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.
Storeroom
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My hands below the belt, or my hands above
In the arms of other men,
Or in my bed again.
It's just a man,
Taking what he needs,
From the store room,
Store room, store room.
Your preachers all around you
Being bored, and your prophet straight and tall.
And yet they'll undermine it all.
Just a man, just a man,
Taking what he needs,
From the store room,
Store room, store room.
Yeah, Shakespeare said it all, then he said no more
And he left me feeling just like a two bit whore.
Well the silence broke my heart, but yes
I spread my legs apart.
It's just a man...
?????
?????
The hermit in the Wild,
The parent in the child.
Just a man...
Oh my love, let us unpin you,
???? You done, bringing more:
The mother and the father, the daughter and the son.
But should one refuse to come, it does not subtract the sum
It's just a man...
It's not a (due?) of burning pounds that ruins your mind
Like a spoon that you turn and you turn and you don't unwind,
Though these wars that you did not stop,
They don't tear your sleep apart.
It's just a man...
???? That keeps you up,
What a (moon?) coming like a headlight through the window
Not the thumbnail of a screen, [?]
No best way to dream [?]
It's just a man...
Now the woman by your side is she awake?
But there's nothing you want to give her,
And there's nothing that you really want to take.
You don't even try to prove that the noisy neighbor's making love. [?]
It's just a man...
I love you without caring whom you love...
The Leonard Cohen song, Storeroom, from his album "Death of a Ladies Man," is a slow bluesy song that showcases Cohen's poetic skills. The song primarily deals with the issue of love, and how the singer's love can transcend the social and moral boundaries set by society. Cohen presents a love that doesn't ask for anything in return. The opening lines of "I love you without caring whom you love" reflect this sentiment. The song then takes a sexual turn as Cohen sings about his own sexual cravings as "my hands below the belt, or my hands above." Throughout the song, Cohen juxtaposes the societal norms that dictate what is right or wrong with love and his own interpretation of love.
Cohen's lyrics are deep and take the listener on a journey that is both sensuous and thoughtful. He sings about seeing his woman sitting on her throne with all her preachers surrounding her. Still, even with all their combined wisdom, they fall short in understanding the nature of love as Cohen understands it. He belts out, "And yet they'll undermine it all," highlighting the limitations of organized religion when it comes to matters of the heart. Cohen compares himself to a two-bit whore, referencing Shakespeare's profound words, but then goes on to justify his actions as merely a man taking what he needs from the storeroom.
Line by Line Meaning
I love you, without caring whom you love.
I love you unconditionally, despite who you choose to love.
My hands below the belt, or my hands above
I will touch you wherever you allow me to, sexually.
In the arms of other men, Or in my bed again.
You can be with other men, but I hope you come back to my bed.
It's just a man, Taking what he needs, From the store room, Store room, store room.
I am just a man fulfilling my sexual desires and needs, taking what I want from the women around me.
I love to see you sitting there upon your throne, Your preachers all around you Being bored, and your prophet straight and tall. And yet they'll undermine it all.
I enjoy seeing you in power, but those who surround and support you may secretly be against you.
Just a man, just a man, Taking what he needs, From the store room, Store room, store room.
I am still just a man taking what I want from the women in my life.
Yeah, Shakespeare said it all, then he said no more And he left me feeling just like a two bit whore. Well the silence broke my heart, but yes I spread my legs apart.
Shakespeare's words no longer satisfy me and I've been left feeling worthless. Though I have been heartbroken by this silence, I am still willing to have sex.
It's just a man...
I am still just a man, driven by my primal desires and needs.
?????
Lyrics are unknown or indiscernible.
?????
Lyrics are unknown or indiscernible.
The hermit in the Wild, The parent in the child. Just a man...
We all have different sides to us, but at the end of the day, I am just a man with physical and emotional desires.
Oh my love, let us unpin you, ???? You done, bringing more: The mother and the father, the daughter and the son. But should one refuse to come, it does not subtract the sum It's just a man...
Let us take off your clothes and explore your body further. We can embrace all types of familial relationships but if one person does not want to participate, it does not change the situation. I am still just a man with sexual needs.
It's not a (due?) of burning pounds that ruins your mind Like a spoon that you turn and you turn and you don't unwind, Though these wars that you did not stop, They don't tear your sleep apart. It's just a man...
Being overweight does not cause mental ruin, but other things (like replaying the past over and over in your mind) can. Even though I can't stop these wars in my mind, it doesn't keep me up at night. I am still just a man with desires and needs.
???? That keeps you up, What a (moon?) coming like a headlight through the window Not the thumbnail of a screen, [?] No best way to dream [?] It's just a man...
Lyrics are unknown or indiscernible.
Now the woman by your side is she awake? But there's nothing you want to give her, And there's nothing that you really want to take. You don't even try to prove that the noisy neighbor's making love. [?]
Is the woman next to you awake? Even so, I am not interested in giving or taking anything. I don't even try to eavesdrop on the passionate noises coming from my neighbor's apartment. I am still just a man with my own desires and needs.
It's just a man, I love you without caring whom you love...
Once again, I am just a man driven by my desires and needs, but I still love you without regard to who you choose to love.
Contributed by Wyatt F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Segi gise
"It's not the news of burning towns that ruins your mind
Like a spool you turn and you turn but it won't unwind
No these wars you did not start, they don't tear your sleep apart
It's just a man taking what he needs from the store room"
and
"And now this woman by your side, well, she's asleep
And there's nothing you can give her and there's nothing you want to keep
You don't even try to prove that the noise is neighbors making love
It's just a man taking what he needs from the store room"
</3
Davidovsky
He's gone, but masterpieces like this will remain forever. Genius.
KRAZEEIZATION
Brilliant song!
Assaf Weinberg
one of the best ever unknown songs of this great legend and greatest poets
Russell McCallum
He will be missed..... :( But never forgotten.
I thank you so much Leonard, also for this song,
After you put me on, The path I belong,
R.I.P as I gaze at the moon,
And if all else fails, I'll see you soon.
Peace.
Amazon Crime
Tellement.
User
Songs of Leonard Cohen is so good that the leftovers are good
Ljubisa Keravica
So far I have not noticed serious genius Leonard Cohen. Jako wonder that in its 60 years, I have not noticed such a great talent. Mr. Cohen, I'm really fascinated by your talent. I've never been so surprised to discover that there is another Elvis Presley. Thank you share your talents to the people and makes us rejoice
Best Regards from Serbia.
stanthonysfire
Elvis didn't write his own songs.
Caio Graco
Leonard para sempre
Anne Collinet
i love this song ...too much!!!