That's interesting Kate, I thought I did read something to that effect about Cohen, or at least he spent some time at a monastery? The first time I ever heard "The Priest" the line, "He was wearing his father's tie" jumped out at me. It sounded at the time to me that the priest was purposely going "incognito" and was "wearing his father's tie" since he either didn't have one of his own, and didn't want to be identified as a priest, so he borrowed one of his dad's or perhaps the tie had belonged to his deceased father and he was in possession of it. At the time the song was written Vatican II had just started spinning, and many priests still wore clerical garb in public as the rule. Our Joni is very clever, she could well have meant Cohen to represent the priest; and at the same time interwove a real or fictitious priest as part of the song. There are a number of religious references in that song, "he looked as only a priest can through", "the sermons the hymns and valentines", (off the top of my head) so it seems like he was a real/fictitious priest, with perhaps a bit of Cohen mixed in? Thoughts anyone? Then there is the Cohen song, "Priests." I really like this discussion too...but then...I've been staying with a priest who took me in when I needed a place to stay, (a great guy too) so I guess I get carried away with the religious stuff. I worked for a religious organization for 17 years ;-) but recently quit to make my move to Los Angeles. I could use some prayers for this upcoming personal hejira....
Best to all! Gary Kate Bennett wrote: > > Leonard Cohen was a monk for awhile & probably took some kind of vows... > > >>Wasn't there a discussion a while ago that "The Priest" was about > Leonard Cohen? (That was a surprise to me.) It makes the song even more > interesting to think that it's not even about an actual vow-taking > priest, but about someone who feels and acts as though he is, even to > the point of not being able to freely "look".<< > > ******************************************** > Kate Bennett > www.katebennett.com > sponsored by Polysonics > Discover the Indies at Taylor Guitars: > http://www.taylorguitars.com/artists/awp/indies/bennett.html > ********************************************
