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.
The Stranger
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter
I know that kind of man, it's hard to hold the hand of anyone
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild
He'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
And then leaning on your window sill
He'll say one day you caused his will
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger
But now another stranger seems
To want you to ignore his dreams
As though they were the burden of some other
Oh, you've seen that man before
His golden arm dispatching cards
But now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes, he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter
Ah, you hate to see another tired man
Lay down his hand like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep you notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It's curling just like smoke above his shoulder
You tell him to come in sit down
But something makes you turn around
The door is open you can't close your shelter
You try the handle of the road, it opens, do not be afraid
It's you my love, you who are the stranger
It is you my love, you who are the stranger
Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
We'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
I think it's time to board another
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
To get me to the heart of this or any other matter
Well, he talks like this you don't know what he's after
When he speaks like this you don't know what he's after
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
Upon the shore, beneath the bridge
That they are building on some endless river
Then he leaves the platform for the sleeping car that's warm
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
And you say okay, the bridge or someplace later
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
You find he did not leave you very much, not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild
He'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
And leaning on your window sill
He'll say one day you caused his will
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger
I told you when I came I was a stranger
The Stranger Song by Leonard Cohen is a haunting and enigmatic song which features his unique style of lyrics that has been described as "poetic" and "philosophical." The song revolves around a conversation between a woman and a man who describes himself as a stranger. The woman has been with men who were dealers and gave them shelter, but the man knows it is hard to hold the hand of anyone who is reaching for the sky just to surrender. The next verse describes the man sweeping up the jokers that he left behind, signifying his departure from his former life. He thinks he has not left the woman much except pain and grief.
Then he leans on her window sill and reminds her that she caused his will to weaken with her love and warmth and shelter. He takes out an old schedule of trains from his wallet, explaining that he told her when he first came that he was a stranger. The song ends with the man leaving for another shelter, but before he leaves, he tells her that he was never really a stranger.
Line by Line Meaning
It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
The men that you have known were dealers, who claimed to have stopped dealing.
Who said they were through with dealing
These dealers proclaimed that they had quit dealing.
Every time you gave them shelter
Despite the fact that they claimed to have quit, you still provided them with shelter.
I know that kind of man, it's hard to hold the hand of anyone
These men are difficult to handle, and may not be trustworthy.
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
These men have high aspirations, but they end up giving up easily.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
Picking up the pieces left behind after these men have left.
You find he did not leave you very much, not even laughter
They did not leave behind much, not even joy.
Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild
These dealers are always looking for an opportunity to take advantage of people.
He'll never need to deal another
The dealer has all he needs, and doesn't need to keep dealing.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was searching for a place he could call home and be welcomed.
And then leaning on your window sill
Relaxing on your window sill, reflecting on the past.
He'll say one day you caused his will
Suggesting that you influenced and controlled him.
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
Your kindness and comfort have made him feel vulnerable and weak.
And then taking from his wallet
Pulling out an item from his wallet.
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
The item he took out is an old train schedule.
I told you when I came I was a stranger
He had warned you that he was a stranger when he first arrived.
But now another stranger seems
Another stranger has come into the picture, and things are changing.
To want you to ignore his dreams
This new stranger does not want you to believe or support the old stranger's dreams.
As though they were the burden of some other
The new stranger seems to believe that the old stranger's dreams are somebody else's problem.
Oh, you've seen that man before
You recognize this new stranger from somewhere.
His golden arm dispatching cards
The new stranger is expertly handing out game cards.
But now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
Over time, the new stranger's once-golden arm has become rusty and worn.
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
The new stranger is now prioritizing security and shelter over his previous games.
Yes, he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter
This new stranger is aiming to exchange his known game and lifestyle for a life of safety.
Ah, you hate to see another tired man
You feel sorrow for seeing yet another tired, defeated man.
Lay down his hand like he was giving up the holy game of poker
Like he has given up on important, meaningful things, such as a holy game.
And while he talks his dreams to sleep you notice there's a highway
As he shares his dreams, you realize that there is a grand road before him.
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
The road symbolizes a future adventure, curling up like smoke above his shoulder.
You tell him to come in sit down
Inviting him in to your space and home.
But something makes you turn around
Despite inviting him in, you still hesitate and have doubts.
The door is open you can't close your shelter
Even though it’s hard, you cannot close your home and safety to the stranger.
You try the handle of the road, it opens, do not be afraid
Rather than fearing the unfamiliar road ahead, you must embrace it and conquer it.
It's you my love, you who are the stranger
The 'you' referred to here is now the true stranger, something unexpected and unknown.
Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
The ‘I’ here has been waiting for a while and was confident that you would appear.
We'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
The expectation was for a chance encounter between incoming trains.
I think it's time to board another
The time has come to board the upcoming train.
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
He insists that he never had a secret plan or intention.
