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.
Moving On
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who broke the heart and made it new
I loved your moods, I loved the way
They threatened every single day
Your beauty ruled me, though I knew
'Twas more hormonal than the view
Now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Queen of lilac, Queen of blue
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I loved your face, I loved your hair
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who held me dying, pulled me through
Who's moving on, who's kidding who
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
The lyrics of Leonard Cohen’s song “Moving On” describe a sense of loss and confusion after a romantic relationship has ended. The singer reminisces about the qualities and moods of their former lover and how they were consumed by their love for them. The chorus asks a series of rhetorical questions, questioning who is truly “moving on” after the breakup and who is just pretending to be unaffected.
The singer seems to have been deeply attached to their partner, as they claim to have given up everything, including their job and the larger problems and responsibilities of the world, in order to love them more. However, now that the relationship has ended, the singer is left with a sense of emptiness and disillusionment. They question whether their love was real, and whether their partner truly existed as they had perceived them. The repetition of the lines “As if there ever was a you” and “Who's kidding who?” drives home the uncertainty of the situation and the singer’s feeling of betrayal.
In essence, “Moving On” is a song about grappling with the aftermath of a breakup, one of life’s most difficult experiences. Cohen’s lyrics convey the raw emotions that accompany a broken heart, as well as the moments of doubt and disbelief that come when one’s world is turned upside down by lost love.
Line by Line Meaning
I loved your face, I loved your hair
I was attracted to your physical features.
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
I loved your casual and formal clothing.
As for the world, the job, the war
I left behind everything - my responsibilities and troubles - to prioritize you.
I ditched them all to love you more
I sacrificed everything for the sake of our relationship.
And now you're gone, now you're gone
You have left me, and I feel lost.
As if there ever was a you
I question whether the person I loved ever truly existed.
Who broke the heart and made it new
You shattered my heart, but also taught me to love in a new way.
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I don't know who is truly trying to move forward and who is pretending.
I loved your moods, I loved the way
I found your emotional fluctuations attractive.
They threatened every single day
Your unpredictable nature added excitement and fear to my life.
Your beauty ruled me, though I knew
Your physical appearance had power over me, even though I was aware of it.
'Twas more hormonal than the view
My attraction to you was largely based on biological factors rather than a deeper connection.
Queen of lilac, Queen of blue
I saw you as royalty, with a regal aura.
Who held me dying, pulled me through
You were there for me in a time of crisis and helped me survive.
Who's moving on, who's kidding who
Again, I question who is truly moving on and who is pretending.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Patrick Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Levon Yaakov
I loved your face, I loved your hair
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who broke the heart and made it new
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I loved your moods, I loved the way
They threatened every single day
Your beauty ruled me, though I knew
'Twas more hormonal than the view
Now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Queen of lilac, Queen of blue
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I loved your face, I loved your hair
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who held me dying, pulled me through
Who's moving on, who's kidding who
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who
Ivo Teixeira
Lyrics
I loved your face, I loved your hair
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who broke the heart and made it new
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I loved your moods, I loved the way
They threatened every single day
Your beauty ruled me, though I knew
'Twas more hormonal than the view
Now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Queen of lilac, Queen of blue
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
I loved your face, I loved your hair
Your T-shirts and your evening wear
As for the world, the job, the war
I ditched them all to love you more
And now you're gone, now you're gone
As if there ever was a you
Who held me dying, pulled me through
Who's moving on, who's kidding who
Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?
Inna She
Мне нравилось твое лицо, мне нравились твои волосы.
Твои футболки и вечерняя одежда.
Что касается мира, работы, войны.
Я бросил их всех, чтобы любить тебя больше.
И теперь ты ушла, теперь ты ушла.
Как будто когда-нибудь был ты.
Кто разбил сердце и сделал его новым?
Кто двигается дальше, кто кого обманывает?
Мне нравилось твое настроение, мне нравится этот путь.
Они угрожают каждый день.
Твоя красота управляла мной, хотя я знала.
"В два раза больше гормонов, чем вид.
Теперь ты ушла, теперь ты ушла.
Как будто когда-нибудь был ты.
Королева сирени, королева синего.
Кто двигается дальше, кто кого обманывает?
