Leonard Cohen – Memories Lyrics

I suspect that the song isn’t told from Leonard’s own perspective for the following reasons: firstly, I can’t fathom that a Jew would fasten an Iron Cross to his lapel, especially so shortly after WWII (we assume based on the songs being played that this takes place in the fifties or so). Secondly, he walks up to “the tallest and the blondest girl,” or the girl who best fits a white supremacist’s Aryan ideal. His blunt request of her, and her self-contradictory reply (that he has his choice of parts to touch, but cannot see her naked body) seem to indicate a much bigger and broader dialogue about lingering racial preferences in the contemporary beauty standard, as well as attitudes toward women in general–further driven home by the fact that pop singer Frankie Laine was singing “Jezebel.” The song touches on race, beauty, sexuality, and the Madonna-whore complex, as well as male-entitlement, in an aphoristic time capsule. Fascinating.

Memories Lyrics by Leonard Cohen

Frankie Laine, he was singing Jezebel
I pinned an Iron Cross to my lapel
I walked up to the tallest and the blondest girl
I said, “Look, you don’t know me now but very soon you will
So won’t you let me see”
I said “won’t you let me see”
I said “won’t you let me see
Your naked body?”

“Just dance me to the dark side of the gym
Chances are I will let you do most anything
I know you’re hungry, I can hear it in your voice
And there are many parts of me to touch, you have your choice
Ah but no you cannot see
She said “No you cannot see”
She said “No you cannot see
My naked body”
So we’re dancing close, the band is playing Stardust
The balloons and paper streamers they’re floating down on us
She says, “You’ve got a minute left to fall in love”
In solemn moments such as this I have put my trust
And all my faith to see
I said all my faith to see
I said all my faith to see
Her naked body
Naked body

All my faith…

(…you cheated you lied)