To get me to the heart of this or any other matter
He never had any hidden agenda to find the heart of anything, no matter the situation.
Well, he talks like this you don't know what he's after
Despite his assurance that he has no secrets, his way of speaking makes it hard for you to trust him.
When he speaks like this you don't know what he's after
His mode of speaking still makes it hard for you to discern what he really desires.
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
He offers to meet tomorrow if you want.
Upon the shore, beneath the bridge
The place of the meeting is at the shore and beneath a bridge.
That they are building on some endless river
The bridge under discussion is being built over an infinite river.
Then he leaves the platform for the sleeping car that's warm
He leaves to go board a warm sleeping car.
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
You finally understand that he's simply hinting at finding just one more place of shelter before moving on.
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
You finally understand that the stranger was never really a stranger.
And you say okay, the bridge or someplace later
You agree to meet him either at the bridge or some other time in the future.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
You pick up the last bits of debris that the stranger left.
You find he did not leave you very much, not even laughter
After picking up the left-behind items, you realize there is very little left, not even happiness.
Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild
Just like a dealer always watches for the high-risk cards.
He'll never need to deal another
He will never need to deal cards again, having found what he needs.
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just someone in search of a home where he would be welcomed.
And leaning on your window sill
Reflecting quietly by your window.
He'll say one day you caused his will
The stranger mentions how you had influenced him whichever way.
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
Your kindness had made him feel weakened with vulnerability.
And then taking from his wallet
Pulling out an item from his wallet.
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
The item he took out is an old train schedule.
I told you when I came I was a stranger
He reminds you that when he first came, he was a stranger.
I told you when I came I was a stranger
He reminds you once again of his initial stay at your shelter.
I told you when I came I was a stranger
He repeats the statement he made earlier, reminding you that he was a stranger when he first arrived.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itamarmarle7246
lyrics:
It's true that all the men you knew were dealers
Who said they were through with dealing
Every time you gave them shelter
I know that kind of man
It's hard to hold the hand of anyone
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender
Who is reaching for the sky just to surrender.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
You find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
That is so high and wild
He'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
And then leaning on your window sill
He'll say one day you caused his will
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger.
But now another stranger seems
To want you to ignore his dreams
As though they were the burden of some other
O you've seen that man before
His golden arm dispatching cards
But now it's rusted from the elbows to the finger
And he wants to trade the game he plays for shelter
Yes he wants to trade the game he knows for shelter.
Ah you hate to watch another tired man
Lay down his hand
Like he was giving up the holy game of poker
And while he talks his dreams to sleep
You notice there's a highway
That is curling up like smoke above his shoulder
It is curling just like smoke above his shoulder.
You tell him to come in sit down
But something makes you turn around
The door is open you can't close your shelter
You try the handle of the road
It opens do not be afraid
It's you my love, you who are the stranger
It's you my love, you who are the stranger.
Well, I've been waiting, I was sure
We'd meet between the trains we're waiting for
I think it's time to board another
Please understand, I never had a secret chart
To get me to the heart of this
Or any other matter
When he talks like this
You don't know what he's after
When he speaks like this,
You don't know what he's after.
Let's meet tomorrow if you choose
Upon the shore, beneath the bridge
That they are building on some endless river
Then he leaves the platform
For the sleeping car that's warm
You realize, he's only advertising one more shelter
And it comes to you, he never was a stranger
And you say ok the bridge or someplace later.
And then sweeping up the jokers that he left behind
You find he did not leave you very much not even laughter
Like any dealer he was watching for the card
That is so high and wild
He'll never need to deal another
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger
He was just some Joseph looking for a manger.
And then leaning on your window sill
He'll say one day you caused his will
To weaken with your love and warmth and shelter
And then taking from his wallet
An old schedule of trains, he'll say
I told you when I came I was a stranger.
I told you when I came I was a stranger.
I told you when I came I was a stranger.
@johnrichard8235
I fell in love with this song when I was18. I am closing in on 70 and realize I have lived it.
@indreamswake
Me too
@LadyBird791
🌺❤️❤️❤️😘
@stigmatamartyrr
Was 17 when I fell in love with this. Now i'm 19
@travelfreak2
@jeanpaulbaptiste7553
Me too. 70th and still under the charm. Timeless.
@sophiephillips-dr9iu
I’m listening in 2023 as a 34 year old and still, no man has breached my soul like this magnificant man has. I truly hope there are more unveiling him as I type this for he changed my life for the better 💖
@timothyswartz4775
I'm 34 too lol. Trying to get into this artist and I forat heard this song in my teens and loved it but never looked up any more Leonard Cohen. Any suggestions?
@zeltzamer4010
@@timothyswartz4775Songs of the Street if you want folk, First We Take Manhattan or Everybody Knows if you want synth.
@awikio
Love this line: "Like any dealer he was watching for the card that is so high and wild he'll never need to deal another"