Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s; he did not launch a music career until 1967, at the age of 33. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by three more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974). His 1977 record Death of a Ladies' Man, co-written and produced by Phil Spector, was a move away from Cohen's previous minimalist sound. In 1979, Cohen returned with the more traditional Recent Songs, which blended his acoustic style with jazz, Oriental, and Mediterranean influences. Perhaps Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was first released on his studio album Various Positions in 1984. I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions and remains his most popular album. In 1992, Cohen released its follow-up, The Future, which had dark lyrics and references to political and social unrest.
Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs, which was a major hit in Canada and Europe. His 11th album, Dear Heather, followed in 2004. Following a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2013, Cohen released three albums in the final four years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014) and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks before his death.
Leonard Cohen was born into a middle-class Jewish family in Westmount, Quebec, on September 21, 1934. His Lithuanian mother, Marsha Klonitsky ("Masha"; 1905–1978), was the daughter of a Talmudic writer, Rabbi Solomon Klonitsky-Kline, and emigrated to Canada in 1927. His paternal grandfather, whose family had moved from Poland to Canada, was Lyon Cohen, the founding president of the Canadian Jewish Congress. His father, Nathan Bernard Cohen (1891–1943), who owned a substantial clothing store, died when Cohen was nine years old. The family observed Orthodox Judaism, and belonged to Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, to which Cohen retained connections for the rest of his life. On the topic of being a Kohen, Cohen told Richard Goldstein in 1967, "I had a very Messianic childhood. I was told I was a descendant of Aaron, the high priest."
Cohen attended Roslyn Elementary School and completed grades seven through nine at Herzliah High School, where his literary mentor Irving Layton taught, then transferred in 1948 to Westmount High School, where he studied music and poetry. He became especially interested in the poetry of Federico García Lorca. Cohen involved himself actively beyond Westmount's curriculum, in photography, on the yearbook staff, as a cheerleader, in the arts and current events clubs, and even served in the position of president of the Students' Council while "heavily involved in the school's theater program". During that time, Cohen taught himself to play the acoustic guitar, and formed a country–folk group that he called the Buckskin Boys. After a young Spanish guitar player taught him "a few chords and some flamenco", Cohen switched to a classical guitar. He has attributed his love of music to his mother, who sang songs around the house: "I know that those changes, those melodies, touched me very much. She would sing with us when I took my guitar to a restaurant with some friends; my mother would come, and we'd often sing all night.
Cohen frequented Saint Laurent Boulevard for fun and ate at such places as the Main Deli Steak House. According to journalist David Sax, Cohen and one of his cousins would go to the Main Deli to "watch the gangsters, pimps, and wrestlers dance around the night". Cohen enjoyed the formerly raucous bars of Old Montreal as well as Saint Joseph's Oratory, which had the restaurant nearest to Westmount, for him and his friend Mort Rosengarten to share coffee and cigarettes. When Cohen left Westmount, he purchased a place on Saint-Laurent Boulevard, in the previously working-class neighbourhood of Little Portugal. He would read his poetry at assorted nearby clubs. In that period and that place, Cohen wrote the lyrics to some of his most famous songs.
A Thousand Kisses Deep
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The odds are there to beat
You win a while and then it's done
Your little winning streak
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat
You live your life as if it's real
A thousand kisses deep
I'm turning tricks, I'm getting fixed
I'm back on boogie street
You lose your grip and then you slip
Into the masterpiece
And maybe I had miles to drive
And promises to keep
You ditch it all to stay alive
A thousand kisses deep
And sometimes when the night is slow
The wretched and the meek
We gather up our hearts and go
A thousand kisses deep
Confined to sex we pressed against
The limits of the sea
I saw there were no oceans left
For scavengers like me
I made it to the forward deck
I blessed our remnant fleet
And then consented to be wrecked
A thousand kisses deep
I'm turning tricks I'm getting fixed
I'm back on boogie street
I guess they won't exchange the gifts
That you were meant to keep
And quiet is the thought of you
The file on you complete
Except what we forgot to do
A thousand kisses deep
And sometimes when the night is slow
The wretched and the meek
We gather up our hearts and go
A thousand kisses deep
The ponies run, the girls are young
The odds are there to beat
You win a while and then it's done
Your little winning streak
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat
You live your life as if it's real
A thousand kisses deep
The song A Thousand Kisses Deep by Leonard Cohen is a wonderful and emotional piece that draws its listeners in, making them feel the depth of each lyric. The lyrics of this song, like most of Cohen's works, are quite deep and open to interpretation. The song essentially revolves around the fleeting nature of life and how our winning streaks can come to a fast and rather surprising end. The lyrics open with "The ponies run, the girls are young, the odds are there to beat", setting the tone of the song as one where people this world have so many dreams and aspirations to achieve.
