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.
Hey
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But now it's come to distances and both of us must try
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me
It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
The lyrics "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye" in Leonard Cohen's song are a poignant and emotional reflection on the ending of a relationship. The beginning of the song reminisces about the deep love and affection shared with the other person, with warm and tender kisses in the morning and soft golden hair on the pillow. Despite the knowledge that many others have loved before them, they still feel this love is unique to them.
However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the relationship is coming to an end and both people must try to deal with the distance between them. The singer is clearly heartbroken and can see the same sadness reflected in their partner's eyes. The line "Your eyes are soft with sorrow" suggests that the other person is also struggling to come to terms with the end of their relationship.
In the final verse, the singer acknowledges that their love will always be with the other person, but also recognizes that things are changing like the shoreline and the sea. The song ends with a plea not to talk about love or chains that bind them together, as they try to find a way to say goodbye to each other without causing more pain.
Overall, the song is a moving reflection on the pain of heartbreak, and the difficulty of ending a long and meaningful relationship. Through his beautiful and evocative lyrics, Leonard Cohen captures the complex and often conflicting emotions that come with saying goodbye to someone we love.
Line by Line Meaning
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
I cherished our shared moments in the morning when our kisses were sincere, meaningful, and passionate.
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Your hair, resting on the pillow like a beautiful golden mess, reminds me of our intimate moments together.
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
I am aware that we are not the first to experience love, many others have come and gone before us.
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
Love is universal and people, regardless of where they come from or where they go, experience love just like we do.
But now it's come to distances and both of us must try
Our relationship is being tested by the physical distance between us, but we must try to overcome it.
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
I can see the sadness and pain in your eyes, which makes it difficult for us to part ways.
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
Parting with sadness and sorrow is not the right way to say goodbye, it should be done with love, respect, and dignity.
I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time
I am not interested in pursuing any other relationships as I journey through life, my love for you remains.
Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
Even as we go our separate ways, we will always share the memories of our times together, and our steps will always be in sync.
You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me
Our love transcends the physical distance between us, my love goes with you, and your love stays with me.
It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea
Our love, like the shoreline and the sea, changes over time, but its essence remains the same.
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Talking about our love and the ties that bind us will only cause more pain and sorrow, let's just part ways with love and respect.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@vipulsaxena3325
The lyrics, if you may need..
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But now it's come to distances and both of us must try
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
I'm not looking for another as I wander in my time
Walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme
You know my love goes with you as your love stays with me
It's just the way it changes, like the shoreline and the sea
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and warm
Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm
Yes, many loved before us, I know that we are not new
In city and in forest they smiled like me and you
But let's not talk of love or chains and things we can't untie
Your eyes are soft with sorrow
Hey, that's no way to say goodbye
Songwriters: Leonard Cohen
@johnknottenbelt2502
“That’s no way to say Goodbye”, by Leonard Cohen.
(Why this song holds a special memory for me).
Having been a "follower & yes, a fan", as well, of both Leonard Cohen's, writings & songs, from November, 1969 when I first heard his album "Songs of"... and when the album "Songs from a Room" became one of the soundtracks, which kept me sane, whilst I was stowing away on a ship, a few days prior to my 21st Birthday, to England (another story, for another time), I wish to extend my gratitude for the accompaniment, of this wonderful, yet humble scribe & teller of stories both dark as well as humorous, via vinyl & then via CD. I still have my book "Flowers for Hitler" in my collection, I guess now, 40 years after I bought it. And frequently peer into its treasures.
I have just finished reading "I'm your man", kindly lent to me by a musician friend (Dan Chioboli), a darn fine "acoustic percussionist" of various aligned & varied types of drums. It was a book, I was loath to finish. However, I did so this morning & once I'd consumed its contents, it was like bidding a friend farewell. Not wanting to see them go, but at the same time, knowing that there was no way, I could convince them otherwise. After all, it would be selfish, expecting them to stay, in the flesh. Especially when they had shared sufficient memories, tales & wisdom, to last me until the "next time we met".
