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.
Morning Glory
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
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No words.
No, there are times when nothing can be done.
Not this time.
Is it censorship?
Is it censorship? No, it's evaporation.
No, it's evaporation.
Is this leading somewhere?
Is this going somewhere?
Into the garden.
Into the backyard.
We're walking down the driveway.
Are we moving towards
We're in the backyard, some transcendental moment?
It's almost light. That's right. That's it.
Are we moving towards some transcendental moment?
That's right. That's it.
Do you think you'll be able to pull it off?
Yes. Do you think you can pull it off?
Yes, it might happen. I'm all ears.
I'm all ears. Oh the morning glory!
The above lyrics are from the song "Morning Glory" by Leonard Cohen. The lyrics depict a conversation between two individuals, where one person asks questions about the silence, and the other person responds to them. The conversation is not about censorship but rather about the evasive nature of some experiences. The two individuals are walking down a lane, into a garden, and then into the backyard, moving towards a transcendental moment. The conversation ends with one person declaring their excitement about the morning glory.
The lyrics of the song "Morning Glory" can be interpreted in numerous ways, but the most apparent interpretation is that it is about a journey towards awakening or enlightenment. The two individuals are walking down a path towards a transcendental moment, and the silence and evasiveness represent the elusive nature of this experience. The morning glory, which is a flower that blooms in the morning signifies this moment of awakening. Leonard Cohen often explored themes of spirituality in his work, and "Morning Glory" is one of the examples of his exploration.
Line by Line Meaning
No words this time?
Is there nothing to be said at this moment?
No words.
There are no words to be spoken.
No, there are times when nothing can be done.
There are instances where nothing can be accomplished at all.
Not this time.
However, this is not an instance like that.
Is it censorship?
Is someone being silenced?
Is it censorship? No, it's evaporation.
No, something is disappearing naturally, not by force.
No, it's evaporation.
This phenomenon is due to the process of evaporation.
Is this leading somewhere?
Is there a fixed direction to where this is going?
Yes. We're going down the lane.
Yes, there is movement down a particular path.
Is this going somewhere?
Is there a destination in mind?
Into the garden.
We are heading into a garden area.
Into the backyard.
We are walking into the backyard.
We're walking down the driveway.
We are walking along a driveway.
Are we moving towards
Are we approaching a particular event?
We're in the backyard, some transcendental moment?
We are experiencing a moment of spirituality in the backyard.
It's almost light. That's right. That's it.
The sun is almost rising, we have arrived at the moment we were aiming for.
Are we moving towards some transcendental moment?
Is our movement leading to a moment of transcendence?
That's right. That's it.
Yes, indeed. We have achieved our goal.
Do you think you'll be able to pull it off?
Do you have faith in your ability to succeed?
Yes. Do you think you can pull it off?
Yes, I am confident in my ability to achieve success.
Yes, it might happen. I'm all ears.
Yes, success in this endeavor is a possibility. I am listening closely.
I'm all ears. Oh the morning glory!
I am fully paying attention. Look at the morning glory plant!
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TrueGoat-Bahhh
Dear Cohen fan, I got Chat GPT to write me a poem in the style of L Cohen , what do you think, ngl I kinda liked it
In the darkness of the morning,
With a cup of coffee in my hand,
I feel the weight of sadness,
That always seems to linger grand.
It's a feeling known to all of us,
A universal human plight,
We all have our own demons,
That come out to play at night.
But coffee, oh sweet elixir,
You bring a moment of reprieve,
A momentary lifting,
Of the sadness I believe.
So let us raise our cups,
And toast to the bittersweet,
For in our darkest hours,
There's always something to eat.
And though the sadness may return,
Like the tide upon the shore,
We'll always have each other,
And coffee, forever more.
@steveland636
The best music on the planet. I discovered Leonard 30 yrs ago...still my favorite. Thank you Leonard. Steve land
@beateellis5182
I wish I had...
@buttercupdudden2644
💖
@stunnedmulletblah9714
I've known him for a long time too. I wonder if he knew the effect he had on people? Men and women love him.
@buttercupdudden2644
2021 - I now find out about this amazing talented MAN - LET HIS TALENT LIVE FOREVER..RIP🙏🙏🙏💖💖💖💖
@dayondastribling5080
I share your frustration at coming on him late... Better late than never!
@wendyshaddick4367
I'm the same, he is so fabulous and very sexy! Oh I wish.... RIP Mr. Cohan
@carolijne5075
@@wendyshaddick4367 it's Cohen...😏
@MsBeautiful303
I just recently found out about him too. I researched him and found out that he was dead . I was so disappointed .
@alanleslie7751
I discovered him in 2016.