Know something about this song or lyrics?
Add it to our wiki.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Those were the reasons and that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
And that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.
Ah but you got away, didn't you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don't need you,
I need you, I don't need you
and all of that jiving around.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."
And then you got away, didn't you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don't need you,
I need you, I don't need you
and all of that jiving around.
I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
I can't keep track of each fallen robin.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
that's all, I don't even think of you that often.
you were talking so brave and so sweet,
giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street.
Those were the reasons and that was New York,
we were running for the money and the flesh.
And that was called love for the workers in song
probably still is for those of them left.
Ah but you got away, didn't you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd,
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don't need you,
I need you, I don't need you
and all of that jiving around.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."
And then you got away, didn't you babe,
you just turned your back on the crowd
you got away, I never once heard you say,
I need you, I don't need you,
I need you, I don't need you
and all of that jiving around.
I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best,
I can't keep track of each fallen robin.
I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel,
that's all, I don't even think of you that often.
Lyrics submitted by clarkmac
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!
The song to me, is remembering a past fling, possibly love, that was unforgettable. Lenoard talks of a girl (Janis Joplin) who, maybe, didnt know where to be, or how to feel, possibly scared of commitment. "never once heard you say I need you , i dont need you." So she left him, "turned her back on the croud". And the memories of her contrast with the lifestyles they both lead " giving me head on the unmade bed,
while the limousines wait in the street." saying to me, that these "stars" are really, just norms. I think he misses her, and is possibly jelous of her "getting away". But he is putting up, walls, almost, this just suggests to me, that this girl hes remebering, got to him. Her words stayed with him"Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."-(absoultly love that quote). To say "I can't keep track of each fallen robin"- to me, only suggetsts, that, this love, he has kept track of. And, maybe, does think of, often.
i understand its a demo.
but really i need this.
leonard cohen=best poet ever.
chelsea hotel no. 2=one of my favorite songs
AND REGINA SPEKTOR?
this is necessary.
well this is about janis joplin.
says leonard cohen on im your man.
you were famous, your heart was a legend.
You told me again you preferred handsome men
but for me you would make an exception.
And clenching your fist for the ones like us
who are oppressed by the figures of beauty,
you fixed yourself, you said, "Well never mind,
we are ugly but we have the music."
if you ask me personally,
i think that part is about perfection -
like saying they're ugly, but they have talent,
and that's all that matters.
this song's simply beautiful.
they're both pretty different,
but eequally beautiful.
its more the words than how it sounds.
they're both pretty different,
but eequally beautiful.
its more the words than how it sounds.