reply ]
great album I especially like what don henley does
Posted 12 years ago by laozilover    [ Reply ]
I find myself in the position of knocking Tori songs too often. She has many great songs.
This I'm afraid is weak, sounds like she's trying to do too much with the song, the Jennifer Warnes version is far superior. IMHO
Posted 12 years ago by oldman    [ Reply ]
 Mugro wrote:
Leonard Cohen songs are so much better when sung by someone else!
 
I enjoy/respect/appreciate the value of the originals and the absolute skill of his song/lyric writing abilities, but it's kinda like Bob Dylan for me. If I'm going to hear it in a setting where I'm not going to be analyzing the structure/metaphor/influences, someone else is better singing it :) 
Posted 12 years ago by ufamsm    [ Reply ]
Lovely rendition!  {#Clap}
Posted 12 years ago by Ubaldo    [ Reply ]
Leonard Cohen songs are so much better when sung by someone else!
Posted 12 years ago by Mugro    [ Reply ]
 redmachine wrote:
covers usually suck but Tori has such a soulful voice that the pain and torment of the original is still in there.
Very nice piano too.
 
agreed! Although this song is so good, I'll bet it works in many versions.

Posted 12 years ago by Angloray    [ Reply ]
{#Sleep}
Posted 12 years ago by HazzeSwede    [ Reply ]
covers usually suck but Tori has such a soulful voice that the pain and torment of the original is still in there.
Very nice piano too.
Posted 12 years ago by redmachine    [ Reply ]
boring
Posted 12 years ago by jimmy41    [ Reply ]
 Helchat wrote:
Weird, for some reason, this song reminds me of "When I need you" by Leo Sayer {#Ask}
 
...leonard cohen's management sued leo sayer regarding when i need you and eventually won a settlement over the matter...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_blue_raincoat#.22When_I_Need_You.22
Posted 12 years ago by mandolin    [ Reply ]

I love Leonard Cohen's version of this.  Wow...nice to hear Tori do it.


Posted 12 years ago by bluecshells    [ Reply ]
 Helchat wrote:
Weird, for some reason, this song reminds me of "When I need you" by Leo Sayer {#Ask}
 
Annoying, isn't it?
Posted 13 years ago by Pieter    [ Reply ]
I'm now officially asleep. {#Lol}
Posted 13 years ago by GeneP59    [ Reply ]
Weird, for some reason, this song reminds me of "When I need you" by Leo Sayer {#Ask}
Posted 13 years ago by Helchat    [ Reply ]
"You're once, twice, three times a lady" ... {#Whisper}
Posted 13 years ago by 4merdj    [ Reply ]
I like this and this song. Jennifer Warner did a good cover of this as well.
Posted 13 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
AMAZING cover. one of my favorite tori songs ever.
Posted 13 years ago by brownbrown    [ Reply ]
Very good cover, in my opinion.
Posted 16 years ago by Danimal174    [ Reply ]
Her live version one one of the To Venus & Back singles is pretty good - this pales in comparison.
Posted 16 years ago by XXXXXX    [ Reply ]
Ehhh, this version gets a 5. Jennifer Warnes version gets a 9 and so does Leonard's original. A bit too much "emoting" in this one, the fantastic story of the song gets lost.
Posted 20 years ago by MoSo    [ Reply ]
thanks for playing tori! maybe a request from choirgirl hotel, pandora's aquarium?
Posted 20 years ago by BasementJill    [ Reply ]