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.
Paper Thin Hotel
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Last night I heard you making love to him
The struggle mouth to mouth and limb to limb
The grunt of unity when he came in
I stood there with my ear against the wall
I was not seized by jealousy at all
In fact a burden lifted from my soul
I heard that love was out of my control
I heard that love was out of my control
I listened to your kisses at the door
I never heard the world so clear before
You ran your bath and you began to sing
I felt so good I couldn't feel a thing
I stood there with my ear against the wall
And I can't wait to tell you to your face
And I can't wait for you to take my place
You are The Naked Angel In My Heart
You are The Woman With Her Legs Apart
It's written on the walls of this hotel
You go to heaven once you've been to hell
A heavy burden lifted from my soul
I heard that love was out of my control
In Leonard Cohen's song "Paper Thin Hotel," the singer is staying in a hotel room next to a couple who are making love, and he can hear them through the paper-thin walls. Rather than feeling jealous or upset, the singer experiences a sense of relief when he realizes that love is out of his control. The song suggests that love can be painful and overwhelming, but ultimately liberating when we accept that we cannot control it. The lyrics are poetic and introspective, and they give listeners a glimpse into the singer's emotional state.
The song was released on Cohen's 1977 album "Death of a Ladies' Man," which was produced by Phil Spector. Spector's influence is evident in the song's lush instrumentation and dramatic vocal delivery. Interestingly, Cohen and Spector had a contentious working relationship, with Cohen later describing the recording process as chaotic and tense. Despite this, "Paper Thin Hotel" remains a standout track on the album and in Cohen's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
The walls of this hotel are paper-thin
The hotel's walls are so thin that all sounds of other guests can be heard clearly.
Last night I heard you making love to him
The singer heard his lover having sex with another man last night.
The struggle mouth to mouth and limb to limb
The physical struggle of sex is witnessed by the singer through the walls.
The grunt of unity when he came in
The climax of the intercourse was heard and recognized by the artist too.
I stood there with my ear against the wall
The artist was listening intently with his ear pressed to the paper-thin wall.
I was not seized by jealousy at all
Jealousy was not the emotion experienced by the singer upon hearing his lover having sex with someone else.
In fact a burden lifted from my soul
The singer felt a sense of relief, as it was confirmed that love was indeed out of his control.
I heard that love was out of my control
The artist heard the message that love was beyond one's control.
I listened to your kisses at the door
The artist heard his lover kissing someone at the door.
I never heard the world so clear before
The sounds were so clear, as if the world had never been clearer before for the artist.
You ran your bath and you began to sing
The lover turned on the bath and started singing.
I felt so good I couldn't feel a thing
The artist felt so good that he became numb to his emotions.
And I can't wait to tell you to your face
The singer is eagerly waiting to confront his lover and tell her how he feels.
And I can't wait for you to take my place
The singer wants his lover's attention and place away from anyone else.
You are The Naked Angel In My Heart
The singer sees his lover as an angel who is exposed and vulnerable in his heart.
You are The Woman With Her Legs Apart
The artist perceives his lover as a woman opening up to him.
It's written on the walls of this hotel
The things that have happened here are not secret, and can be seen on the walls of this hotel.
You go to heaven once you've been to hell
The singer believes that after going through hellish experiences, one can find heavenly moments and emotions.
A heavy burden lifted from my soul
The confusing weight of emotional imbalance is lifted off of the singer's shoulders.
I heard that love was out of my control
The message of love being beyond one's control was reiterated again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, PHIL SPECTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@j.c7719
I don’t care what anyone says about this album and Phil Spector’s production, it is a masterpiece, it is like therapy to me, the most divine beauty in art. I think there is a strong case for it being both the most underrated and greatest album of all time. Leonard might not have been satisfied with his vocals but they take on a drunken, flanged, distant tone that is one of the most euphonically pleasing sounds I have ever heard and perfectly in keeping with the album’s concept but also makes it sound fantastical and magical. There was always method in the madness and the songs, arrangements and production are just truly transcendent. This is one of my top 5 favourite songs.
@kirklarson1316
Seems like good driving on a stormy day music.
@seniorgrocco
I miss Cohen. He was one of the greatest songwriters of all time.
@seanmccann8368
Absolutely, there have been few who match his genius.
@j.c7719
Undoubtedly, a genius of the highest calibre.
@ericbruyn
To Idolize is to close the door for other beauty.
@tomyates8219
I heard that love was out of my control.....touché!
@james00779
Phill Specter was a genius. Respect for the man !!!
@stankarijeka3775
Cohen is the best
@michelablanco5535
GRANDE LEONARD COHEN,VERO UOMO,GRANDE ARTISTA🌹♥️