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.
Nevermind
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find
The story's told
With facts and lies
I have a name
But nevermind
Nevermind (nevermind)
Nevermind (nevermind)
The war was lost (the war was lost)
The treaty signed (the treaty signed)
There's truth that lives (there's truth that lives)
And truth that dies (and truth that dies)
I don't know which (I don't know which)
So nevermind (so nevermind)
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام سلام على السلام
Your victory was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons, our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names
More intimate
Names so deep and names so true (names so deep and names so true)
They're blood to me (they're blood to me)
And dust to you (and dust to you)
There is no need (there is no need)
That this survive (that this survive)
There's truth that lives (there's truth that lives)
And truth that dies (and truth that dies)
Nevermind (nevermind)
Nevermind (nevermind)
I lived a life I left behind (I lived a life I left behind)
There's truth that lives (there's truth that lives)
And truth that dies (and truth that dies)
I don't know which (I don't know which)
So nevermind (so nevermind)
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام يا سلام، يا سلام يا سلام
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried, I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them
Whom you despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
Nevermind (nevermind)
Nevermind (nevermind)
I had to leave my life behind (I had to leave my life behind)
The story's told with facts and lies (the story's told with facts and lies)
You own the world (you own the world)
So nevermind (so nevermind)
Nevermind (nevermind)
Nevermind (nevermind)
I lived a life I left behind (I lived a life I left behind)
I live it full (I live it full)
I live it wide (I live it wide)
Through layers of time (through layers of time)
You can't divide (you can't divide)
My woman's here (my woman's here)
My children too (my children too)
Their graves are safe (their graves are safe)
From ghosts like you (from ghosts like you)
In places deep (in places deep)
With roots entwined (with roots entwined)
I live the life I left behind (I live the life I left behind)
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
The song "Nevermind" by Leonard Cohen tells the story of someone who had to leave their life behind and live among others in disguise. The war was lost, and the treaty was signed, but the singer crossed the line and got away. They had to dig some graves to ensure that their past would stay hidden. The singer's life is full, and they live it wide, with their woman and children safe from those trying to expose them. The song has themes of love, indifference, and betrayal.
Throughout the song, the singer expresses how they had to leave their life behind and live among others in disguise. They tell the story of how they were not caught, even though many tried, and how they had to dig some graves that would never be found. The singer has a name, but they say "nevermind" because it does not matter anymore as they have left their past behind. The song speaks to the idea that there is a truth that lives and a truth that dies, but the singer is unsure which one they are living.
The song's overall message is still somewhat enigmatic, but it seems to tell the story of someone who had to leave their past behind and start a new life elsewhere, because of some mistake or wrongdoing. They live among others, but they are well disguised, and their true name does not matter. The song is a reminder that sometimes we must leave our past behind to start anew.
Line by Line Meaning
The war was lost
I acknowledge the fact that our side lost the war.
The treaty signed
I acknowledge the fact that a treaty was signed to end the war.
I was not caught
I was not captured by the enemy team.
I crossed the line
I crossed the border and infiltrated the enemy's territory.
Though many tried
People attempted to catch me, but they failed.
I live among you
I am living among the people of the opposing side.
Well disguised
I am hiding my true identity behind a disguise so I will not be detected.
I had to leave
I had to abandon my former life.
My life behind
My past life is something that I have to leave and avoid.
I dug some graves
I buried things that would reveal my true identity and past.
You'll never find
No one will ever be able to discover these graves and reveal my secrets.
The story's told
People have told the story of the war.
With facts and lies
There has been both truth and deception in what has been said about the war.
I have a name
I possess a name that is attached to my true identity.
But nevermind
I do not want this name to be known anymore.
There's truth that lives
There is a truth that still exists.
And truth that dies
There is a truth that has been lost and forgotten.
I don't know which
I am not certain which of these truths still exist.
Your victory
The opposing side's victory.
Was so complete
The victory was utterly successful.
Some among you
There were some among the victorious side.
Thought to keep
They wanted to maintain specific elements of the defeated side's way of life.
A record of
They created a record of the losing side's identity.
Our little lives
They documented the details of the losing side's everyday routine.
The clothes we wore
They recorded our clothing attire.
Our spoons, our knives
The little things we used in our daily life were documented.
The games of luck
Our tiny everyday activities which kept us away from our problems were recorded.
Our soldiers played
Our troops participated in their own games to stay positive about their situation.
The stones we cut
The rocks and bricks that they shaped to make the environment a bit more comfortable.
The songs we made
Music acted as their escape from the brutality of war.
Our law of peace
The losing side's moral codes for peace and unity among their own.
Which understands
The moral codes highlight the understanding and compassion these people had.
A husband leads
In their relationship structures, the husband has the final say.
A wife commands
The wife makes important decisions.
And all of this
All of the details mentioned before.
Expressions of
All of this highlights the dedication and effort they put into creating their ideal society.
The sweet indifference
A term used to describe their peaceful way of leading life calmly even in trying situations.
The high indifference
There are people who are very apathetic but still manage to rise above their problems.
Some call fate
People attribute the calmness and positivity as the mere destiny that they got.
