Posted by fayeroe on January 26, 2009, at 12:35:27
In reply to Leonard Cohen, posted by Sigismund on January 26, 2009, at 0:50:58
> What year was this written in?
>
> Villanelle for Our Times
>
> From bitter searching of the heart,
> Quickened with passion and with pain
> We rise to play a greater part.
> This is the faith from which we start:
> Men shall know commonwealth again
> From bitter searching of the heart.
> We loved the easy and the smart,
> But now, with keener hand and brain,
> We rise to play a greater part.
> The lesser loyalties depart,
> And neither race nor creed remain
> From bitter searching of the heart.
> Not steering by the venal chart
> That tricked the mass for private gain,
> We rise to play a greater part.
> Reshaping narrow law and art
> Whose symbols are the millions slain,
> From bitter searching of the heart
> We rise to play a greater part.
>Words: F.R. Scott's poem »Villanelle For Our Time«
The track was recorded in May 1999 and played at the Montreal 2000 Event. In 1999, The Leonard Cohen Files published Anjani's The Story of »C«, which was sent to the files via Leonard. He attached this note to Anjani's story:
»Dear Jarkko
This was written by Anjani Thomas who sang back-up for me and played the piano in the 'Various Positions' tour in 1985. she also did many of the vocal backgrounds on songs for 'I'm Your Man.'
We did some work together on May 6th and the next day she handed me this document. It made me very happy.
I am posting it with her permission.
All the best
Leonard
May 18, 1999«
From Marie Mazur's interview with Anjani for Anjani's website
»Villanelle For Our Time« is a poem by the late F. R. Scott, one of Leonard's professors at McGill University. Leonard was asked to participate in a tribute to Scott, and he elected to compose a track around this poem. I usually don't hear the material before a session, and Leonard has never told me what to sing. He was in a most agreeable mood, having just left Mt. Baldy after a five year stay. And this was the most spontaneous, easy session I'd done for him. Leanne rolled the tape and I sang a few ideas and built it from there. My parts took just a couple hours to record. I don't take credit for the inspiration; it's more like it occurs and I claim the idea.
poster:fayeroe
thread:876241
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20081212/msgs/876323.html