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.
There for You
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the pain came through
I get it now
I was there for you
Don't ask me how
I know it's true
I get it now
I was there for you
Like I always do
But when I look back
I was there for you
I walk the streets
Like I used to do
And I freeze with fear
But I'm there for you
I see my life
In full review
It was never me
It was always you
You sent me here
You sent me there
Breaking things
I can't repair
Making objects
Out of thoughts
Making more
By thinking not
Eating food
And drinking wine
A body that
I thought was mine
Dressed as Arab
Dressed as Jew
O mask of iron
I was there for you
Moods of glory
Moods so foul
The world comes through
A bloody towel
And death is old
But it's always new
I freeze with fear
And I'm there for you
I see it clear
I always knew
It was never me
I was there for you
I was there for you
My darling one
And by your law
It all was done
Leonard Cohen's song 'There for You' reflects on the pain and turmoil of a past relationship, and the realization of the singer's constant support towards their lover. The repetition of "I was there for you" is a reminder of the singer's devotion to their partner. Despite the pain and fear that they felt, they stayed by their lover's side through all of it. The lyrics hold a sense of clarity and self-realization, as the singer comes to understand the depth of their love for their partner. The lines "I see my life in full review, it was never me, it was always you" illustrate a deeper understanding of the power their partner had over them, and how they were willing to do anything for them. The final line of the chorus "And by your law, it all was done" represents the idea that the relationship was dictated by their partner's choices and decisions, but the singer remained loyal and committed until the end.
The verses of the song make use of metaphorical language to describe the singer's experiences. The lines "dressed as Arab, dressed as Jew, o mask of iron, I was there for you" speak to the idea of putting on a facade or protective layer for their partner, despite the internal struggle they were facing. The use of "moods of glory, moods so foul" describes the highs and lows of the relationship and the emotional toll it had on the singer. The final lines "And death is old, but it's always new, I freeze with fear, and I'm there for you" capture the fear and uncertainty that comes with the end of the relationship, but also the unwavering loyalty that the singer holds towards their partner until the very end.
Line by Line Meaning
When it all went down
When everything fell apart
And the pain came through
And the agony became unmistakable
I get it now
I understand now
I was there for you
That I was present and available for you
Don't ask me how
Don't inquire about the specifics
I know it's true
I am certain that it is accurate
I make my plans
I formulate my own plans
Like I always do
As usual
But when I look back
However, when I reminisce
I was there for you
I was there for you
I walk the streets
I wander through the streets
Like I used to do
As if nothing has changed
And I freeze with fear
And I am immobilized with terror
But I'm there for you
But I'm still there to provide support to you
I see my life
I examine my life
In full review
In its entirety
It was never me
I was never the center of this
It was always you
It was always about you
You sent me here
You sent me to this place
You sent me there
You sent me to that place
Breaking things
Destroying things
I can't repair
That I am unable to mend
Making objects
Creating things
Out of thoughts
Out of ideas
Making more
Producing more
By thinking not
Without even trying
Eating food
Consuming food
And drinking wine
And consuming wine
A body that
A physical form that
I thought was mine
That I believed was my own
Dressed as Arab
Garbed as an Arab
Dressed as Jew
Dressed as a Jew
O mask of iron
Oh, face of steel
I was there for you
I was there for you
Moods of glory
Feelings of great triumph
Moods so foul
Moods so unpleasant
The world comes through
The universe finds a way
A bloody towel
A cloth stained with blood
And death is old
Death is not new
But it's always new
Yet it is always unfamiliar
I freeze with fear
I become paralyzed with fear
And I'm there for you
And yet, I am still there to support you
I see it clear
I understand it clearly
I always knew
I always knew
It was never me
It was never about me
I was there for you
I was there for you
My darling one
My beloved
And by your law
And based on your principles
It all was done
It was all completed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, SHARON ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Allen
A wonderful album . Thank you Leonard and all involved in putting this together and finishing this living and breathing work of art since his passing. Hats off to you all for putting his hat back on. I love you all.
Imran Emu
Wish you a very happy birthday. We're so lucky to found you. You'll live forever in million people's heart. Love you Legend!
Ruth King
Keep me alive Leonard
S F
❤
fiorella fenati
meraviglia. superb