Famous Blue Raincoat

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 home

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