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
Well, 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, L Cohen


Lyrics submitted by phaethon, edited by Shutyourmouth2, 2014, mdarabpour

Famous Blue Raincoat Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Famous Blue Raincoat song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

90 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    This is my combined thoughts about the incredible Leonard Cohen song "Famous Blue Raincoat" This song has allways had a enigmatic pull in me, since the first time i heard it. And from time to time over the years i have thought that i had the interpretation fixed, only to discard my theories the next day. (I work a lot with my hands as a craftsman, so i have lots of time to listen to music and let my thought wander s) I have searshed the web for explanations and intervievs with Cohen, to help me understand the meaning of the lyrics, but have allways come up short. But pice by pice the puzzle has fallen into place, and this is my interpretation...... (and sorry for any eventual grammar misshaps - I`m Swedish) ;-)

    First of all - lets hear the good L.Cohens own words about the song...

    -Frankfurt, May 6, 1970 "...this is one of those songs that I really mean. And it's against the greatest tyranny that I myself experience. I feel many kinds of tyrannies from every... Almost every time men group themselves together, I flash on their tyranny. But this is not a government, this is a tyranny I feel myself which is the possession of women, and woman's possession of man. And I know those chains have to be broken before anything happens. All the manifestos and all the demonstrations will change nothing until we stop enslaving each other, especially within the sexual embrace."

    from 1972 (broadcast on TV in Sweden in Sept., 1973): "Here's a song that was written for two people, for a woman and a man, and especially for a woman that I had to share with another man. But, you know, it's true what they say, that there won't be any free men until there are free women."

    There are many more quotes about this song out there, but I think these two are really on the spot. Keep them in mind in the back of your head as we move on to define the characters of the lyric........

    There are three main characters in the song. Cohen himself, Jane, and the one refered to as brother/my killer/thin gypsy thief. In this text however I will refer to him as "The Brother".

    So... Cohen is the first one. Nothing special there.. we all know and love the guy ;-)

    This "brother" should`t be taken litterary.. We are talking about a different era in time here... An era where everyone were eashothers "brother" and "sister". Surely he was a dear friend, but not a blood relative.

    Jane - Since Cohen never has been married but refers to her as "my wife", I think we can safely assume she is someone he was having a serius relationship with. We mustnt forget the concept of artistic freedom here... I can imagine that it was a hole lot easier to compose a lyric containing the word Wife, than trying to squeeze in The Girl I Was Living With At The moment And Really Really Like ;-)

    There is also a 4:th character mentioned. One not to be overlooked - Lilly Marlene Now Lili Marlene isn`t one of Cohens own characters - It originally comes from the poem "The Song of a Young Sentry". The theme of the song is "dreaming for one's lover" and were immensly popular during WW2 on both sides of the border. With no doubt Cohen heard the song many many times in his youth, and the symbol Lilly Marlene stuch to hes mind at one of "missing love". ingeb.org/garb/lmarleen.html

    So... Through piecing together the characters and the quotes I have come up with this explanation, here presented in a chronological order of events...

    Cohen and Jane are a couple. Not married, but living as such for the moment, being faithfull towards each other. Cohen however is troubled by the concept of "owning another person" by demanding faithfullnes. The naturally ocuring jealousy in the realationship (between 2 people "going steady") is eating at not only him but Jane to, and Cohen can clearly see that. His jealously is hurting (limiting) Jane, but he is unable to brake free from he`s own feelings. He is unable to stop hurting/limiting the one he loves... becuse he loves her!

    Then into this scene comes "The Brother". A person allready troubled himself, being in love with someone that probably doesent return hes feelings, and/or is abcent. He comes home to Cohen and Jane, resignated to his fate (that he will never see his loved one again), and Jane comforts him. He then decides to brake free, and move on with he´s life, and in the heat of the moment Jane feels pity and they end up in bed together. This however is just a 1-time event, and nothing serius. But after coming clean to Cohen about it, his and Janes previously exclusive relationship is never the same again.

    They still loves each other, but something have changed. He dosent feel the urge to "own" Jane anymore (to be exclusive), and becuse of that. he neither feels owned himself.

    the letter/lyrics is written some time after these events. Jane is no longer living with Cohen permanently (perhaps they never did?), but they still love each other and sleep togeter from time to time.


    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.

    [This is basicly just describing the setting. "See if you're better" however, is probably referring to wether the brother has overcome his depression about the Lilly Marlene-character]

    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?

    [When Jane came over this time she had with her a lock of this Brothers hair. (why? No idea, but probably not that important in the context of the lyrics). Seeing the lock of hair however, trigger memories of the event and questions in Cohen, and it is becuse of this he is writing the letter. This "going clear" has often been interpreted to as drug-rehab or such, something i think is taking teh easy (and wrong) way. "That night that you planned to go clear" is the night that the Brother decided to brake free from he`s love towards the Lilly Marlene-character. Note taht he planned to go clear, and last time Cohen saw/heard from him (presumibly when all these actions took place) he was still unhappily in love. Hence the question "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.

    [As stated above, this Brother was unhappily in love, and had aparently hoped to meet his loved one at the train station. When he came back to Jane and Cohen he was in despair, and after comforting him Jane ended up having pity-sex with him ;-) ]

    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.

    [Jane wakes up while Cohen is writing, and the topic of The Brother dosen`t seem to be infected since she sends her regards. Jane and Cohen has obviusly talked about it and decided to let it go.]

    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.

    ["What can I possibly say?" is to me an indication that Cohen admits that the situation is somewhat absurd... And with all rights! He is actually happy and thanking the man that he`s "wife" was unfaithful with. But i guess the easiest way to explain it is to say that hes not happy about the Brother nad Jane screwing around, but he is happy over the result it brought in the relationship between him and Jane. That the crack in the relationship that occured becuse of this Brother gave Cohen the ability to shake loose his need to own his woman. Cohens and Janes relationship has become better since the event and that is why he says "I'm glad you stood in my way." He allso promises this brother that if he was to come over for a visit, Jane is free to do whatever she pleases, and that the "enemy" (refering to the jealousy he earlier felt) is sleeping.]

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

    [Now these two scentenses are the key to understanding why Cohen reasons as he does. Why be happy that your girlfriend is being unfaithful? - Becuse She Is Happier. The "trouble you took from her eyes" is trouble brought on by jealousy and the feeling of being "owned" in a relationship. No matter how much Cohen loved her, he could never release Jane from that pain, just becous he loved her and it was that love that brought on the pain!! Through this dramatic turn of events and through the influence of this Brother, hes beloved Jane is no longer troubled. She is free to what she pleases, and in the end that means tha he himself is truly free.]

    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, L. Cohen


    There... this is my interpretation of this complexed and enigmatic text. and i actually believe all that i have been typing. With no doubt this will neither be the last or final text written about the Famous Blue Raincoat, but I hope that my analyzis have brought some light to the subject.. Finally i´d like to end this text with a quote not my L.Cohen, but by another gigant from the same era - Richard Bach (L.Cohen born 1934 - R.Bach born 1936) Strangely, but possibly not without reason, this famous quote summorize Cohens lyrics perfecly in my opinion...

    "If you love someone, set them free. If they come back they're yours; if they don't they never were." -Richard Bach

    /Malsum July 2006

    malsumon July 23, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song: Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.” That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Album art
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Blue
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.