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"; 1905โ1978), 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 (1891โ1943), 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 Garcรญa 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 countryโfolk 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.
Slow
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never liked it fast
You want to get there soon
I want to get there last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I always liked it slow
I'm lacing up my shoe
But I don't want to run
I'll get here when I do
Don't need no starting gun
It's not because I'm old
And it's not what dying does
I always liked it slow
Slow is in my blood
I always liked it slow:
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go:
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not because I'm dead
I always liked it slow
That's what my momma said
All your moves are swift
All your turns are tight
Let me catch my breath
I thought we had all night
I like to take my time
I like to linger as it flies
A weekend on your lips
A lifetime in your eyes
I always liked it slow:
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go:
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I always liked it slow
That's what my momma said
I'm slowing down the tune
I never liked it fast
You want to get there soon
I want to get there last
So baby let me go
You're wanted back in town
In case they want to know
I'm just trying to slow it down
In Slow, Leonard Cohen expresses his appreciation for taking things at a leisurely pace, both in music and in life. He sings about slowing down the tune, lacing up his shoes without the need for a starting gun, catching his breath after all the swift moves and tight turns, and taking the time to linger as time flies by. While the other person in the song wants to get there soon, Cohen wants to get there last. This slowness is not because he's old or dying; it's simply part of his character and in his blood.
Cohen's lyrics reveal his deeper interpretation of life, where he chooses to take the time to appreciate its beauty and live in the moment. It's a stark contrast to our modern society that values speed and productivity, always rushing to get ahead. Cohen implies that this mindset could cause us to miss the magical moments in life that we really shouldn't take for granted. He is asking the person he sings to let him go and continue with their fast-paced life in town, while he slows down and basks in the exquisite moments of a slower existence.
Overall, Slow is a beautiful reminder to live life at our own pace and savor every moment. It encourages people to take a step back and enjoy the little things in life, rather than always striving to move forward at lightning speed.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm slowing down the tune
I prefer a slower pace in life
I never liked it fast
I don't like the feeling of rushing or hurrying
You want to get there soon
You are focused on reaching the destination quickly
I want to get there last
I don't mind taking my time to get there
It's not because I'm old
Age has nothing to do with my desire for a slower pace
It's not the life I led
My past experiences or lifestyle aren't the reason why I prefer a slower pace of life
I always liked it slow
I have always preferred a slower pace
That's what my momma said
My mother instilled in me the value of slowing down and appreciating life
I'm lacing up my shoe
I'm getting ready to move
But I don't want to run
But I don't want to rush or hurry
I'll get here when I do
I'll arrive when I arrive, at my own pace
Don't need no starting gun
I don't need any external pressure or motivation to get going
And it's not what dying does
Death has nothing to do with my preference for a slower pace
Slow is in my blood
I have an innate desire to take things slow
With you it's got to go
You prefer a faster pace that doesn't align with mine
With me it's got to last
I want to savor the moment and take my time
All your moves are swift
You're always in a hurry or rush
All your turns are tight
You make sudden turns and changes of direction
Let me catch my breath
Give me a moment to slow down and relax
I thought we had all night
I thought we had more time to enjoy each other's company
I like to take my time
I enjoy savoring the moment and not rushing
I like to linger as it flies
I want to enjoy and appreciate the passing of time
A weekend on your lips
A moment with you feels like a brief, yet memorable experience
A lifetime in your eyes
When I look at you, I see a lifetime of experiences and emotions
So baby let me go
Let me go at my own pace
You're wanted back in town
You have obligations and responsibilities back at home
In case they want to know
In case someone asks, that's why I'm slowing down
I'm just trying to slow it down
I'm intentionally choosing to move at a slower pace
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
axinos55
SLOW BY Leonard Cohen
I'm slowing down the tune
I've never liked it fast
You wanna get there soon
I wanna get there last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I always liked it slow
That's what my mamma said
I'm lacing up my shoes
But I don't want to run
I'll get there when i do
Don't need no starting gun
It's not because I'm old
And it's not what dying does
I've always liked it slow
Slow is in my blood
[Chorus]
I've always like it slow
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not because I'm dead
I've always liked it slow
That's what my mama said
All your moves are swift
All your turns are tight
Let me catch my breath
I thought we had all night
I like to take my time
I like to linger as it flies
A weekend on your lips
A lifetime in your eyes
[Chorus]
I've always like it slow
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I've always like it slow
That's what my mama said
[Chorus]
I'm slowing down the tune
I've never liked it fast
You wanna get there soon
I wanna get there last
So, baby let me go
You're wanted back in town
In case they want to know
I'm just trying to slow down
Leonard is living in our hearts forever
sheri solomon
I'm slowing down the tune
I never liked it fast
You want to get there soon
I want to get there last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I always liked it slow
That's what my momma said
I'm lacing up my shoe
But I don't want to run
I'll get here when I do
Don't need no starting gun
It's not because I'm old
And it's not what dying does
I always liked it slow
Slow is in my blood
I always liked it slow:
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go:
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not because I'm dead
I always liked it slow
That's what my momma said
All your moves are swift
All your turns are tight
Let me catch my breath
I thought we had all night
I like to take my time
I like to linger as it flies
A weekend on your lips
A lifetime in your eyes
I always liked it slow:
I never liked it fast
With you it's got to go:
With me it's got to last
It's not because I'm old
It's not the life I led
I always liked it slow
That's what my momma said
I'm slowing down the tune
I never liked it fast
You want to get there soon
I want to get there last
So baby let me go
You're wanted back in town
In case they want to know
I'm just trying to slow it down
Chuck Heppner
๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย ๐ ย โ ย ๐ย
Easy come but she was hard to go 'cuz she took such a big hole outta' my heart & soul,
So I'm Rocking it hard & Rolling it slow 'cuz that should always be apropos,
And even though it's not my status quo-I still must travel for I have a long ways to go
As I tread ever so lightly upon this new-found neocon oligarch's tableau, ย
I tell myself that it's just another neoconservative dog & pony show
If the no-information voters finally wake-up then we'll give 'em the old heave-ho
But in the meantime it's gonna' be a mighty damned hard row to hoe
So remind yourself that mighty oaks from acorns grow - but I'd still rather deliver a body-blow. ...
Cameraman
My anti-anxiety song.
It's okay to take it slow. World won't end because I took it a little slow today.
Carolyn Cookson
Love you
Leonardo . Wish I could have
Met you. Wow. Wou wow
Wendy Adams
Leonard, you have been my favourite singer since the 60's. A poet with a deep philosophical perspective. A master of multiple meanings. A thinker. And your message is not drowned out by musical paraphernalia, but enhanced by it when needed.
Bob Seay
One of those amazing voices that has improved with age. Great album.
Ken Smeaton
The greatest modern poet, always a revelation and a real pleasure to listen and contemplate. Thank you Leonard.
d s
Thanks for the video content! Excuse me for the intrusion, I am interested in your thoughts. Have you thought about - Rozardner Stopping Sounds Reality (Have a quick look on google cant remember the place now)? It is a good exclusive product for how to instantly slow down music by software minus the hard work. Ive heard some decent things about it and my best friend Jordan got astronomical results with it.
JimmySteller
Leonard Cohen will be thoroughly missed. The best Canadian poet of his time, and a musician whose music will never die.
Mike Val
The best poet of his time.
sunrisetre
JimmySteller yes ... I'm agree. .. tet In peace L.Ch ๐ขโคโคโค
Moon Dancer
Best of any Nationality