Leonard Cohen - First We Take Manhattan (RARE)
BABY, BABY, BABY, BABY – A MOVING PICTURE’S CUT OF FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN
A Moving Picture, directed by Jurgen Lutz, features an early version of Leonard Cohen’s First We Take Manhattan. As a further enticement to Cohen fans, the segment of the film shown in the video below includes Leonard Cohen playing the role of Leonard Cohen.
Described in its promotional material as a “romantic dance fantasy,” A Moving Picture (filmed in 1987 and released in 1989) is built on the choreography of Anne Ditchburn.
THE LYRICS VARIATION
The final verse of First We Take Manhattan from the I’m Your Man album (released in 1988) follows:
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
The final verse of First We Take Manhattan from A Moving Picture (filmed in 1987) follows:
Baby, baby, baby, baby, don’t refuse me
After all, I brought your groceries in
And I’m guided now, I’m guided by your beauty.
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
By my assessment, the shift in words, especially as sung in the film, makes this version sexier (not to mention way cool) but less effective than the album.
THE VIDIOSYNCRATIC FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN
First We Take Manhattan plays a role in many videos that range from severe to silly. Roman Gavrilin, aka Hermitage Prisoner has provided an enlightening playlist of many of these at First We Take Manhattan Playlist.
EVOLUTION OF FIRST WE TAKE MANHATTAN & ITS VIDEOS
The background of the writing of First We Take Manhattan and commentary on the videos it has spawned is available, albeit not in final form, at Taking Manhattan & Making Videos: Leonard Cohen’s First We Take Manhattan & Its Videos
Credit Due Department: I was alerted to existence of the variant version of Leonard Cohen’s First We Take Manhattann in “A Moving Picture” by Jugurtha Harchaoui, who also located the DVD.
The lyrics:
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 ...
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
I am guided
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
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