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.
Coming back to yo
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't turn the other cheek
But you know that I still love you
It's just that I can't speak
I looked for you in everyone
And they called me on that too
I lived alone but I was only
Coming back to you
Ah they're shutting down the factory now
Just when all the bills are due
And the fields they're under lock and key
Tho' the rain and the sun come through
And springtime starts but then it stops
In the name of something new
And all the senses rise against this
Coming back to you
And they're handing down my sentence now
And I know what I must do
Another mile of silence while I'm
Coming back to you
There are many in your life
And many still to be
Since you are a shining light
There's many that you'll see
But I have to deal with envy
When you choose the precious few
Who've left their pride on the other side of
Coming back to you
Even in your arms I know
I'll never get it right
Even when you bend to give me
Comfort in the night
I've got to have your word on this
Or none of it is true
And all I've said was just instead of
Coming back to you
Leonard Cohen's song "Coming back to you" touches deep on the themes of lost love, heartbreak, and the longing for reunion. The opening lines of the song reveal the singer's hurt and inability to forgive their lover, despite still loving them. They share that they looked for their lover in everyone else, but to no avail. The singer hovers between being consumed by love and poison by envy as they confess their feelings. They sing about missed opportunities and the general inclination of some to never fully commit in relationships. They also mention the difficulties faced when meeting someone after years of separation.
The singer talks about the factory shutting down and the fields being locked and under control, which could represent aspects of their life failing while they are in despair. The song indicates that hope springs eternal, but so does doubt, and every season seems to end right before the new one can fully take hold. The rising against the singer coming back to their lover creates an underlying tone of tension that culminates in the sentence they receive later in the song. Throughout the song, there is a promise to remain silent even when the pain from their personal struggles makes finding peace within their shattered world feel impossible. Still, in the end, they believe that coming back to their lover is something they must do.
Line by Line Meaning
Maybe I'm still hurting
There could be a possibility that I am still pained by something that happened before.
I can't turn the other cheek
I'm unable to ignore or forgive what happened and move on from it quickly.
But you know that I still love you
Despite my pain and inability to move on easily, I still care deeply for you.
It's just that I can't speak
However, I have trouble expressing my feelings to you.
I looked for you in everyone
I searched for someone similar to you among other people I know.
And they called me on that too
However, others noticed my search and called me out on it.
I lived alone but I was only
Even though I lived by myself, I was never really alone because I was always longing for your presence.
Coming back to you
I was always considering returning to you, no matter what.
Ah they're shutting down the factory now
The factory I worked at is closing down permanently.
Just when all the bills are due
This closure is happening at a time when I am struggling financially and have many bills to pay.
And the fields they're under lock and key
Furthermore, the fields that I've been using for work or agriculture are now under lock and key and not available for use.
Tho' the rain and the sun come through
Despite this setback, both sunny and rainy days still come as usual.
And springtime starts but then it stops
Even though the season of spring begins with all its glory, it fades away quickly instead of lasting long.
In the name of something new
This cycle of new beginnings and quick endings happen because of the pursuit of something new and change for the sake of change.
And all the senses rise against this
The cycle contradicts what my senses and intuition tell me, and thus, it's hard to accept it.
Coming back to you
Still, I feel the urge to return to you and put an end to this cycle.
And they're handing down my sentence now
Now, I am being judged or sentenced by others in some way.
And I know what I must do
I know precisely what is expected of me and what I should do in response.
Another mile of silence while I'm
In any case, reaching the end of my sentence would still require long stretches of silence and patience.
Coming back to you
And, during this long wait, I will keep reminding myself that I am only preparing myself better to return to you.
There are many in your life
I know that, besides myself, there are many people in your life.
And many still to be
And that there will likely be even more people in your life in the future.
Since you are a shining light
After all, you are a prominent figure worth noticing and being around for many people.
There's many that you'll see
Thus, you'll cross paths with many people who will want to be in your presence.
But I have to deal with envy
But for me, dealing with feelings of envy towards those people can be quite challenging.
