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.
Anthem
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Yeah the wars they will
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me
(Ring, ring, ring, ring)
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
You won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart to love will come
But like a refugee
(Ring, ring, ring, ring)
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring (ring the bells that still can ring)
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
The lyrics of Leonard Cohen's "Anthem" are a message of hope, optimism and resilience. The opening lines refer to the birds singing at the break of day, urging us to start anew and leave behind what has passed. The refrain "ring the bells that still can ring" is a call to action, a reminder that even amidst chaos and imperfection, there is still beauty to be found and goodness to be done. The phrase "forget your perfect offering," is an acknowledgement that human beings are flawed and that there is no need to put on airs of perfection; true meaning and lasting joy will be found in our connections to others and in our shared experience of the world.
The second verse speaks to the disillusionment that many feel with authority and those in power. Cohen speaks of "killers in high places" and how they "say their prayers out loud." He laments the betrayal of justice and the loss of faith in institutions. But, in the face of these obstacles, he urges us to summon our own strength and to take action; the image of the thundercloud suggests that change is on the horizon.
Finally, the song concludes with a reminder that we are all in this together, and that every heart will come to love. The phrase "like a refugee" suggests that we are all searching for a sense of belonging and meaning, that we are all seeking refuge from the trials of life. But even amidst the turmoil, there is light to be found; there is hope, there is beauty, and there is a way forward.
Line by Line Meaning
The birds they sang
The start of a new morning brings the sounds of the birds singing, symbolizing new beginnings.
At the break of day
The start of the day, when the sun is rising.
Start again
A call for a fresh start and a new beginning.
I heard them say
An acknowledgement that the birds, as with nature, can speak to us in a way that is felt but not literal.
Don't dwell on what
A warning not to become stuck in the past, to move on from what has gone before.
Has passed away
A reference to the inevitability of change and death.
Or what is yet to be
Encouragement to look forward to what lies ahead rather than living in fear of it.
Yeah the wars they will
The inevitability of conflict, both individually and on a global scale.
Be fought again
A warning that even though we may believe wars to be over, they may arise again in the future.
The holy dove
A symbol of peace and purity.
She will be caught again
Despite our hopes for peace, conflict and the desire for power will continually reignite.
Bought and sold
The idea that peace is something that can be sold or traded for other benefits.
And bought again
A realization that peace is often fleeting and can be bought and sold many times over.
The dove is never free
The sad truth that peace will always be subject to outside forces.
Ring the bells (ring the bells) that still can ring
A call to action, to not let our troubles defeat us and to keep pushing forward.
Forget your perfect offering
An encouragement to let go of our unrealistic expectations and let life happen as it will.
There is a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
Everything has flaws, and we should learn to embrace them and find beauty in them.
That's how the light gets in
Our imperfections are the very things that allow us to grow and see beauty in the world.
We asked for signs
Humans often look to outside sources for guidance in the search for meaning.
The signs were sent
There are signs that are communicated to us in various ways, if we are open to receiving them.
The birth betrayed
A reference to the idea of innocence being lost, where hopes and dreams are dashed by reality.
The marriage spent
A metaphor for a lost connection or relationship, where love has dwindled or ended.
Yeah the widowhood
The feeling of loss when the things we have cherished are taken from us.
Of every government
The corruption and failure of those who we rely upon to govern our societies.
Signs for all to see
A realization that the world is full of signs, but it is up to the individual to interpret them in a meaningful way.
I can't run no more
A sense of exhaustion from trying to escape from the reality of the world.
With that lawless crowd
The realization that we are not always surrounded by virtuous people and may be stuck in situations with people who act immorally.
While the killers in high places
A reference to those in power who use their influence for corrupt purposes, even if it leads to the deaths of many.
Say their prayers out loud
Those who claim to be holy or pious may be hypocritical or insincere.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A declaration that there is a call to action for what is right and just, even if that means taking on those in power.
A thundercloud
The coming storm, or conflict, that is brewing.
And they're going to hear from me
A refusal to back down from what one believes in and taking a stand for what is right.
You can add up the parts
An acknowledgement that small parts of a larger whole can be accounted for, but the whole is more than just the sum of those parts.
You won't have the sum
Even with every piece of information we have, there are still unquantifiable things that make up the world.
You can strike up the march
A call to action, to march forward courageously.
There is no drum
The idea that we are not always guided by a clear purpose or direction, and do not always have a 'beat' to march to.
Every heart, every heart to love will come
The hope and belief that love is a fundamental part of the human experience, and there is someone out there for everyone.
But like a refugee
The journey to finding love is not always easy or straightforward, and we may feel lost or alone in search of it.
Ring the bells that still can ring
A call to action, to not let obstacles defeat us and to keep pushing forward.
Forget your perfect offering
An encouragement to let go of our unrealistic expectations and accept that we are all imperfect and flawed.
There is a crack, a crack in everything (there is a crack in everything)
Everything has imperfections and flaws that make it unique and beautiful.
That's how the light gets in
Our vulnerabilities and flaws are the parts of us that allow growth and understanding.
That's how the light gets in
A repetition that emphasizes the importance and significance of the idea presented in the previous line.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Juan Camacho
The birds they sang
At the break of day
"Start again"
I seem to hear them say
Do not dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
🎵🎶🎵🎶
We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah, and the widowhood
Of every single government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
They're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
🎵🎶🎵🎶
You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
Patagualian Mostly
This man... This man....I cannot describe.... he made me:
He is all I ever will be.
He shaped my opinions on every subject under the sun.
About everything. Love...money...respect... life.....
I owe him everything I hold dear to my heart.
He owns me.
My wife will never know where I get my values from.
This man cemented my beliefs & fears....Made me whole.
Thankyou.
Leonard Cohen. One of the greatest human beings. Ever.
雄飛Yuhi
The birds, they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
Has passed away
Or what is yet to be
Ah, the wars
They will be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
Bought and sold
And bought again
The dove is never free
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
We asked for signs
The signs were sent:
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
Of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
A thundercloud
And they're going to hear from me
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
But you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march
There is no drum
Every heart, every heart
To love will come
But like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
That's how the light gets in
Deb Picard
The older I get, the more deeply I understand his songs. No longer from my intellect, but from my experience. It's a much more profound experience listening now compared to my younger years. So moving. Thank you, Leonard.
Mary Bailey
Amen my sister.
Looqi Schmidt
I feel the same; truly much of his lyrics are so deep, sometimes I can only understand them and treasure them genuinely, by listen to my heart and experiences. Anyways love this epic piece of music and outstanding lyrics.
Marianne Bru
I love his words, his voice, his music - since the first time I listened 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶✨✨✨✨
Graham A
Life affirming. Thank you Maestro. X
Franklim Oliveira
Sublime hino a liberdade das criaturas . hallelujah.
Merlin
As Cohen introduces each member of his ensemble with such respect, you can see in the face of each what they think of this man.
You are missed, Mr. Cohen.
patrickm62nov
Love this comment, you are so right, they know what a genius and lyricist is before them, well said!
Gloria Mary Haywood
@patrickm62nov And even more than that, they know and appreciate the beautiful soul and spirit of Mr. Leonard Cohen.💖
Beatrice Caracciolo
Yes, they look as if they are at the height of happiness and emotion. I'm crying.