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.
First Take Manhattan
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For trying to change the system from within
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I'm guided by a signal in the heavens (guided, guided)
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin (guided, guided by)
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons (guided)
(I'd really like to live beside you, baby)
(I love your body and your spirit and your clothes)
(But you see that line there moving through the station?)
(I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those)
Ah, you loved me as a loser
But now you're worried that I just might win
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
I don't like your fashion business, mister
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I don't like what happened to my sister
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
(I'd really like to live beside you, baby)
(I love your body and your spirit and your clothes)
(But you see that line there moving through the station?)
(I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those)
And I thank you for those items that you sent me, ha ha ha
The monkey and the plywood violin
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin (I am guided)
Ah remember me, I used to live for music (baby)
Remember me, I brought your groceries in (ooh, baby, yeah)
Well, it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded (baby)
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
The lyrics to Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan, Then We Take Berlin" are full of political and societal commentary. The song opens with the singer being sentenced to "twenty years of boredom" for trying to change the system from within. This line suggests the frustration and sense of hopelessness that one can feel when trying to initiate change through traditional methods. The singer then claims to be guided by a signal in the heavens and a birthmark on their skin, as well as the beauty of their weapons. This line is a powerful commentary on the power of ideology and how it can drive people to do incredible things, both good and bad.
The song takes a turn when the singer addresses their lover, telling them that they would like to live beside them but are committed to their mission to take Manhattan and then Berlin. The singer credits the lover with loving them as a loser but being worried that they just might win. This line suggests that the singer is not afraid to take risks and potentially fail, knowing that their lover will be there to support them nonetheless. The song ends with the singer reminiscing about simpler times, when they used to live for music and bring groceries in.
Line by Line Meaning
They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
My efforts to change the system from within were punished with imprisonment and monotony
For trying to change the system from within
The authorities punished me for attempting to instill change from within the system
I'm coming now, I'm coming to reward them
I am now ready to enact revenge upon those who wronged me
First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin
Our plan involves taking over cities, starting with Manhattan and then moving on to Berlin
I'm guided by a signal in the heavens
I am directed by a mysterious force from above
I'm guided by this birthmark on my skin
This mark on my body serves as a guiding beacon
I'm guided by the beauty of our weapons
The exquisite design and power of our weapons provide inspiration for our mission
I'd really like to live beside you, baby
I desire a life alongside you, my beloved
I love your body and your spirit and your clothes
I appreciate all aspects of your being, both physical and emotional
But you see that line there moving through the station?
Do you notice the dividing line between us that exists despite our love?
I told you, I told you, told you, I was one of those
I warned you that I was the type of person who would pursue my dreams at all costs
Ah you loved me as a loser, but now you're worried that I just might win
You were content to love me despite my failures, but now you fear my potential success
You know the way to stop me, but you don't have the discipline
You are aware of how to prevent me from achieving my goals, but you lack the willpower to do so
How many nights I prayed for this, to let my work begin
I have spent many sleepless nights praying for the opportunity to start my mission
I don't like your fashion business mister
I disapprove of your fashion industry, sir
And I don't like these drugs that keep you thin
I have disdain for the substances used to maintain your weight
I don't like what happened to my sister
I am displeased with the fate that befell my sister
And I thank you for those items that you sent me
I appreciate the gifts that you have given me
The monkey and the plywood violin
I am grateful for the monkey and the violin made of plywood
I practiced every night, now I'm ready
I have diligently rehearsed and feel prepared for the task at hand
Ah remember me, I used to live for music
Recall that music was once my passion and my life's purpose
Remember me, I brought your groceries in
Recall that I previously helped you by delivering your groceries
Well it's Father's Day and everybody's wounded
Today is Father's Day, yet everyone seems to be hurting in some way
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itarochelitkis5655
My heart is always under its own weather…
Despite the shining sun, the trees in gold
This sad November day has just grown sadder
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
Your songs were wrought by love, and pain, and caring,
Your spirit’s journey was complex and bold.
Your faith with you I was so proud of sharing
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
Hashem decides the way our lives are meted.
Just eighty-two – these days it’s not that old –
You went in peace, your earthly tasks completed
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
Of my homage to you I am the proudest.
Your deep, dark voice spoke to my troubled soul –
Of all those singing now, it spoke the loudest
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
Though over men like you death has no power
For you will live till all our hearts run cold,
My mind is bleeding verse in this dark hour
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
May your eternal soul ascend to heaven
And sing your solemn songs straight to our Lord.
The wealth you earned, the only kind worth having –
First you took Manhattan,
then you took the world
In loving memory
of Leonard (Eliezer ben Nathan) Cohen
November 11, 2016
@marisillyria5176
“You know how to stop me, but you don’t have the discipline” is just wild! 🤯
@RickTheClipper
The US know how to stop Russian aggression, but hey don't have the discipline
@marisillyria5176
@@jameshutchins3798 that’s an interesting view. I see it more of the devil speaking to man through his music like he has in so many other songs (we know the music industry is riddled with demonic messages and rituals) telling us you know how to stop me, but you lack the discipline. It really is a mind blowing line
@kentdaniel6470
Music is best weapon. Shalom
@VeilQuest
Weapon is right. Thanks for what you've done to rap music. It's really helped make black communities happy healthy and prosperous
@Reichstaubenminister
@@VeilQuest I tip my kippah to that!
@argonthesad
The milk and honey is gone
@winstonwolf5706
The best weapon is sexual subversion.
@runit2836
Yo it’s the federal reserve anthem💰
@user-sk1kw8ii9r
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