Leonard Cohen, Premio Príncipe de Asturias de las Letras

En estos tiempos en que nos crecen los pepinos, resulta extraordinariamente gratificante encontrarse con una noticia tan buena como la concesión del Príncipe de Asturias de la Letras a Leonard Cohen. Es de agradecer que el jurado haya tenido el buen tino de abrir una sucursal del Chelsea Hotel en pleno Oviedo donde recordar claramente viejos amores perdidos, pero es singularmente feliz su idea de darle el premio de las Letras a un músico que hasta cuando canta escribe, demostrando que la literatura es mucho más que la periódica aparición de tal o cual libro de vampiros. Y en fin, sirvan estas líneas de felicitación, no tengo mucho más que añadir, ¿que podría decir yo de Leonard Cohen que añadiera algo a su obra?. Nada, no pretendo sugerir que le amara mejor ni puedo llevar la cuenta de cada pájaro que cazó, pero le recuerdo bien en el Hotel Chelsea. Eso es todo, ni siquiera pienso en ello muy a menudo...

Chelsea Hotel nº2
(Letra: Leonard Cohen)

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...

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