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.
Nancy
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Nancy was alone,
Looking ate the late late show
Through a semi-precious stone.
In the house of honesty
Her father was on trial,
In the house of mystery
There was no one at all,
It seems so long ago,
None of us were strong;
Nancy wore green stockings
And she slept with everyone.
She never said she'd wait for us
Although she was alone,
I think she fell in love for us
In nineteen sixty one,
In nineteen sixty one.
It seems so long ago,
Nancy was alone,
A forty five beside her head,
An open telephone.
We told her she was beautiful,
We told her she was free
But none of us would meet her in
The house of mystery,
The house of mystery.
And now you look around you,
See her everywhere,
Many use her body,
Many comb her hair.
In the hollow of the night
When you are cold and numb
You hear her talking freely then,
She's happy that you've come,
She's happy that you've come.
The lyrics to Leonard Cohen’s “Nancy” tell the story of a woman who was once alone and seeking comfort, love, and acceptance from those around her. The first stanza sets the scene of Nancy being alone and watching the late-night show, dreaming of a better life. But her reality was far from ideal since her father was on trial for something in the house of honesty, and there was no one in the house of mystery. This imagery of the house of mystery, where Nancy is left alone, showcases the isolation and loneliness that she was feeling during that time.
In the second stanza, the lyrics continue to paint a picture of Nancy's life. The use of the phrase “None of us were strong” alludes to the fact that Nancy’s friends and maybe even her family were not equipped to support her in her time of need. She wore green stockings and slept with many people, which may have been her way of seeking love and affection. Although she never vocalized her desire to wait for someone or have someone love her, it is implied that she fell in love with all of them in the year 1961.
Finally, the third verse brings a sense of closure to the song as the listener starts to comprehend the reason behind Nancy’s loneliness. They told her she was beautiful and free, but never met her in the house of mystery. Nancy is still with them, haunting those who knew her, and those who didn't. She is everywhere, and her life has been the subject of many other people's stories. It is a poignant reminder that human connections can be fleeting but also immortal.
Line by Line Meaning
It seems so long ago,
The events described in the song feel like they happened a long time ago.
Nancy was alone,
Nancy was by herself and likely felt lonely.
Looking at the late late show
Nancy was watching television late at night.
Through a semi-precious stone.
The TV screen may have been blurry or distorted, giving the impression of looking through a semi-precious stone.
In the house of honesty
This phrase could be interpreted as the legal system, where the truth is expected to be revealed.
Her father was on trial,
Nancy's father was being judged or accused of something in the legal system.
In the house of mystery
This phrase likely refers to someplace where things are not clear or where secrets are kept.
There was no one at all,
There was no one present in the house of mystery.
None of us were strong;
It is likely that the artist and those around them were not emotionally or mentally strong.
Nancy wore green stockings
This is simply a fact about Nancy's appearance.
And she slept with everyone.
Nancy was sexually promiscuous.
She never said she'd wait for us
Nancy did not make any promises to stay with anyone.
Although she was alone,
Even though Nancy was by herself, she did not appear to be waiting for anyone.
I think she fell in love for us
The singer believes that Nancy may have had feelings for them or those around them.
In nineteen sixty one,
This is the year that the singer believes Nancy may have had feelings for them or those around them.
A forty five beside her head,
A .45 caliber gun was next to Nancy's head.
An open telephone.
The telephone was off the hook.
We told her she was beautiful,
Nancy was complimented on her appearance.
We told her she was free
Nancy was told that she had the freedom to do what she wanted.
But none of us would meet her in
Despite these compliments, no one wanted to go to the house of mystery with her.
The house of mystery,
This phrase is repeated, indicating that it is an important symbol or setting in the song.
And now you look around you,
The listener is being addressed directly.
See her everywhere,
Nancy's presence is still felt in some way.
Many use her body,
Nancy's body may be objectified or used by others.
Many comb her hair.
This could be interpreted literally or metaphorically, but either way it suggests that Nancy is being attended to by others.
In the hollow of the night
This phrase could mean a few different things, but most likely refers to a lonely or empty time of night.
When you are cold and numb
The singer is describing a feeling of numbness or unfeelingness in the listener.
You hear her talking freely then,
At this lonely time, Nancy's voice can be heard in some way.
She's happy that you've come,
Nancy seems happy to have company or attention.
She's happy that you've come.
This phrase is repeated to emphasize the contentment or happiness that Nancy feels with the listener's presence.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linus J Fernandes
Seems So Long Ago, Nancy"
It seems so long ago,
Nancy was alone,
looking ate the Late Late show
through a semi-precious stone.
In the House of Honesty
her father was on trial,
in the House of Mystery
there was no one at all,
there was no one at all.
It seems so long ago,
none of us were strong;
Nancy wore green stockings
and she slept with everyone.
She never said she'd wait for us
although she was alone,
I think she fell in love for us
in nineteen sixty one,
in nineteen sixty one.
It seems so long ago,
Nancy was alone,
a forty five beside her head,
an open telephone.
We told her she was beautiful,
we told her she was free
but none of us would meet her in
the House of Mystery,
the House of Mystery.
And now you look around you,
see her everywhere,
many use her body,
many comb her hair.
In the hollow of the night
when you are cold and numb
you hear her talking freely then,
she's happy that you've come,
she's happy that you've come.
hank dusommeil
one of Leonard's most melancholic and beautiful songs, in my opinion...
keith usher
i agree.
Alan Grindley
which is why i sang it in front of an audience in 1969. still love it.
Marie-Christophe Leboucher
It's sad but beautiful.I'm french ans I like Léonard Cohen since 10-12 years. I'm 57 ans I'm always listening.
Robert Munyard
Talk about atmospheric, this has got to be one of the most beautiful songs of all time, timeless.
Mary Pianka
wonderful memories contained in this song for me. I'm sure it spoke/speaks to many young women in their pain. Thankyou Leonard Cohen. You won't be forgotten.
keith usher
no.
Jeffrey Lyons
Both beautiful and sad at the same time. RIP Leonard Cohen
tango alpha
for me this song is kind of genius, so true<;;; I can hear it again and again, it's just so strong how we can feel how the melody echoes in my heart.. I think about when I was a teenager in love... thanks Leo for all your perfect songs.
owen thomas
no song can ever truly match this, just beyond human expression what this song means