Jennifer Warnes-Song Of Bernadette 

I played this song, her version from Famous Blue Raincoat, to my mother in her final days. She had already gone deep inside of herself. My brother and I locked eyes and I felt that this was the song I would always remember as I thought of her transitioning. We forgave her and forgave ourselves for what we, and she, could not undo. I love you, Mom.

One of the most moving performances of any song by any singer that I have experienced in my lifetime. If you can believe it, her performance of "Song Of Bernadette" on the album "Famous Blue Raincoat" is even more beautiful and moving. Whenever I play this track, I have to hear it at least 5 or 6 times at a sitting. Jennifer Warnes, thank you for this song.

At first when I was watching this show ,I thought she was lipping it .Then when she said , we mostly fall, I was so impressed on how relaxed she was , when she was singing this song.

I was there for this. Van Dyke Parks accompanied her on piano and director Kent Weed's moving crane shot is so extraordinary. You'll notice there are no edits after one brief dissolve in the first few seconds. After that, the camera very subtly complements her performance with such graceful movement.

Famous Blue Raincoat is a masterpiece- a collection of songs by singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen. Jennifer Warnes was a backup singer early in her career for him, as well as was Laura Branigan. Leonard certainly knew how to pick them didn't he?

Perfection. Ms Warnes voice is honest, authentic. Her version of Bernadette usually makes me weap with an emotion that I cannot explain.

I'm not a fan of Jennifer, I have her Famous Blue Raincoat collection of songs, but it occurs to me what a beautiful voice she has. Not a note is sung without her conscious participation. This Song of Bernadette is a perfect example of this. In others hands it can be quite maudlin and precious to the point of syrupy sweet. Believe me I listened tonight to many versions by many famous singers and not one sang it with Jennifer's panache. Now I understand why the all want to sing the song! The melody and the vocal range is just so comfortable and beautiful that it is hard to resist, but it is a tricky choice. Jennifer's rendition draws yoo past the pitfalls I mentioned and into the simple narrative of the song and then into it's universal sentiments. Why she is not more widely acknowledged for the fine songstress she is completely baffles me.

Gets me every time - "So many hearts I find, broke like yours and mine Torn by what we've done and can't undo"

Jennifer Warnes has one of the best female voices I've ever heard. I'm not a religious person, but this song moves me to tears.

So much heart. So much healing. I sang this at the end of a contemplative prayer retreat west of Seattle last fall. It sums up so much of what we carry with us and can unload with grace.

Jennifer Warnes awesome singer 😊

I wore out my “Blue Raincoat” record from playing it about a hundred times or more. This woman has the voice of an angel. And, as a Catholic, this song means even more to me. Can’t say enough good things about this woman, her voice, and this unforgettable album.

A gorgeous song and Jennifer's singing of it is superb. (and interesting that Jennifer Jones played this role in 'The Song Of Bernadette' and then another Jennifer (Warnes) sings it.)

My favorite album, and this song is one of the reasons!

Thank God for this beautiful woman with a voice that only a divine source could provide. I was simply flipping through the Smothers Bros. Vids, and this melted me so much I read and researched her for a couple hours. And the sincere gratitude coupled with such humility placed my heart in such a beautiful space tonight. With a degree in vocal performance myself, I truly hope I have the pleasure of meeting you, Jennifer. Thank you for sharing your gift!❤

Jennifer Warnes is one wonderful great singer...and I'm understating the case.

it is impossible to see this performance without a stirring in my soul...tears included. When she says she really wants to hold you... I'm convinced she really means it.

We mostly fall, so true and mend the damage , YES, we do.

This song is bringing me to tears it's so beautiful. Jennifer Warnes is so talented and I just love her. ❤

My grandfather named me Bernadette, despite my mother's protestations -- as the story is told, "I don't care what you call her, her name is Bernadette." My name was supposed to be monique. My grandfather named me after the movie, "The Song of Bernadette," in 1858. I was born in 1958. I can attest and witness, my life has been filled with God's power of premonitions, visions, healing, God's love, God's miracles, God's judgment in my life.

My favourite singer, Jennifer Warren 😂😂😂 Definitely one of the greatest voices ever.

after Leonard Cohen's death today I'm reminiscing...his songs were meant to be sung by her....

A recent discovery. Whow . What a song and how it was delivered. Homage. Fantastic

"the spring is not for me"

Beautiful voice!

Just so beautiful in all ways!

What a wonderful lady, singer, writer. Love you Jennifer (Nashville Swing- Toronto).

TOO GREAT FOR WORDS ...SO I WILL SHUT UP

in 2015 i had so many problems and then i saw this video i felt tremendous vibrations telling me that the divine mother will take care of me so you were the divine messenger to me an angel you jennifer i bow humble with deep respect before your beautiful soul i hope once i will take you in my arms rosemary

Unbelievably moving

It doesn't get any better than this.

Saint Bernadette Pray for us all and in the whole world🙏🙏🙏

There is a vulnerability to Jennifer's voice that is captivating. A remarkable live performance.I always get a lump in the throat when she says, " We mostly fall..." How true that is, as we blunder through our lives sometimes.

This song - and Jennifer's interpretation - is now my favorite spiritual! I love her rendition and soulful reading of this amazing song.

She is fantastic.

This is what I waited for! The other one on RU-vid was terrible sound and picture quality. This is heaven!

One of my ABSOLUTE favorite singers! Thank you for the post.

그녀의 노래중 가장 좋아하는 곡입니다 ^^

Magnifique interprétation , bravo Jennifer , je suis certain que Bernadette a entendu cette chanson de Leonard Cohen's , merci à vous trois !

