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.
So Long Marianne
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd like to try to read your palm
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Well, you know that I love to live with you
But you make me forget so very much
I forget to pray for the angels
And then the angels forget to pray for us
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
We met when we were almost young
Deep in the green lilac park
You held on to me like I was a crucifix
As we went kneeling through the dark
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Your letters, they all say that you're beside me now
Then why do I feel alone?
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone
Now so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
For now I need your hidden love
I'm cold as a new razorblade
You left when I told you I was curious
I never said that I was brave
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
Oh, you are really such a pretty one
I see you've gone and changed your name again
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
To wash my eyelids in the rain
Oh, so long, Marianne
It's time that we began to laugh
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
"So Long Marianne" is a melancholy yet tender love song by Leonard Cohen that is about the complicated relationship between him and Marianne Jensen, his close friend and lover. The song starts with Cohen inviting Marianne to come over to the window so that he can read her palm, but he reveals that he used to think of himself as a Gypsy boy before she took him home. The first verse, therefore, establishes the setting of the song in which Cohen's life has been transformed by his relationship with Marianne, and he recognizes that it is time for them to move on.
The chorus of the song is hauntingly beautiful as Cohen sings "Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began to laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again," which is a reflection of the bittersweet memories he has of his relationship with Marianne. The second verse of the song continues the theme of Cohen's transformation as a result of his romance with Marianne. He talks about how he used to forget to pray for the angels and how the angels in return forgot to pray for them.
The third verse of the song laments the feeling of loneliness Cohen experiences even though Marianne's letters indicate that she is with him. He likens himself to being tied by a fine spider web and standing on a ledge, which is a reference to his feeling of precariousness. The final verse of the song is a tribute to Marianne's beauty, but it also reveals the pain of separation that Cohen feels.
Line by Line Meaning
Come over to the window, my little darling
Leonard wants Marianne to come closer to him so that he can read her palm.
I'd like to try to read your palm
Leonard wants to predict Marianne's future by examining the lines on her palm.
I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy
Leonard used to think of himself as a free-spirited nomadic person.
Before I let you take me home
Before Leonard allowed Marianne to take him home and settle down in a committed relationship.
Now so long, Marianne
Now that the relationship is ending, Leonard is saying goodbye to Marianne.
It's time that we began to laugh
It's time Leonard and Marianne laughed together.
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
They should let their emotions out and share their memories with each other.
Well, you know that I love to live with you
Leonard loves spending time with Marianne.
But you make me forget so very much
Marianne makes him so happy that he forgets important things.
I forget to pray for the angels
Leonard forgets to seek divine assistance.
And then the angels forget to pray for us
As Leonard forgets to pray, the Angels may forget to intercede on their behalf.
We met when we were almost young
They fell in love when they were still in their youth.
Deep in the green lilac park
They met in a park surrounded by lilacs.
You held on to me like I was a crucifix
Marianne held on to Leonard tightly, as if he were a religious relic.
As we went kneeling through the dark
They crawled through the dark, holding each other tightly and moving together.
Your letters, they all say that you're beside me now
Marianne's letters to Leonard give the impression that she is always with him.
Then why do I feel alone?
However, Leonard still feels lonely despite the letters.
I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Leonard feels trapped by Marianne's hold on him like a spider web on a ledge.
Is fastening my ankle to a stone
He feels weighed down by his relationship with Marianne.
For now I need your hidden love
Despite everything, Leonard still requires Marianne's love.
I'm cold as a new razorblade
Leonard is emotionally cold and unfeeling.
You left when I told you I was curious
Marianne left Leonard when he expressed an interest in seeing other people.
I never said that I was brave
Leonard confesses he was scared of being alone.
Oh, you are really such a pretty one
Leonard thinks Marianne is a beautiful woman.
I see you've gone and changed your name again
Marianne has changed her name a few times that reflects her personality.
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
Leonard has made a lot of effort for the relationship.
To wash my eyelids in the rain
He wants to wash his face and forget his previous memories of Marianne.
Oh, so long, Marianne
The song ends with Leonard bidding a final farewell to Marianne.
It's time that we began to laugh
Though their relationship has come to a sad end, it's time to move on and be happy.
And cry and cry and laugh about it all again
It's time to let emotions out and cherish memories together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@robbielahaye4006
My Dad played this song over and over when my Mother died from suicide in 1980. I'd come downstairs in the evening not being able to fall asleep, and find my Dad in the living room playing the vinyl version. As a 5-year old kid, I could not understand what happened, I could only feel the intense emotions this song evoked. I am 46 now and still this song brings tears to my eyes, and makes me miss both my Dad and Mom so much.
@lancewaddell-smith3170
<3
@deborahjordan235
My go to song for a blood good cry and to remind me to stay has always been "the suicide song" by REM or its real title "Everybody Hurts." Guaranteed to release all stress and calm me. Everybody needs A song !
@franrivasrivas8473
I understand you perfectly.I was in Hydra back in 1967...Life can be very hard for many...
@charlottenorthcut-keen2221
Hugs x
@jacobfirst2365
@@deborahjordan235 beautiful ❤️
@seanreddan9309
Today, is the first day in my life I have listened to Leonard Cohen. A memorable day.
@mikehaight8664
Listen to sisters of mercy, joan of arc, story of Isaac, bird on a wire, passing through.
@realvilla
1st if many i hope. He's an absolute poet
@carolparker7782
Good for you my friend.