Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a C… Read Full Bio ↴Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter poet, singer, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and romantic relationships. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. In 2011, Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize.

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.

Introduction
Leonard Cohen Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Thank you so much friends.
I was having a drink with my old teacher,
he is 102 now
and this was, he was just, about 97 at that time
and I pour him a drink and
he clicked my glass and said:
excuse me for not dying.
and i kind feel the same way.

i want to thank you not just for this evening,
but for the many years you've kept my songs alive,
i really appreaciate it.

I don't want anyone to get alarmed,

i know you probabaly have never seen
any of this before, but it goes by itself.

Overall Meaning

Leonard Cohen's song Introduction is a spoken word piece that he performed live during his concerts. The song is a tribute to his old teacher who he describes as being 102 years old during their meeting. Cohen shares that he had poured his teacher a drink and was touched when his teacher clicked glasses with him and said, "Excuse me for not dying." The moment stuck with Cohen and he says that he feels the same way - grateful to be alive as long as he has.

Cohen then goes on to express his gratitude to his audience for keeping his songs alive over the years. He acknowledges that his style of music and performance may be different from what his audience members have seen before, but he assures them that it is all part of the experience.

Overall, Introduction is Cohen's way of paying tribute to his own mortality, as well as the lasting impact of his music on his listeners. Through the conversation with his teacher and the acknowledgement of his audience, Cohen reminds us that our time on earth is finite, but the legacy we leave behind can live on forever.

Line by Line Meaning

Thank you so much friends.
Leonard Cohen expresses gratitude towards the audience for their presence and attention.

I was having a drink with my old teacher,
Leonard Cohen shares that he recently had a drink with his elderly mentor.

he is 102 now
The age of Leonard Cohen's teacher is revealed to be 102 years old.

and this was, he was just, about 97 at that time
The context of the conversation reveals that the drink occurred roughly 5 years before his teacher's current age of 102.

and I pour him a drink and
As the host of the conversation, Leonard Cohen indicates that he served his mentor a drink.

he clicked my glass and said:
Leonard's teacher signals a toast and offers a brief statement.

excuse me for not dying.
The mentor's comment reveals his sense of humor regarding his advanced age, expressing reassurances to those who may have concerns about his health and wellbeing.

and i kind feel the same way.
Leonard Cohen relates to his teacher's humor, suggesting that he does not wish to give up on life just yet.

i want to thank you not just for this evening,
The singer expresses gratitude to the audience for attending the event.

but for the many years you've kept my songs alive,
Leonard Cohen acknowledges the audience's support and appreciation for his music over the years.

i really appreciate it.
The artist emphasizes his sincere gratitude towards the listeners.

I don't want anyone to get alarmed,
Leonard Cohen addresses any potential discomfort that the listeners may have towards his elderly teacher's humor and situation.

i know you probabaly have never seen
The singer acknowledges the uniqueness of the situation to the audience.

any of this before, but it goes by itself.
Leonard Cohen assures the audience that the conversation will proceed smoothly and effortlessly, despite its unconventional novelty.

Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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