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.
Songs of Love and Hate
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love,
I'll wear a mask for you
If you want a partner, take my hand
Or if you want to strike me down in anger,
Here I stand
I'm your man
If you want a boxer,
I will step into the ring for you
And if you want a doctor,
I'll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver, climb inside
Or if you want to take me for a ride,
You know you can
I'm your man
Ah, the moon's too bright
The chain's too tight
The beast won't go to sleep
I've been running through these promises to you
That I made and I could not keep
But a man never got a woman back,
Not by begging on his knees
Or I'd crawl to you baby
And I'd fall at your feet
And I'd howl at your beauty
Like a dog in heat
And I'd claw at your heart
And I'd tear at your sheet
I'd say please, please
I'm your man
And if you've got to sleep
A moment on the road,
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone,
I'll disappear for you
If you want a father for your child,
Or only want to walk with me a while
Across the sand
I'm your man
(If you want a lover)
In "I'm Your Man," Leonard Cohen expresses his willingness to do anything and be anything for his lover. He sings that he'll be a partner, a boxer, a driver, and even a doctor if it means fulfilling the needs of his partner. This song is an expression of intense devotion and commitment to his lover, willing to endure any challenge or discomfort. The verses intensify in their poeticism and promise, with Cohen pledging to fall at his partner's feet and howl at her beauty like a “dog in heat”. In the chorus, Cohen reassures his partner of his availability in every situation by repeating the phrase, “I’m your man.”
The song, however, is not a straightforward love song. The last verse suggests that Cohen has not fully lived up to his promises, singing about the “promises” he had made and could not keep. But he still maintains that he is the best partner for his lover, and he would work hard to earn her love.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want a lover,
If you're craving for a partner to love, I am willing to do everything you want.
I'll do anything you ask me to
I am ready to fulfill your every demand.
And if you want another kind of love,
If you want a different kind of affection or intimacy, I'll wear a mask and adjust to how you want it.
I'll wear a mask for you
I will adapt to your wants and needs, even if it means hiding who I truly am.
If you want a partner, take my hand
If you're seeking for a lifelong commitment, I am willing to stand by your side.
Or if you want to strike me down in anger,
If you are furious and need someone to lash out at, I am here, ready to take the punch.
Here I stand
I am unmovable, ready to face whatever comes our way together.
I'm your man
I am the person you're looking for.
If you want a boxer,
If you need someone to fight for you, I am willing to take on the challenge.
I will step into the ring for you
I will take on any struggle or hardship for your sake.
And if you want a doctor,
If you need someone to examine or heal your wounds, I will be that person for you.
I'll examine every inch of you
I'll be meticulous in tending to your every need or concern.
If you want a driver, climb inside
If you need someone to drive you towards your goals, I am more than happy to assist you.
Or if you want to take me for a ride,
If you want to take charge and lead the way, I am willing to follow you.
You know you can
I trust and believe in you, and I will help you achieve what you want.
I'm your man
I am exclusively yours, now and forever.
(Ah,) the moon's too bright
It seems that everything, even the moon, is out of place and unreasonable.
The chain's too tight
I feel trapped and constrained, unable to free myself from what's holding me back.
The beast won't go to sleep
My inner demons and fears keep me awake and restless, preventing me from feeling peace.
I've been running through these promises to you
I've been trying to keep the commitments I made to you.
That I made and I could not keep
Unfortunately, I was not able to deliver on a few of the promises I made and I apologize for that.
But a man never got a woman back, (not by) begging on his knees
Desperation and begging will not win back a woman's love.
(Or) I'd crawl to you baby
If I have to humiliate and degrade myself, I am willing to do it if it means I can make things right with you.
(And) I'd fall at your feet
I am willing to surrender to you and acknowledge your power over me.
(And) I'd howl at your beauty
I am amazed and flabbergasted by how beautiful you are.
Like a dog in heat
I am so desperate for you that I am behaving like a dog in heat, involuntarily and instinctively wanting your affection.
(And) I'd claw at your heart
I am ready to do anything to touch your heart, even if it means using destructive ways to do so.
(And) I'd tear at your sheet
I am yearning to be with you so badly that I am willing to destroy everything, even your own bedsheet, while doing so.
I'd say please, please
I am desperately pleading with you to take me back and giving you one last chance to do so.
I'm your man
I am still willing to be yours and committed to you, even after everything that's happened.
(And) if you've got to sleep
If you're tired and need to recharge, I will take care of everything while you rest.
A moment on the road,
If we're on a journey, and you feel like pausing for a bit, I will adjust our pace and take our time.
I will steer for you
I will take control and guide us towards our destination while you rest.
(And) if you want to work the street alone,
If you want to be independent and work on your own, I respect your decision and will let you do so.
I'll disappear for you
I will respect your wishes and retreat from your life while you focus on your goals.
(If you want a father for your child),
If you want me to be a father figure to your child, I am ready and willing to do so.
Or only want to walk with me a while
If you simply want companionship and nothing more, I will still be there for you, as long as you want me to.
Across the sand
Through anything and everything, I will always be beside you.
I'm your man
I am here for you, and am committed to you, now and in the future.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEONARD COHEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@abadonrealtunes72
What an album. I am happy to have opportunity to play this through for the first time in my hearing.
@olivierguidecoq9550
Have you got the opportunity to listen to Live song by Cohen ? Just listen to and share then. 👍
@amerLeVrai
What a gem... It is one of the original vinyl I had from my father
@CaptainOfTheLostWaves
A beautiful transparent and transcendent experience for sure
@ryanbareither89
Your dad had great taste in music.
@davidblair3237
My first venture into Leonard Cohen 30 years ago and to this day still my favourite album.
@robbiejohnson2011
The real deal. Thanks for making it easier for everyone to enjoy this treasure. (I remember listening to it, after a particular break-up. That one break-up. I felt better, after listening to this album. I felt less alone.)
@ceeespee2204
I love you.
@robbiejohnson2011
@Cee Espee Why, that's so kind of you. I love you too.
@quacksms4601
I love both of you x