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.
Last Year
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's a Jew's harp on the table,
That's a crayon in his hand.
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
Far past the stems of thumbtacks
That still throw shadows on the wood.
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
And all the rain falls down amen
I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark
Oh one by one she had to tell them
That her name was Joan of Arc.
I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while;
I want to thank you, Joan of Arc,
For treating me so well.
And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight;
All these wounded boys you lie beside,
Goodnight, my friends, goodnight.
I came upon a wedding that old families had contrived;
Bethlehem the bridegroom,
Babylon the bride.
Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me,
And Bethlehem inflamed us both
Like the shy one at some orgy.
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
That I had to draw aside to see
The serpent eat its tail.
Some women wait for Jesus, and some women wait for Cain
So I hang upon my altar
And I hoist my axe again.
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
When Jesus was the honeymoon
And Cain was just the man.
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin
That the wilderness is gathering
All its children back again.
The rain falls down on last year's man,
An hour has gone by
And he has not moved his hand.
But everything will happen if he only gives the word;
The lovers will rise up
And the mountains touch the ground.
But the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
And all the rain falls down amen
On the works of last year's man.
The song "Last Year's Man" by Leonard Cohen is a haunting and enigmatic melody that speaks to the futility of human endeavor and the ravages of time. Throughout the song, Cohen uses rich and vivid images to paint a picture of a world in decay, where the rain falls down on "last year's man," and the corners of the blueprint are "ruined since they rolled / far past the stems of thumbtacks / that still throw shadows on the wood." In this world, nothing is permanent, and even the most persistent efforts of human beings are ultimately futile.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the song is the way in which Cohen layers multiple narratives together, creating a sense of deep ambiguity and complexity. At times, the song seems to be a meditation on the transience of love and the fleeting nature of human relationships. At other times, it seems to be a commentary on the dangers of religious fanaticism and the horrors of war. And yet, even amidst all of this turmoil and confusion, there are moments of intense beauty and tenderness, as when Cohen sings, "Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me, / And Bethlehem inflamed us both, / Like the shy one at some orgy."
Line by Line Meaning
The rain falls down on last year's man,
The singer of the song is overwhelmed by the burdens of his past, and he is unable to move on from his previous mistakes.
That's a Jew's harp on the table,
Despite the sorrowful nature of his surroundings, the singer finds solace in music as a form of escape from his troubles.
That's a crayon in his hand.
The singer clings to childish objects as a way to hold onto a sense of innocence and simplicity in a complex, difficult life.
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
The plans the artist once had for his life are long gone, and he feels lost and without direction.
Far past the stems of thumbtacks
The plans have been abandoned for so long that they have no relevance or meaning to the artist's current life.
That still throw shadows on the wood.
Despite being forgotten, the plans still haunt the singer and continue to cast a shadow over his life.
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
The singer feels trapped and helpless in his current situation and sees no hope for improvement.
And all the rain falls down amen
The sense of hopelessness is pervasive and all-consuming, demonstrated by the relentless rain that falls without end.
On the works of last year's man.
The artist's past mistakes weigh heavily on him and continue to have a negative impact on his present and future.
I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark
The artist meets a woman who, like him, is struggling to find happiness and meaning in life and has turned to childish games as a source of comfort.
Oh one by one she had to tell them
The woman is trying to confront her own fears and doubts that are represented by the toy soldiers.
That her name was Joan of Arc.
The woman sees herself as a heroic figure, strong and unyielding in the face of difficult circumstances.
I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while;
The singer joins the woman in her struggle but is ultimately unable to commit fully to her cause.
I want to thank you, Joan of Arc,
The singer is grateful for the woman's companionship and support during a difficult time in his life.
For treating me so well.
The woman's kindness and compassion helped the singer feel less alone and gave him strength to face his own problems.
And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight;
The artist acknowledges that he is not suited for conflict or struggle, and feels out of place in a world where violence and hardship are commonplace.
All these wounded boys you lie beside,
The artist sees himself as part of a larger collective of people who have been hurt and damaged by life's challenges.
Goodnight, my friends, goodnight.
The singer acknowledges the inevitability of death and says goodbye to those who have passed on before him or who will die in the future.
I came upon a wedding that old families had contrived;
The singer stumbles upon an extravagant and artificial display of wealth and power, a celebration of the superficial and materialistic values of society that he rejects.
Bethlehem the bridegroom,
The groom represents the establishment, traditional values, and religious dogma of the past.
Babylon the bride.
The bride represents temptation, corruption, and sin represented by wealth and power.
Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me,
The artist is drawn to the allure of temptation and sees the seductive qualities in wealth and indulgence, but recognizes the destructive nature of this path.
And Bethlehem inflamed us both
The establishment and temptation lead people down a path of destruction and regret.
Like the shy one at some orgy.
The artist sees the overwhelming nature of temptation as similar to an orgy where one person feels compelled to participate despite their discomfort.
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
The fleeting nature of temptation and indulgence makes it feel like it is nothing more than a thin veil draped over the deeper, more profound aspects of life.
That I had to draw aside to see
To see beyond the seductive surface of temptation requires effort and introspection.
The serpent eat its tail.
The cycle of temptation and indulgence, a continuous and self-destructive pattern, is represented by the serpent devouring its own tail.
Some women wait for Jesus, and some women wait for Cain
People seek different things in life, some looking for salvation and others seeking power and strength.
So I hang upon my altar
The artist sees himself as a spiritual being, but he has not yet found his true purpose and continues to search for meaning in life.