When you choose the precious few
When, out of all the people you could have in your life, you opt to keep only a select few close to you.
Who've left their pride on the other side of
And most importantly, among this select few, are people who treat you with respect and love and have sacrificed their pride for you.
Coming back to you
It's moments like these that remind me of my desire to come back to you.
Even in your arms I know
Even though I would be in your embrace,
I'll never get it right
I feel like I will never be able to give you the exact love or care you deserve.
Even when you bend to give me
Even if you go out of your way to offer me
Comfort in the night
Emotional support during the night.
I've got to have your word on this
I need confirmation from you that you are committed to me.
Or none of it is true
Otherwise, I might doubt that our relationship is genuine and authentic.
And all I've said was just instead of
Thus, everything that I've said up to this point in the song should instead be understood as a way of expressing my intention of returning to you.
Coming back to you
My commitment to returning to you is the central theme and purpose of this song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stjop2798
Maybe I'm still hurting
I can't turn the other cheek
But you know that I still love you
It's just that I can't speak
I looked for you in everyone
And they called me on that too
I lived alone but I was only
Coming back to you
Ah they're shutting down the factory now
Just when all the bills are due
And the fields they're under lock and key
Tho' the rain and the sun come through
And springtime starts but then it stops
In the name of something new
And all the senses rise against this
Coming back to you
And they're handing down my sentence now
And I know what I must do
Another mile of silence while I'm
Coming back to you
There are many in your life
And many still to be
Since you are a shining light
There's many that you'll see
But I have to deal with envy
When you choose the precious few
Who've left their pride on the other side of
Coming back to you
Even in your arms I know
I'll never get it right
Even when you bend to give me
Comfort in the night
I've got to have your word on this
Or none of it is true
And all I've said was just instead of
Coming back to you
@aviralkumar1393
Coming Back to You Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Maybe I'm still hurting, I can't turn the other cheek
But you know I still love you, it's just that I can't speak
I looked for you in everyone and they called me on that too
I lived alone but I was only coming back to you
[Verse 2]
They're shutting down the factory now, just when all the bills are due
And the fields, they're under lock and key though the rain and the sun come through
And springtime starts but then it stops in the name of something new
And all the senses rise against this coming back to you
[Bridge]
And they're handing down my sentence now
And I know what I must do
Another mile of silence while I'm coming back to you
[Verse 3]
There are many in your life and many still to be
Since you are a shining light, there's many that you'll see
But I have to deal with envy when you choose the precious few
Who've left their pride on the other side of coming back to you
[Verse 4]
Even in your arms, I know I'll never get it right
Even when you bend to give me comfort in the night
I've got to have your word on this or none of it is true
And all I've said was just instead of coming back to you
@dwaynewladyka577
It's so good to hear this great music from Leonard Cohen. May he rest in peace. Cheers! ✌️🇨🇦
@hemil
I was seventeen when this record was released... Oh my God, now I am 52!! It's been a good travel with you Mr Cohen
@paquimoyalopez6167
Una hermosa voz aunque no entiendo el inglés pero escuchar a Leonard Cohen es muy gratificante y agradable para mí ❤️❤️😊
@zoritzar.2840
I never turn the other cheek. I just turn my back and "Coming back to You", to Your refined notes, sophisticated words and Your voice that gives refuge to the soul. ❤️🌹
@limelight1397
These lyrics are awesome comforting. They are a wave of love. 💞
@brianbrino4310
Your songs were so good and meaningful Leonard that they really feel immortal every time I listen to you!
Simply excellent and thank you for sharing!
@doloresdrew7570
Like all his music, so much of him from his heart and soul..
RIP. I know so many in heaven that loves your voice. Please sign to all of them. 🙏
@Annie-ZA
LOVE IT! 😍🥰
@catherinetobin5757
Thanks Leonard I can listen to you forever ❤
@empsmith
Definitely my favourite artist. For most I love a song or two or maybe even a few albums, but only with Leonard do I love their stuff from start to finish. (With the exception of Death of a Ladies man. Great songs, terrible production)