The second verse implies the darker side of life, where people turn to drugs, sex and take on other similar habits to escape their desperate situations. However, even in such desperate conditions, they strive to survive against all odds. The third and final verse talks about the beauty of love that comes in such difficult times. The singer gathers up his heart and carries on despite the self-destructive nature of his life.
Overall, the song is a reflection on the finer things of life that we overlook and forget to cherish. It tells the story of life’s difficulties, our own faults, and the need to love people despite their flaws.
Line by Line Meaning
The ponies run, the girls are young
Youth is fleeting and time passes quickly, like the racehorses and young women.
The odds are there to beat
Life is full of challenges and obstacles, but we strive to overcome them.
You win a while and then it's done
Victory is temporary and often followed by disappointment and failure.
Your little winning streak
Success is fleeting and insignificant in the grand scheme of things.
And summoned now to deal
The inevitable defeat and struggles that come in every person's life.
With your invincible defeat
The realization that no one can escape death and that we are all vulnerable.
You live your life as if it's real
We often deceive ourselves into thinking we have control over our lives and destiny.
A thousand kisses deep
Metaphorically exploring the depths of love and what it means to really live.
I'm turning tricks, I'm getting fixed
Engaging in self-destructive behaviors, such as drugs or prostitution, to cope with life's challenges.
I'm back on boogie street
Returning to old habits and negative patterns of behavior.
You lose your grip and then you slip
Succumbing to negative influences, such as addiction or depression, and losing control.
Into the masterpiece
Descending into chaos and self-destruction.
And maybe I had miles to drive
Perhaps there were goals or ambitions left to achieve.
And promises to keep
Obligations and responsibilities that were left unfulfilled.
You ditch it all to stay alive
Giving up on dreams and plans in order to survive in the moment.
And sometimes when the night is slow
Reflecting on life and contemplating its meaning during quiet times.
The wretched and the meek
Finding solace and understanding from those who struggle or are less fortunate.
We gather up our hearts and go
Finding purpose and direction by connecting with others and sharing our struggles.
Confined to sex we pressed against
Searching for meaning and connection through physical intimacy.
The limits of the sea
The vastness and incomprehensibly of the world and our place in it.
I saw there were no oceans left
The realization that we have depleted or destroyed many of the world's natural resources.
For scavengers like me
Feeling like one is left to scrape for survival in a depleted and broken world.
I made it to the forward deck
Pressing on and making progress despite the challenges and obstacles.
I blessed our remnant fleet
Finding hope and positivity in the face of adversity.
And then consented to be wrecked
Accepting the inevitable fate of our lives and the destruction that comes with it.
I guess they won't exchange the gifts
People often cannot reciprocate or appreciate the kindness and gifts given to them.
That you were meant to keep
Forgetting or neglecting things in life that are truly important and meaningful.
And quiet is the thought of you
Reflecting on the past and memories of loved ones who have passed on.
The file on you complete
Coming to terms with the reality of death and acknowledging one's own mortality.
Except what we forgot to do
Regretting missed opportunities or things that were left unfinished or unsaid.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Sharon Robinson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Nichtkaninchen
An absolutely hypnotic song!
Below is a poetic translation:
Рулетки круг. Тела подруг.