And I hoist my axe again.
The singer is ready to take action and is willing to confront whatever challenges present themselves along the way.
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
The singer hopes to help others find their true path in life, by guiding them back to the source of their spiritual journey.
When Jesus was the honeymoon
The artist refers to a time when his spiritual journey was still new, exciting and filled with possibility.
And Cain was just the man.
The artist reflects on the story of Cain and Abel, suggesting that everyone has the potential to choose between good and evil.
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin
Religion provides comfort and guidance for those seeking spiritual meaning, but it is also a product of humanity's darker impulses and violent history.
That the wilderness is gathering
The singer sees a change coming, a return to a more primal and natural state of existence where humanity is at one with the earth.
All its children back again.
The artist imagines a return to a simpler, more harmonious time when humanity lived in harmony with nature.
An hour has gone by
Time passes slowly and meaninglessly for the singer, who is trapped in his own sense of despair.
And he has not moved his hand.
The singer is frozen in place, unable to take action or make meaningful change in his life.
But everything will happen if he only gives the word;
Despite feeling powerless, the singer still holds a glimmer of hope, knowing that he has the potential to make a difference if he just takes action.
The lovers will rise up
The artist sees the potential for love and connection to bring people together and create meaningful change in the world.
And the mountains touch the ground.
The impossible becomes possible, and the world is transformed when love is at the center of our actions.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@yexiliada
The rain falls down on last year's man,
That's a Jew's harp on the table,
That's a crayon in his hand.
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
Far past the stems of thumbtacks
That still throw shadows on the wood.
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
And all the rain falls down amen
On the works of last year's man.
I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark
Oh one by one she had to tell them
That her name was Joan of Arc.
I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while;
I want to thank you, Joan of Arc,
For treating me so well.
And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight;
All these wounded boys you lie beside,
Goodnight, my friends, goodnight.
I came upon a wedding that old families had contrived;
Bethlehem the bridegroom,
Babylon the bride.
Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me,
And Bethlehem inflamed us both
Like the shy one at some orgy.
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
That I had to draw aside to see
The serpent eat its tail.
Some women wait for Jesus, and some women wait for Cain
So I hang upon my altar
And I hoist my axe again.
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
When Jesus was the honeymoon
And Cain was just the man.
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin
That the wilderness is gathering
All its children back again.
The rain falls down on last year's man,
An hour has gone by
And he has not moved his hand.
But everything will happen if he only gives the word;
The lovers will rise up
And the mountains touch the ground.
But the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
And all the rain falls down amen
On the works of last year's man.
@Curare-
The rain falls down on last year's man,
that's a jew's harp on the table,
that's a crayon in his hand.
And the corners of the blueprint are ruined since they rolled
far past the stems of thumbtacks
that still throw shadows on the wood.
And the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
and all the rain falls down amen
on the works of last year's man.
I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark
oh one by one she had to tell them
that her name was Joan of Arc.
I was in that army, yes I stayed a little while;
I want to thank you, Joan of Arc,
for treating me so well.
And though I wear a uniform I was not born to fight;
all these wounded boys you lie beside,
goodnight, my friends, goodnight.
I came upon a wedding that old families had contrived;
Bethlehem the bridegroom,
Babylon the bride.
Great Babylon was naked, oh she stood there trembling for me,
and Bethlehem inflamed us both
like the shy one at some orgy.
And when we fell together all our flesh was like a veil
that I had to draw aside to see
the serpent eat its tail.
Some women wait for Jesus, and some women wait for Cain
so I hang upon my altar
and I hoist my axe again.
And I take the one who finds me back to where it all began
when Jesus was the honeymoon
and Cain was just the man.
And we read from pleasant Bibles that are bound in blood and skin
that the wilderness is gathering
all its children back again.
The rain falls down on last year's man,
an hour has gone by
and he has not moved his hand.
But everything will happen if he only gives the word;
the lovers will rise up
and the mountains touch the ground.
But the skylight is like skin for a drum I'll never mend
and all the rain falls down amen
on the works of last year's man.
@robertmunyard7773
This man has been severely underestimated throughout his career and should have had better recognition, his music,lyrics and voice are unparalleled in today's world, nobody even comes close.
@DaddyMunro1
Amen.
@golancation
He counted on those who did!
Therefore, he has been clearly nourishing and fairly understood
@thegame2079
Underestimated? He’s been critically acclaimed, even in later years when comparable artists from his era were long forgotten
@Greggorious123
No other artist can bring tears to my eyes like Mr Cohen
@edwardmulholland7912
I play this song every New Year’s Day, it reminds me that whatever I did last year, good or bad is already in the past. That was then and there is only the now.
Love Leonard, I’m so glad that I got to see him live in concert, his voice/understanding of the human condition will live on.
@hendrikdebruin4012
Imagine the mind that could write poetry like this. I try but I will never get close to anything like this. A very special person he was with unimaginable thought processes. I have been a fan since the first word he ever penned. RIP sir you are one with the universe that created you now.
@bears4scares
I also have a god. My blue prints are melted.
@hendrikdebruin4012
@@bears4scares So are the one's for Ted Bundy and it just as well. I wonder who his god was?
@WhoOneIs
I love the reference to Joan of Arc. I don’t know why but I find Leonard Cohen’s tenderness and intimacy are deeply moving. He sings like he was there in the army of Joan of Arc. A true poet transcends time. Sometimes the longing reaches across centuries.