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.
Jazz Police
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nothing's happened in a million years
I've been sitting here since Wednesday morning
Wednesday morning can't believe my ears
Jazz police are looking through my folders
Jazz police are talking to my niece
Jazz police have got their final orders
Jazzer, drop your axe, it's Jazz police!
Jesus taken serious by the many
Jesus taken joyous by a few
Jazz police are paid by J. Paul Getty
Jazzers paid by J. Paul Getty II
Jazz police I hear you calling
Jazz police I feel so blue
Jazz police I think I'm falling,
I'm falling for you
Wild as any freedom loving racist
I applaud the actions of the chief
Tell me now oh beautiful and spacious
Am I in trouble with the Jazz police?
Jazz police are looking through my folders
They will never understand our culture
They'll never understand the Jazz police
Jazz police are working for my mother
Blood is thicker margarine than grease
Let me be somebody I admire
Let me be that muscle down the street
Stick another turtle on the fire
Guys like me are mad for turtle meat
Jazz police I hear you calling
Jazz police I feel so blue
Jazz police I think I'm falling,
I'm falling for you
The lyrics of Leonard Cohen's song "Jazz Police" explore the theme of cultural policing and enforcement of certain cultural standards. The singer seems to be sitting and contemplating the meaning of the bells ringing as he mentions that nothing's happened in a million years. Suddenly, he realizes that it's already Wednesday morning, and he's surprised by this fact. The song refers to "Jazz police," a metaphor for those who control and regulate the Jazz culture. As the song progresses, the singer acknowledges the power of the Jazz police, who are scrutinizing his folders and finalizing their orders. He is asked to drop his axe (guitar) and conform to their rules.
The song seems to challenge the idea of cultural policing and standardization, and how it can restrict individual expression and creativity. He sings that the Jazz police don't understand the culture they are policing and that they work for his mother. The song's final verse sees the singer stating his desire to be someone he admires, and he is willing to explore the unknown and unconventional, just like he explores the taste of turtle meat.
In conclusion, "Jazz Police" is a satirical commentary on the cultural policing and the enforcement of certain cultural standards. It highlights how cultural policing can restrict creativity and self-expression and encourages the listener to break free from cultural boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Can you tell me why the bells are ringing?
Why is there a sense of urgency when nothing unusual has occurred in so long?
Nothing's happened in a million years
There hasn't been any significant event in the longest time
I've been sitting here since Wednesday morning
I've been idle since a few days now
Wednesday morning can't believe my ears
Unable to believe what I'm hearing since Wednesday
Jazz police are looking through my folders
Authorities are investigating my music collection
Jazz police are talking to my niece
The officials are talking to my niece regarding my music choices
Jazz police have got their final orders
The authorities have received the ultimate directive
Jazzer, drop your axe, it's Jazz police!
Stop playing your instrument, the authorities are here
Jesus taken serious by the many
People generally perceive Jesus as a serious entity
Jesus taken joyous by a few
However, a few perceive Jesus as a source of joy
Jazz police are paid by J. Paul Getty
Officials investigating Jazz music are funded by J. Paul Getty
Jazzers paid by J. Paul Getty II
Conversely, Jazz musicians are funded by J. Paul Getty II
Jazz police I hear you calling
I'm listening to the authorities
Jazz police I feel so blue
However, listening to them makes me feel upset
Jazz police I think I'm falling,
I feel like I'm submitting to the authorities
I'm falling for you
I'm falling for their influence and power
Wild as any freedom loving racist
I'm as uninhibited as any person who loves freedom and yet dislikes other ethnicities
I applaud the actions of the chief
I support decisions made by those in power
Tell me now oh beautiful and spacious
Addressing the country as beautiful and vast, requesting them to answer a query
Am I in trouble with the Jazz police?
Am I under scrutiny of Jazz enforcement?
They will never understand our culture
The authorities cannot comprehend and appreciate our art
They'll never understand the Jazz police
Authorities themselves cannot understand the uniqueness of Jazz enforcement
Jazz police are working for my mother
The enforcement authority is influenced by my familial connections
Blood is thicker margarine than grease
Family bonds are stronger than most other relationships
Let me be somebody I admire
Enable me to become the role model I look up to
Let me be that muscle down the street
Allow me to be strong and respectable like someone I know
Stick another turtle on the fire
Cook some more turtle meat, as it's a delicacy
Guys like me are mad for turtle meat
People like me are crazy about turtle meat
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JEFF FISHER, LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Enigmatism415
This is the musical equivalent of a high fever, and I love it.
@heromjh
that turtle meat line is golden, every line really
@lovelessincognito3567
@@heromjh 2:15 2:15
@paulmarsh5325
LEONARD COHEN, ALWAYS GREAT!!!!!
@faithbetinis4129
this song is so insanely good
@user-gv5fh7yb7f
Nothing's happened since, say, circa 1964 (or the elections of1878), except the ringing bells [a la Pink Floyd's "Time"].
@francisfoggerty8897
I respectfully disagree with your opinion
@gehrke111
Can't ... stop ... listening ...
@_fabio1978
The master lives!
@krkozombie3855
you are the best singer