But we had names
We had personal identities before which our society stood behind.
More intimate
These identities were very close and personal to us.
Names so deep and
These identities had a deep personal connection that is hard to describe.
Names so true
Our personal identities were entirely truthful to our inner selves.
They're blood to me
These identities are integral to my identity and are like my own blood.
They're dust to you
But to the other side, these identities are insignificant, and they have forgotten about them.
There is no need
There was no justification or necessity for describing the details of our lives.
That this survive
It is not that important for our way of life or culture to actively exist anymore.
I could not kill
I did not have the heart to take away peoples' lives, murder-wise.
The way you kill
Their method of murder is brutal and not something I could do.
I could not hate
It is hard for me to feel anger or hate for others.
I tried I failed
I tried to adopt this idea, but I was not successful.
You turned me in
You chose to expose my true identity.
At least you tried
But in the end, you were not successful in doing so.
You side with them
You have chosen the opposing team's side.
Whom you despise
Ironically, you do not like the very side you are choosing.
This was your heart
You used to feel this way about your own team.
This swarm of flies
But in reality, it was just meaningless chattering and gossip which ruined everything.
This was once your mouth
These opinions emerged from your own mouth before.
This bowl of lies
They were lies as they don't believe in their own side anymore.
You serve them well
They supported the other team successfully.
I'm not surprised
This is expected from them based on their past actions.
You're of their kin
It follows that you wouldn't support the losing side.
You're of their kind
You share the common grounds with the winner's side.
I live it full
I'm living life as fully as possible.
I live it wide
I'm trying to explore new experiences and think more broadly about the world.
Through layers of time
Over time I have come to this realization.
You can't divide
My spirit, hope and ideals are unbreakable.
My woman's here
My wife is with me.
My children too
I'm raising my kids in this environment and they're healthy.
Their graves are safe
When they pass away their burial spot is secure and hidden.
From ghosts like you
I know that people like you won't find the graves and disrupt our family peace.
In places deep
The graves are located in remote and hidden locations.
With roots entwined
The graves are sheltered by huge trees and their roots spread around and secure them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Patrick Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MrSirDrew
Lyrics
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You’ll never find
The story’s told
With facts and lies
I have a name
But nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don’t know which
So nevermind
Your victory
Was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons, our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names
More intimate
Names so deep and
Names so true
They’re blood to me
They’re dust to you
There is no need
That this survive
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them
Whom you despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I’m not surprised
You’re of their kin
You’re of their kind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I had to leave my life behind
The story’s told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can’t divide
My woman’s here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
@jc3794
Não Importa
A guerra estava perdida
O tratado assinado
Eu não fui capturado
Eu cruzei a linha
Eu não fui capturado
Embora muitos tenham tentado
Eu vivo entre vós
Bem disfarçado
Eu tive de deixar
Minha vida para atrás
Cavei algumas sepulturas
Que você nunca vai encontrar
A história é contada
Com fatos e mentiras
Eu tive um nome
Mas não importa
Não importa (Não Importa)
Não importa (Não Importa)
A guerra estava perdida
O tratado assinado
Há verdades que vivem
E verdades que morrem
Eu não sei qual
Então não importa
Sua vitória
Era tão completa
Que alguns entre vós
Pensaram em manter
Um registro de
Nossas desprezíveis vidas
As roupas que usávamos
Nossas colheres, nossas facas
Os jogos de azar
Que nossos soldados jogavam
As pedras que cortávamos
As músicas que fazíamos
Nossa lei de paz
Que compreende
O marido lidera
A mulher comanda
E todas estas
Manifestações
Da doce indiferença
Que alguns chamam de Amor
Da alta indiferença
Que alguns chamam Destino
Mas nós tivemos nomes
Mais íntimos
Nomes tão profundos
E nomes tão verdadeiros
São sangue para mim
E são poeira para você
Não há necessidade
Que isto sobreviva
Há verdades que vivem
E verdades que morrem
Não importa
Não importa
Eu vivo a vida
Que deixei para trás
Há verdades que vivem
E verdades que morrem
Eu não sei qual
Então não importa
Eu não poderia matar
À sua maneira
Eu não poderia odiar
Eu tentei e falhei
Você me entregou
Pelo menos você tentou
Você foi para o lado deles
A quem você despreza
Este foi o seu coração
Este enxame de moscas
Esta já foi sua boca
Esta tigela de mentiras
Você os serve bem
Eu não estou surpreso
Você é dessa família
Você é dessa laia
Não importa
Não importa
Eu tive que deixar
Minha vida para trás
A história é contada
Com fatos e mentiras
Você possui o mundo
Então não importa
Não importa
Não importa
Eu vivo a vida
Que deixei para trás
Eu a vivo completa
E amplamente
Pelas camadas do tempo
Que você não pode separar
Minha mulher está aqui
Meus filhos também
Suas sepulturas estão a salvo
De fantasmas como você
Em lugares profundos
Com raízes entrelaçadas
Eu vivo a vida
Que deixei para trás
A guerra estava perdida
O tratado assinado
Eu não fui capturado
Eu cruzei a linha
Eu não fui capturado
Embora muitos tenham tentado
Eu vivo entre vós
Bem disfarçado
@Thorndyk3
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I had to leave
My life behind
I had a name
But never mind
Your victory
Was so complete
That some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our pots our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The High Indifference
Some call Love
The High Indifference
Some call Fate
But we had Names
More intimate
Names so deep
and Names so true
They're lost to me
And dead to you
There is no need
That this survive
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So never mind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
No man can see
The vast design
Or who will be
Last of his kind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So never mind
@MahrufSaad
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find
The story's told
With facts and lies
I have a name
But nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
Your victory
Was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons, our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names
More intimate
Names so deep and
Names so true
They're blood to me
They're dust to you
There is no need
That this survive
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them
Whom you despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I had to leave my life behind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can't divide
My woman's here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
Leonard Cohen - Nevermind Lyrics | MetroLyrics
@Elfo_Scuro
01:55
The High Indifference
Some call Fate
But we had Names
More intimate
Names so deep
And Names so true
They’re blood to me
They’re dust to you
There is no need
That this survive
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
Nevermind!
