The band improved on Cohen’s beautiful, lyrical song about a crazed fanatic.

R.E.M. – “First We Take Manhattan”

“First We Take Manhattan” (1991 – original from 1986 / 1988)

Five years after the original recording by Jennifer Warnes, on her album of Leonard Cohen covers, “Famous Blue Raincoat,”  R.E.M. recorded this version for the Leonard Cohen tribute album “I’m Your Fan.”   

Creator or Destroyer

Overall, the cryptic lyrics sound like a manifesto. Many listeners (including me) believed that they were an artistic declaration from Cohen himself.    

However, Cohen has clarified that such is not the case. According to him, the lyrics describe a “demented and menacing”  reactionary, an “outsider”  who is now threatening to “reward”  his nemeses. 

Your Crazed Fan

Leave it to Leonard Cohen to compose a beautiful, lyrical song about a crazed fanatic. And leave it to R.E.M. to improve on it.     _{(Image source)}

R.E.M.

R.E.M. was a pioneering US alternative rock band that was active from 1980 to 2011. Its first few releases were critically acclaimed, and gained the band a large following, particularly through college radio. 

From 1 to 80 Million

Starting with its 1987 hit single “The One I Love,”  R.E.M. achieved increasingly greater commercial and mainstream success. In 1996, the band signed an $80-million contract with Warner Bros. Records. At the time, it was the highest-paying recording contract ever. In 1997, the drummer left the band, which continued as a trio for a few more years.  

Saintly Alternatives

R.E.M. has sold over 85 million records. The band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, the first year in which they were eligible.    

In a 1993 interview with “Rolling Stone”  magazine, Kurt Cobain proclaimed that R.E.M. was “the greatest. They've dealt with their success like saints, and they keep delivering great music.”   _{(Image source)}

They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those

Ah, you loved me as a loser, but now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I don't like your fashion business mister
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to my sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
But you see that line there moving through the station?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those

And I thank you for those items that you sent me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

Ah remember me, I used to live for music
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
Well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin

        Leonard Cohen – “First We Take Manhattan”    
          _{(Right-click to hear on YouTube)}

Lyrics by Leonard Cohen, courtesy of – AZLyrics.com
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – Wikipedia
Reference – SongFacts.com
Reference – SongMeanings.com

Into your ears … through 5 channels

 The various posts are categorized into 5 channels _{(Right-Click to see details)}
         1 – “Music to Your Ears” (MTYE)
         2 – “Cover Versions”
         3 – “Honor Roll”
         4 – “Documentaries”
         5 – “Mock’n’Roll”

More “Cover Versions” ...

         Cover Versions – Music to Your Ears – "Posts 1~20"  
         Cover Versions – Music to Your Ears – "Posts 21~40"  

Links to my other series ...

          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"
          Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"

          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part One – My Lyrics Posts 3~30”
          Great Lyrics, a compilation – “Part Two – My Lyrics Posts 31~60”  

          Vocab-Ability – "Introduction to Vocab-Ability"  
          Vocab-Ability – "Index"  to all Chapters and Sections  

          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part One – Notes 1~50"  
          Notes from Under the Tatami Mats – "Part Two – Notes 51~87"