My little Bernadette you were such a brave little girl the pain you endorred for God and the universe. Love you so much! Judy

amazing song... thank you, Jennifer

Thank you! This is a much better video. i saw this in 1988 at a difficult time. It still makes me cry.

Such an amazing song and gorgeous performance -- thanks for the HQ upload...

Beautiful song Ms.Jennifer sang from Mr. L Cohen's composition...We would never hear anything like this again..The world is in a different place nowadays..Love the song and St. Bernadette.

My favorite from Famous Blue Raincoat. Thank you so much for posting this. It's beautiful

Oh thank you so much for this post. It is a treasure!

This isn't just a Leonard Cohen song. It is credited to Jennifer Warnes, Leonard Cohen and a third person, whom I can't remember right now. And what I've heard is that Jennifer Warnes wrote most of this song herself and Leonard Cohen just came in with a few tweaks at the end. Just saying.

Song of Bernadette : My favorite musicologist/social commentator Mark Steyn just wrote a 'review' only he could have written, on the 1943 movie, SONG OF BERNADETTE, opening with these arresting thoughts: 'I recently quipped that 1943's The Song of Bernadette was "the best Catholic movie ever made by two Jews." Its admirers insist you don't have to be Catholic to appreciate this ("based on a true") story of Marian visions and miraculous healings, so maybe those unexpectedly ecumenical origins explain why. 'But I'm not sure they're right. No one can watch this (or any movie) through another's eyes. The Song of Bernadette must surely be baffling and even annoying to most Jews, Protestants, and, frankly, not a few Catholics, no? The film was produced by David O. Selznick from the surprise 1941 bestseller by Prague-born Jewish writer-turned-refugee Franz Werfel, who explained his inspiration: In the last days of June 1940, in flight from our mortal enemies after the collapse of France, we reached the city of Lourdes. (...) I became acquainted with the wondrous history of the girl Bernadette Soubirous and also with the wondrous facts concerning the healings of Lourdes. One day in my great distress I made a vow. I vowed that if I escaped from this desperate situation and reached the saving shores of America, I would put off all other tasks and 'sing,' as best I could, the song of Bernadette . . ." ---- Mark brings out the writer in me and I left him this note today on Facebook: For too many reasons to list, I'm speechless in admiration of your 'review'; just had to post a related note -- about the song of the same name: Once every 12 years or so, my favorite Oscar-winning singer/songwriter Jennifer Warnes has a new album (it's nearly a decade since her last). My favorite of her songs is one that she wrote after being on a bus trip “near Lourdes with Leonard Cohen.” I can remember transcribing her words for a music site (Harmony Central) a decade ago, in praise of her (their) composition, SONG OF BERNADETTE. Since the last time I checked the Wiki entry for this song, someone has included my note -- minus an opening sentence, in which I'd quoted Jennifer as “sharing notes” she'd written in childhood about her hero (Jennifer's birth name was Bernadette) - sharing with Leonard Cohen on a “bus trip near Lourdes” and that Len said to Jenn: “There's a song there!” he suggested the opening lines: "There was a child named Bernadette I heard the story long ago . . . " The Wiki entry says: "Song of Bernadette" is a song written by Jennifer Warnes, Leonard Cohen and Bill Elliott, and first recorded on Jennifer Warnes' 1986 album Famous Blue Raincoat. The title refers to Bernadette Soubirous, a young French girl in the mid-19th century who claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary on several occasions. She was canonized by the Catholic Church and proclaimed Saint Bernadette after her death. Warnes was inspired to write the song on a bus trip near Lourdes: I was given the name Bernadette at birth. But my siblings preferred the name "Jennifer" so my name was changed one week later. In 1979, on tour in the south of France with Leonard Cohen, I began writing a series of letters between the "Bernadette" I almost was, and "Jennifer"- two energies within me. One innocent, and the other who had fallen for the world.... So the song arose in a bus nearby Lourdes. I was...thinking about the great Saint who held her ground so well, and was not swayed from what she knew to be true. But the song is also about me longing to return to a place that was more pure, honest and true. I still long for this, and I think others do too." ---- Her live performance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour still moves me to tears: the RU-vid video with more than a million “views” Best version -- this one; thanks, "Kehlog Albran ." Celebrated this day at Sinatra Family -- Forum -- sinatrafamily.com/forum/forumdisplay.php/56-Siriusly-Sinatra

Colin. . . (Beaker) i hope you find yourself here one day xx i always sang it for you and still do xx

Song of Bernadette - Jennifer Warnes (lyrics) There was a child named Bernadette I heard the story long ago She saw the Queen of Heaven once And kept the vision in her soul No one believed what she had seen No one believed what she heard But there were sorrows to be here And mercy, mercy in this world So many hearts I find, broke like yours and mine Torn by what we've done and can't undo I just wanna hold you, come on let me hold you Like Bernadette would do We've been around, we fall, we fly We mostly fall, we mostly run And every now and then we try To mend the damage that we've done Tonight, tonight I just can't rest I've got this joy inside my breast To think that I did not forget that child That song of Bernadette So many hearts I find, broke like yours and mine Torn by what we've done and can't undo I just wanna hold you, won't let me hold you Like Bernadette would do I just wanna hold you, come on let me hold you Like Bernadette would do

a heartwarming song!

Thanks a lot !

Please - this song was composed and written primarily by Jennifer. Cohen contributed the first two lines of lyrics, and Bill Elliot helped out on the melody.

💓💓💓💓👏👏👏👏

❤

👏👏👏👏👏👏💯💯💯💯💯💯

Hey Smother Brother, who's Jennifer "Warren"?