One last thing, before I go...
My mind took me back to about June, 1967, when I was working as a department manager in a Discount store (Game Discount World), in Durban South Africa. I was readying myself to go to work & just after I arose at about 6.00 am, I felt a distinct "buzzing sound" in my ears. My mother had told me at about the age of about 5 years old, that I had been "born with the gift" (able to pick up vibes from the spirit world - another story, for later), after I had experienced a similar sound in my ears & thought a fly had flown into my ears. She could not find any "fly" & it clicked with her what could be occurring. Well remembering that, I knew that "something out worldly was happening to me". It would "be clarified to me later that same morning". I walked to work & upon arriving in one of the departments I was "overseeing". This being the Record Bar". I was drawn to put on an album (Vinyl), for some music (we music lovers are like that ! Got to have music where ever we are), I found myself selecting, without directly deciding on what to play, to the album "Songs of" & in particular to the track "That's no way, to say Goodbye". Suddenly I "heard myself say", "Hey Dad, that's no way to say goodbye".... I found this rather strange, as at the time I was estranged from my father. My mother had passed away in 1970 & my father had remarried. My "Step Mother" had insisted that my Dad disown me, before he married her. Which he did. It wasn't an hour later, that I was called to take a call. On the line was my Step Mother, who had phoned to say that my Dad had passed away a few hours earlier on that same morning.
That number, as a result, holds a special meaning for me & still does every time I play or hear it.
Thanks again, Leonard for the music you were drawn to share with us. Also I thank this site for accepting this post of mine. God bless you all & keep you safe.
Sincerely,
John Knottenbelt. 22nd February, 2016.
@HermanLabuschagne
I was just a country boy visiting a friend in the Big City for the first time. In his small but elegant apartment, halfway between the clouds and the world, I was stuck for hours, waiting for him to come home from work.
To kill the time, I browsed through his CD's and inserted this one. Suddenly a window opened up, and through it stepped the timeless balladeer whose songs were so different to anything you'll ever hear.
I stared out the across the entire world as Leonard Cohen took me places. And then he took me to "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye..." -and added, "I loved you in the morning, our kissed deep and warm, your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm."
I knew a girl like that once, and I could see her now. "Yes, many loved before us; I know that we are not new..."
Everything about this song is without equal. The simple, yet captivating rhythm of the guitar, the periodic almost over-play of slightly distorted bass. Notice how the volume builds and ebbs with the emotion. And through it all, the balladeer never strains at all. He's just telling a story, that's all he does.
Then my mind drifts to her sleeping form again and, "...your eyes were soft with sorrow..." , and "...hey, that's no way to say goodbye..."
I played it again immediately. And then another time. And I have played it over and over a million times since then. And then comes tonight, and I stumble across it once again - and I even after all these years - I still play the same song six times over.
@michellewind8097
my days in San Francisco 1968 singing this while washing dishes...living above Standiford Art Gallery on California Street, Gary, Penny , me and there was Steve he slept under the stairs...his choice, where he did all of his poster art...it was a time where you wanted everything to stand still for like forever
@fredthomas4342
Hello Michelle..
@bobbyfuller3118
Dreamy
@purplevonny1
I loved this song when I was 17. I'm 58 and it still makes me cry. You are timeless and your music and beautiful poetry will live on forever. Thank you for your wonderful legacy.
@raykimble4028
I feel he same
@RachelWalder
I found this at 17 too and stil love at 51. Same .... it's beautiful how something that means so much at a totally different age and time still means so much now.
@fredthomas4342
Hello Yvonne..
@jeffreydevries2903
Well said!!
@pejmanmaghsoudi5893
You're 63 now
@peterj.f.blackwood-davis7840
A poet who could turn tears into words, creating pictures from emotion, courage, love & death...like masterful paintings hung in the galleries of our minds.
Thanking God I was here at a time when I too could share with the millions, his voice, his dreams & love of life.
Thank you mate..may your soul finaly find peace