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.
Did I Ever Love You
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Or are we still leaning
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees whither
Was I ever someone
Who could love you forever
Did I ever love you
Does it really matter
Did I ever fight you
You don't need to answer
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
And are we still leaning
Across the old table
In this song, Leonard Cohen is reflecting on a past relationship and questioning the depth of his love for the other person. He asks himself if he ever truly loved or needed them, if he ever fought with them or desired them. He also questions if the relationship was ever resolved or if they are still stuck in the same place they were before. He wonders if he was ever capable of being in a committed relationship and loving someone forever. Ultimately, he asks if it even matters whether he loved them or not, and whether they still think about each other as they once did.
The imagery in the lyrics is poignant, with the mention of the lemon trees blossoming and the almond trees withering representing the transience of life and love. Cohen's introspective questions show his vulnerability and uncertainty about his own emotions and commitment to the relationship. The repetition of the question "did I ever" creates a sense of doubt and self-reflection, as if he is trying to come to terms with his own feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
Did I ever love you
Did I feel true love for you?
Did I ever need you
Were you essential to my existence?
Did I ever fight you
Did we ever argue or clash?
Did I ever want to
Did I ever desire to have an altercation with you?
Did I ever leave you
Did I abandon or forsake you?
Was I ever able
Did I have the capability of leaving?
Or are we still leaning
Or are we still relying on each other?
Across the old table
As we always have, face to face.
Was it ever settled
Was it ever resolved between us?
Was it ever over
Did it truly end?
And is it still raining
And is there still sadness and regret?
Back in November
From that time when it started to fall apart.
The lemon trees blossom
The signs of life continue.
The almond trees whither
But there are also signs of death and decay.
Was I ever someone
Did I ever possess qualities of a devoted lover?
Who could love you forever
Could I ever love you unconditionally and for eternity?
Does it really matter
Are these questions even relevant now?
You don't need to answer
You don't have to justify anything to me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
David Green
From his Book of Mercy:
Not knowing where to go,
I go to you.Not knowing where to turn,
I turn to you.Not knowing what to hold,
I bind myself to you.
Having lost my way,
I make my way to you.Having soiled my heart,
I lift my heart to you.Having wasted my days,
I bring the heap to you.Blocked by every thought,
I fly on the wisp of remembrance.Defeated by silence,
here is a place where the silence is more subtle.And here is the opening in defeat.
And here is the clasp of the will.And here is the fear of you.
And here is the fastening of mercy.Blessed are you,
in this man’s moment.
axinos55
"Did I Ever Love You" by Leonard Cohen
Did I ever love you
Did I ever need you
Did I ever fight you
Did I ever want to
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
Did I ever love you...
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees wither
Was I ever someone
Who could love you forever
Was it ever settled
Was it ever over
And is it still raining
Back in November
The lemon trees blossom
The almond trees wither
It's Spring and it's Summer
And it's Winter forever
Did I ever love you
Does it really matter
Did I ever fight you
You don't need to answer
Did I ever leave you
Was I ever able
Are we still leaning
Across the old table
Did I ever love you...
Leonard is living in our hearts forever
Zaira Islam
I'm 20,and I fell in love with his songs. He's so amazing so different than today's songs
A. K.
@Zaira Islam when you are 20 everything feels hard and complicated.this is as normal as it gets.later on with age and experience comes wisdom and you see how realy simple life is...
Nathan Parsons
He will keep you company for the rest of your life
Zaira Islam
@greenhornet1955 thank you so much for your words.
I hope you are also living a happy life.
And as for me, i am trying, still trying, and i Don't know why i find everything so difficult and im also afraid to face the reality. You Know, in the time we are living, it's not possible to share the fear feel with Anyone.
greenhornet1955
I first heard Leonard Cohen when I was 22. Bird on a wire. 44 years later I still love his music. Sadly he has passed on and all we have is his music and poetry. No more can I see him live in concert. Through his words , my life has been enriched.
I hope that your life just keeps getting better. At 20 you have so much potential, so many life experiences ahead of you.
May you find peace and happiness in your life.
Gábor Birta
@Zaira Islam You too, lovely! 😊
Matthew Bailey
I've been listening to Leonard for two days, almost non-stop...but I can't finish this song. His voice just tears me up all over again.
This is a wound that will never heal.
Alex
@Peter Toepfer It's funny you answer this now, this past month I have been listening to Leonard's "The Traitor". Leonard has something special that just keeps him together with me, glad we can somehow share his gift to us!
Peter Toepfer
@Alex I'm not Matthew but I can tell you, me, I am still listening to this song, again and again... For years now...
Richard Boisrond
,
.