И манит жизнь вперёд.
Тебе везло. Но как-то вдруг
Побед исчерпан счёт.
И вот идёт ко дну
Всё то, что ты считал своим.
И ты живёшь – как наяву,
На глубине любви.
Смываю грим. Ломаю ритм.
Я вновь на Буги Стрит.
Один лишь взгляд – и путь назад
Отрезан и забыт.
Наверно, ты берёг мечты
И ценности свои,
Но всё отдашь за тот мираж
На глубине любви.
Когда летит беззвучно ночь,
Мы, кротки и грустны,
Вновь молим небо нам помочь
Достичь той глубины.
Лишь наших тел нам дан в удел
Язык, лишённый слов.
Таким, как я, тесны моря,
Но я рискнуть готов.
Остаток флота двинув в путь,
Его благословив,
Теперь готов я затонуть
На глубину любви.
Ломаю ритм. Смываю грим.
Я вновь на Буги Стрит.
Но всё, что мы в душе храним,
Лишь нам принадлежит.
Спокойны мысли о тебе,
И все слова ушли.
Но нет забвенья – там, на дне,
На глубине любви.
Когда летит беззвучно ночь,
Мы, кротки и грустны,
Вновь молим небо нам помочь
Достичь той глубины.
Рулетки круг. Тела подруг.
И манит жизнь вперёд.
Тебе везло. Но как-то вдруг
Побед исчерпан счёт.
И вот идёт ко дну
Всё то, что ты считал своим.
И ты живёшь – как наяву,
На глубине любви.
(http://schatrow.narod.ru/a_thousand_kisses_deep_perevod.html)
@Thekurtadamburn
The ponies run, the girls are young
The odds are there to beat
You win a while and then it's done
Your little winning streak
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat
You live your life as if it's real
A thousand kisses deep
I'm turning tricks, I'm getting fixed
I'm back on boogie street
You lose your grip and then you slip
Into the masterpiece
And maybe I had miles to drive
And promises to keep
You ditch it all to stay alive
A thousand kisses deep
And sometimes when the night is slow
The wretched and the meek
We gather up our hearts and go
A thousand kisses deep
Confined to sex we pressed against
The limits of the sea
I saw there were no oceans left
For scavengers like me
I made it to the forward deck
I blessed our remnant fleet
And then consented to be wrecked
A thousand kisses deep
I'm turning tricks I'm getting fixed
I'm back on boogie street
I guess they won't exchange the gifts
That you were meant to keep
And quiet is the thought of you
The file on you complete
Except what we forgot to do
A thousand kisses deep
And sometimes when the night is slow
The wretched and the meek
We gather up our hearts and go
A thousand kisses deep
The ponies run, the girls are young
The odds are there to beat
You win a while and then it's done
Your little winning streak
And summoned now to deal
With your invincible defeat
You live your life as if it's real
A thousand kisses deep
@farimahkashkooli8218
I remember 20 years ago the one who I loved shared this song with me ….. soon after he tragically passed away. In these years every time I listen to this song it just like it takes me above and away of all barriers…… he will always remain my soulmate and pure love.
@user-ry3dh1oz7x
😢
@sarahevans1580
I'm so sorry to hear ❤
@user-nw4nz7il4z
I am sorry
@user-st6hp8mu3i
Любовь делают нас лучше. Пусть Господь поможет перенести утрату, найти своё счастье❤
@assmane999
I’m glad you have a way to remember them so fondly
@galinasp5068
Он не поет, Он обвалакивает каким то необьяснимым дурманом любви, Он единственный так подает нам свое сердце
@deedee7733
A beautiful song about the loss of youth. As an older woman, I can identify with the sentiments of the song as much as male listeners. It's a shame that older men and women chase beautiful younger people rather than each other. There's nothing so sad as lonely old men and women who miss each other.
@user-de3sx4kw1z
Пернвнсти
@johndinaro4001
Words can't explain Leonard Cohen's voice and poetry. RIP