AURORA – Famous Blue Raincoat (Leonard Cohen)

Aurora Aksnes (1996-), known mononymously as Aurora, is a Norwegian singer, songwriter, dancer and producer. Born in Stavanger and raised in the towns of Høle and Os, she began writing her first songs and learning dance at the age of six. After some of her songs were uploaded online and became popular in Norway, she signed a recording contract with Petroleum Records, Decca and Glassnote Records in 2014. Aurora gained recognition with her debut extended play (EP), Running with the Wolves (2015), which contained the sleeper hit “Runaway”. Later that year, she provided the backing track for the John Lewis Christmas advert, singing a cover of the Oasis song “Half the World Away”.

From the Leonard Cohen-tribute “So Long, Leonard Cohen” in Oslo Spektrum, Oslo April 25Th 2017.

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 back 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

Aurora Aksnes: Vocals

The Salmon Smokers Freddy Holm: Fiddle Finn-Tore Tolke: Bass Ømar Østli: Guitar Eivind Kløverød: Drums Bebe Risenfors: Keys May Kristin Kaspersen: Backing vocals Kine Fossheim: Backing vocals Frode Vassel: Backing vocals