Мне нравилось твое лицо, мне нравились твои волосы.
Твои футболки и вечерняя одежда.
Что касается мира, работы, войны.
Я бросил их всех, чтобы любить тебя больше.
И теперь ты ушла, теперь ты ушла.
Как будто когда-нибудь был ты.
Кто держал меня в объятиях, помогал мне?
Кто двигается дальше, кто кого обманывает?
Кто двигается дальше, кто кого обманывает?
Anthony Vam
Now you're gone Leonard.
I can't believe that when I was younger, spending time in Hydra, I hadn't discovered how much your poetry and music means to me.
A few years after my days in Hydra, I started discovering your work, and it touched me so much I had to lie.
For many years, ever since you died, I had created this fictional tale, this lie, that I had met you once in Hydra.
I ran into you at a cafe at the port and told you that I'm a big admirer, and you invited me to join you for a coffee.
We spent not more than 20 minutes together. When my friends asked me "What did he tell you?" I used to say "Nothing much, he was introducing me to some of the ships there at the port and talking to me about some of the old residents still living in Hydra"
I guess, I too, have been torn so far in my life, and I needed this lie as it provided me with a little bit of this bliss I have been seeking for.
Times have changed now. I have met a woman Leonard. I love her and I feel loved too.
I don't need this lie any longer. I may have not met you. But I have met you through your art.
Hopefully we'll visit Hydra soon since it's very close to Athens.
Maybe we'll run into your ghost somewhere there.
I hope this time it won't be a lie.
I hope this time this whole adventure will remain true.
For you are right about one thing... "Who's moving on? Who's kidding who?"
manuel antonio cortés ballesteros
Para los amantes de Leonard Cohen de lengua castellana, esta sería una traducción de MOVING ON:
PASANDO PÁGINA
Me gustaba tu cara, me gustaba tu cabello
tus camisetas y tu vestido de noche.
En cuanto al mundo, el trabajo, la guerra... me deshice de todos para amarte más.
Y ahora te has ido, ahora te has ido.
Como si nunca hubiera habido un "tú"
que rompiera el corazón y lo hiciera de nuevo.
¿Quién pasa página? ¿Quién engaña a quién?.
Me gustan tus estados de ánimo. Me encantaban cómo
amenazaban cada uno de los días.
Tu belleza me sedujo aunque es verdad
que pesaban más las hormonas que el buen juicio.
Y ahora te has ido, ahora te has ido
como si nunca hubiera habido un "tú".
Reina de las lilas, Reina del azul
¿Quién pasa página? ¿Quién engaña a quién?
Amaba tu cara, me gustaba tu cabello,
tus camisetas y tu vestido de noche.
En cuanto al mundo, el trabajo, la guerra... me deshice de todo para amarte más .
Y ahora te has ido, ahora te has ido.
como si nunca hubiera habido un "tú"
que me abrazó mientras moría, que me ayudó a reponerme.
¿Quién pasa página? ¿Quién engaña a quién?. ¿Quién pasa a página? ¿Quién engaña a quién?.
Stray Cut
As a Greek I feel so sad that he loved our country more than most of us do.. Thank you Leonard for keeping the poetry alive..
Dora
True
Moon Dancer
It's a beautiful country but I don't think I get the video
Stray Cut
@Moon Dancer it's about Marianne, the woman he loved and lived with in Hydra, the Greek island you see in the video. The house in the video is where he used to live there.
Stray Cut
@Tears In The Rain and I thank you for that 😊 Hope you feel the same way if you ever have to live here 🥴
Anthi Paganou
This is so true!
Zoritza®
The beauty of the Greek island, the magical voice of Leonard Cohen and tears. Dear Leonard, Thanks you for the wide palette of multi colorful emotions. In my heart endless love and respect. Forever... ❤️
tasneem hamzi
It looks more North Africa
Zoritza®
@tasneem hamzi It's Hydra. Mr. Cohen's beloved Greek island. The house is his. At that desk he wrote his poetry and prose ... Every segment of the video reminiscent of him.❤
tasneem hamzi
@Zoritza® Yes I have checked, I was mistaken. It is a lovely place and it looks like Tunisia. Mediterranean vibes anyway :)