Leonard Cohen's Roses
Unexpected Gifts: A Tale of Defiance and Sentimentality
Lyrics
"You're looking at me sideways
You are observing me with skepticism
I can see you don't approve
I can sense that you disapprove of something
Oh yeah I did everything
I have engaged in various actions
They told me not to do"
Despite advice against them
I met her in a bar way back in nineteen eighty-two
I encountered her in a bar in 1982
She was wearing a crooked wig
She wore a disheveled wig and had many old tattoos
And had a lot of old tattoos
Descriptive details about her appearance
She says, "Why are you way over there?
She invites the narrator to come closer and join her
Come on over and pull up a chair!
Encouragement to sit down and engage
She says, "you've got nothing else to do!"
Assertion that the narrator has nothing better to do
"You know, Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?
Claim that Leonard Cohen sent her roses
That's right, Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?"
Reiteration of the claim about receiving roses from Leonard Cohen
She asked me for a cigarette
She requests a cigarette, indicating her previous drinking
I could tell she'd had a few
The narrator perceives signs of her inebriation
So I gave her a cigarette and she said
The narrator gives her a cigarette
"Can you give me two?"
She asks for two cigarettes instead of one
I ordered up another
The narrator orders another drink
I could tell I'd be awhile
The narrator expects to stay at the bar for a while
Oh well what the hell, I thought
The narrator decides to indulge despite reservations
And the bartender winked and smiled
The bartender acknowledges and approves with a wink and smile
"Well I may not look like much today
The woman acknowledges her current appearance but refers to her past
But if you'd seen me back in my day
If the narrator had seen her in her prime, they would recognize her significance
Then you would know who you're talking to!
A claim that knowing her history would change the narrator's perspective
Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?
Reiteration of receiving roses from Leonard Cohen
That's right, Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?"
Repetition of the claim about Leonard Cohen's roses
I said well I've had enough for today
The narrator expresses a desire to leave the current situation
I got up, and as I walked away
The narrator gets up to leave
She said, "It's not braggin' if it's true!"
The woman suggests that sharing accomplishments is not boasting if they are true
"You know Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?
Reiteration of receiving roses from Leonard Cohen
And I rolled a joint for Willie Nelson, how about you?
The narrator claims to have rolled a joint for Willie Nelson
And Marlon Brando sent his regards to me, not you!
The narrator states that Marlon Brando sent regards specifically to them
That's right, Leonard Cohen sent me roses, how about you?"
Repetition of the claim about Leonard Cohen's roses
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