Lyric Thief

That Was Called Love is an essay I wrote when I was living in Seattle and profoundly missing New York City. The lyric, Those were the reasons, that was New York from Leonard Cohen’s song, “Chelsea Hotel” plagued my thoughts often. What were my reasons, what was New York? I loved that line and wanted to include it somehow in the essay–but just like with most planned writing–it didn’t happen. After I finished writing my essay–I impulsively wrote, “That Was Called Love” at the top of the page–another lyric from “Chelsea Hotel.”

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, 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.

My essay “Long May You Run” is about different men I’ve loved born in the month of May. While writing it, I was looking some stuff up about May, Geminis, and songs about May. I discovered this Neil Young song I’d never heard and thought it was perfect. One website wanted to change the title to “May Numbers” but I didn’t feel as comfortable with that.

Long may you run.
Long may you run.
Although these changes
Have come
With your chrome heart shining
In the sun
Long may you run.

My book, (forthcoming in 2012) is titled, “Legs Get Led Astray” which is a snippet from a bunch of lyrics I like in Okkervil River’s song “Last Love Song For Now.” It’s off their album Black Sheep Boy Appendix. I originally played around with the title “Diaries Get Found and Opened” but my dad told me it was too long. I thought about using “Lambs Out Wandering,” but I thought it was too boring. When “Legs Get Led Astray” popped into my head I knew it was the one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYBXZPcDLGk&feature=related

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