@magicalvideoclips9285
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you, well-disguised
I had to leave my life behind
I dug some graves
You'll never find the story's told
With facts and lies
I had a name but never mind
Never mind
Never mind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So never mind
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام سلام على السلام
Your victory was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep a record of our little lives
The clothes we wore our spoons our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of these
Expressions of the sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names more intimate
Names so deep
And names so true
They're blood to me
They're dust to you
There is no need
And this survives
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
Never mind
Never mind
I leave the life
I left behind
There's truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
Never mind
يا سلام على السلام يا سلام
يا سلام يا سلام، يا سلام يا سلام
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried, I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them whom
You despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well, I'm not surprised
You're of their kin
You're of their kind
Never mind
Never mind
I had to leave my life behind
The story's told
With facts and lies
You own the world so never mind
Never mind
Never mind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can't divide
My woman's here
My children too
Their graves are safe from ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life
I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
Across the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you, well-disguised
@highlordxeleth
I'm almost ashamed to have discovered this man's work so late in my life, while he, unfortunately, had already passed away. Almost every thing he did resonates so... deeply within me. His voice... damn... like a sharp razor though my heart. Hard to describe. It shakes up and shatters my soul every time, but in a great way, since all those feelings he brings through me... they remind me: I still feel. I'm still alive.
I'm still alive.
@Baxxter101
Never be even 'almost ashamed' for discovering something that resonates deeply. I was a late 90's angsty teenage Nirvana fan and didn't realize Kurt directly referred to Mr Cohen as an enlightened one in the song Pennyroyal Tea until I was 29... The point is you found some art that enriches your life. It's not 'late in your life', you found it at the exact right time.
Another example from my life... My first girlfriend listened to Bob Dylan all the time, so I was familiar with many of the 'classics'. A decade later I heard a song I'd never hear before, then went on a deep dive. Before that I would say "yeah I like Bob Dylan", but I had never really listened... It took that independent discovery to really appreciate it independently.
Art is subjective. Good art meets you where you are when you're ready.
@AnnaVandermeer-eu8vx
Whether cohen is alive is irrelevant....
@HeyGuy4321
Your soul needs reinforcement if it shatters so easily
@MrSirDrew
Lyrics
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You’ll never find
The story’s told
With facts and lies
I have a name
But nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don’t know which
So nevermind
Your victory
Was so complete
Some among you
Thought to keep
A record of
Our little lives
The clothes we wore
Our spoons, our knives
The games of luck
Our soldiers played
The stones we cut
The songs we made
Our law of peace
Which understands
A husband leads
A wife commands
And all of this
Expressions of
The sweet indifference
Some call love
The high indifference
Some call fate
But we had names
More intimate
Names so deep and
Names so true
They’re blood to me
They’re dust to you
There is no need
That this survive
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
There’s truth that lives
And truth that dies
I don't know which
So nevermind
I could not kill
The way you kill
I could not hate
I tried I failed
You turned me in
At least you tried
You side with them
Whom you despise
This was your heart
This swarm of flies
This was once your mouth
This bowl of lies
You serve them well
I’m not surprised
You’re of their kin
You’re of their kind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I had to leave my life behind
The story’s told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So nevermind
Nevermind
Nevermind
I live the life
I left behind
I live it full
I live it wide
Through layers of time
You can’t divide
My woman’s here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you
In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life I left behind
The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line
I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised
@prismpyre7653
do you know what this song is about?
Palestinians who survived the ethnic cleansing of "Plan Dalet" in 1948, and live hidden in their ancestral lands passing as one of the colonizers
@VolkanERSOY
The best lyrics ever, it still gives me goosebumps.
@quarantinebored1427
But Nevermind
@linlin52
I am from Ireland, living in Berlin. For me, the song reminds me of The Troubles and the war we fought. The Treaty signed. Cohen reached stunning levels of insight in his work. Bird on a Wire would be enough for his immortality. But there is always more. From the personal to the political.
@prismpyre7653
it's about Palestinians who survived the ethnic cleansing of "Plan Dalet" in 1948, and live hidden in their ancestral lands passing as one of the colonizers