Chelsea Hotel #2 – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen
• Album: New Skin for the Old Ceremony

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poetic world of Leonard Cohen's "Chelsea Hotel #2" and discover the depth of its English lyrics. This song offers a raw and vulnerable glimpse into a fleeting romantic connection, set against the backdrop of New York's iconic artistic hub. Its evocative language, rich with metaphor and honest reflection, provides a unique opportunity to appreciate Cohen's masterful songwriting and explore themes of love, memory, and artistic life in English.

[English]

I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel

You were talkin' so brave and so sweet

Givin' me head on the unmade bed

While the limousines wait in the street

Those were the reason an' that was New York

We were runnin' 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, baby?

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 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 you got away, didn't you, baby?

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 Chelsea Hotel

That's all, I don't even think of you that often

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to recall or think of something from the past
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - courageous or fearless
sweet /swiːt/ A1	adjective - pleasantly kind or gentle
head /hɛd/ B2	noun - slang for oral sex
unmade /ʌnˈmeɪd/ B2	adjective - not tidied or arranged (e.g., a bed)
limousines /ˈlɪməziːnz/ C1	noun - luxury cars with a chauffeur
runnin' /ˈrʌnɪŋ/ A1	verb - pursuing or seeking something urgently
money /ˈmʌni/ A1	noun - currency or wealth
flesh /flɛʃ/ B2	noun - physical desires or human body
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - deep affection or passion verb - to feel deep affection for someone
song /sɔːŋ/ A1	noun - musical composition with lyrics
need /niːd/ A1	verb - to require something essential
famous /ˈfeɪməs/ A2	adjective - widely known or celebrated
handsome /ˈhænsəm/ B1	adjective - physically attractive (typically for men)
exception /ɪkˈsɛpʃən/ B2	noun - a case not following the general rule
clenching /ˈklɛntʃɪŋ/ C1	verb - tightly gripping or closing (e.g., a fist)
oppressed /əˈprɛst/ C1	adjective - subjected to unjust treatment or control
ugly /ˈʌɡli/ A2	adjective - unattractive or unpleasant in appearance
music /ˈmjuːzɪk/ A1	noun - art form of sound and rhythm

Key Grammar Structures

• I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense

  ➔ The phrase "I remember" uses the present perfect tense to indicate an action that began in the past and is relevant to the present.

• You were talkin' so brave and so sweet

  ➔ Past Continuous Tense

  ➔ The phrase "were talkin'" uses the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action in the past.

• While the limousines wait in the street

  ➔ Subordinate Clause with 'While'

  ➔ The word "while" introduces a subordinate clause that contrasts with the main clause, indicating simultaneous actions.

• You got away, didn't you, baby?

  ➔ Tag Question

  ➔ The phrase "didn't you" is a tag question added to the statement to seek confirmation or agreement.

• We are ugly but we have the music

  ➔ Conjunction 'but' for Contrast

  ➔ The conjunction "but" is used to contrast two ideas: being ugly and having music.

• I don't mean to suggest that I loved you the best

  ➔ Infinitive of Purpose

  ➔ The phrase "to suggest" is used with the infinitive to indicate purpose or intention.

• That's all, I don't even think of you that often

  ➔ Present Simple Tense in Contrast

  ➔ The present simple tense in "I don't even think" contrasts with the past actions mentioned earlier.