Walking up 23rd street, I was tired and alone
It was late and my housemate would be asleep when I got home
The sign ahead glowing red said The Chelsea Hotel
Where Nancy and Sid Vicious and my friend Dave once dwelled
The street was black under my feet which continued their walking
Though I was vaguely interested in the folks behind me talking
Two guys, maybe gay, wearing raver type suits
And a girl wearing glasses who looked kinda cute
Her hair was short and curly, she had a tattoo on her back
Which I could see 'cause her red shirt was sleeveless with straps
But I only saw this later, not in my first glance
But I could hear her talking behind me and as if by chance
She was trying to describe a song I knew well
Leonard Cohen's song about The Chelsea Hotel
And I smiled a smile to myself when she said
That it's the song where he talks about someone giving him head
On a bed that's unmade and how the song was outrageous
And that's when I got uncharacteristically courageous
I could have left the three of them laughin' and just gone on home
But I turned and I faced her and I said, "Leonard Cohen?"
Just like that
She was shocked and surprised but she looked very happy
That she now had a witness to back up her story
She looked at me with her spectacled eyes
And said, "See, I told you", to the two others guys
My tale might have ended right there and then
But we started talking about Leonard Cohen
And how his lyrics were cool and how he sang so sincere
That it must have been true and it happened right here
And though usually women right off the bat don't find me that great
But there we were laughing, strolling, like we could really relate
And though we didn't mention the headline, it was alluded
And our conversation was better because her friends were not included
The guys were more into each other, at least that's how it seemed to me
I heard the faint knocking of opportunity
Although it's easy for me now upon my looking back
To think of all the things I could have said to make me the mac
Just keep the sad truth in mind as I tell this to you
That we really only talked for a minute or two
And I never got her name and she never got mine
But in those couple short minutes, we had a pretty good time
♪
And on top of that, though you may not believe it
Listen to what she says to me next as I repeat it
That line about getting a blowjob that Leonard sings
She said it made her want to do naughty things
And right about then, I should have asked if she knew
What The Chelsea charged if we got a room for two
But I didn't and I know I'm a schmuck, don't you doubt it
The only thing I did was write this stupid song about it
If I was Leonard Cohen or some other song writing master
I'd know to first get the oral sex and then write the song after
You can practice writing songs about romance every day
But if you haven't loved then you'll have nothing to say
We could have given each other head on Leonard's same unmade bed
But I was too shy to suggest it and so instead
When the three of them stopped to look through a pub window
I said good night, though I hadn't quite meant to
And waved as we walked though I wouldn't forget her
Especially since she mysteriously said, "See you later"
♪
So now every time I'm walking, I hope that we'll meet
And on purpose, I always go up 23rd street
Where the sign glowing red says The Chelsea Hotel
Where Nancy and Sid Vicious and my friend Dave once dwelled
Life doesn't work out the way it does in old songs
That's why we sing new ones to say what really goes on
Though if I could her again and we pick up right where it ended
Maybe I'd play her this song and maybe she wouldn't get too offended
Now listen here and I'll tell you why
There's more to this situation than meets the eye
You may think it's sad, you may think it's pathetic
That I sing this song and that she'll never know it
But think a minute about what that means
And you'll realise it's actually a wonderful thing
That all around the world, there may be folks singing tunes
For the love of other folks that they barely knew
And it puts a smile on my face, yes, it do
And let me tell you, you ought to be smiling too
Because the next time you're feeling kinda lonesome and blue
Just think that someone somewhere might be singing about you
So who knows if I'll ever see her again?
Maybe we'll see
This whole time, she could have been singing about me
Probably not but it could be