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.
True Love Leaves No Traces
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the dark green hill
So my body leaves no scar
On you and never will
Through windows in the dark
The children come, the children go
Like arrows with no targets
Like shackles made of snow
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
As a falling leaf may rest
A moment on the air
So your head upon my breast
So my hand upon your hair
And many nights endure
Without a moon or star
So we will endure
When one is gone and far
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
In “True Love Leaves No Traces,” Leonard Cohen employs the metaphor of the human body and the earth’s natural processes to describe love that is pure, enduring, and effacing. As the mist that evaporates from the hillside leaves no visible trace behind nor the singer's love leave any physical mark on the beloved's body, and never will. He says that their love is private and sacred, not to be contaminated by the chaos of the outside world. Likewise, children come and go as innocents without aim or purpose, like arrows in a bow without a target. This can be interpreted as life is unpredictable and we as humans often lack direction or goals. The image of shackles made of snow speaks to the transient nature of life itself. This metaphor suggests that the bindings of society are fragile, and they will eventually dissolve.
However, love is enduring beyond the changes of the seasons, the disappearing stars or moons. Even when they part, their love will persist as a memory. The singer compares his unity with the beloved to falling leaves that drift on the air—ephemeral, fleeting, and delicate. The connection between them is tender and patient, allowing them to endure even in the absence of light from the moon and stars. The love they share transcends the physical realm, as they merge into one.
Line by Line Meaning
As the mist leaves no scar
My presence in your life will be so fleeting that it will not leave any lasting impact or memory on you.
On the dark green hill
This is a metaphorical representation of your heart, which will remain unchanged and unaffected by my short stay in your life.
So my body leaves no scar
My physical presence will not leave a mark on you, for it will be as if I was never there.
On you and never will
Not only will I not leave a physical scar on you, but I will also not leave an emotional one.
Through windows in the dark
This symbolizes the fleeting, temporary nature of our relationship, which will occur in the shadows and the darkness.
The children come, the children go
Just as children come and go without leaving any lasting impact, our relationship will come and go without any real significance.
Like arrows with no targets
Our relationship will be aimless and pointless, with no real direction or purpose.
Like shackles made of snow
Our relationship will be as fragile and temporary as snow, which does not hold up under pressure.
True love leaves no traces
When two beings truly love each other, their souls become one and they leave no distinguishing marks on each other, for they are inseparable.
If you and I are one
Only when two beings become one in their love can true love be attained, as it is impossible to separate them.
It's lost in our embraces
Our love is so all-encompassing and intense that it cannot be preserved or captured in words or actions, but only in the physical essence of our embrace.
Like stars against the sun
Our love is so bright and intense that it cannot be seen next to anything else, like stars against the brightness of the sun.
As a falling leaf may rest
Just as a falling leaf may find solace in a brief moment of rest, our love will find rest and comfort in the physical presence of each other.
A moment on the air
This moment of rest will be temporary, just like the momentary pause in the descent of a falling leaf.
So your head upon my breast
Our love will find comfort and solace in the physical bond we share, as we hold each other close.
So my hand upon your hair
In this moment of physical intimacy, we will be so connected that it will be impossible to separate us.
And many nights endure
Just as many nights endure without the light of the moon or the stars, our love will endure even in the darkest of times.
Without a moon or star
This signifies the absence of external forces or influences, as our love is self-sustaining and does not require outside support to endure.
So we will endure
Our love will last through all things, even when everything else around us fades away.
When one is gone and far
Even if we are separated by distance or time, our love will continue to endure and remain unchanged.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Abkco Music Inc.
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, PHIL SPECTOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@toszatesze3796
As the mist leaves no scar
On the dark green hill
So my body leaves no scar
On you and never will
Through windows in the dark
The children come, the children go
Like arrows with no targets
Like shackles made of snow
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
As a falling leaf may rest
A moment on the air
So your head upon my breast
So my hand upon your hair
And many nights endure
Without a moon or star
So we will endure
When one is gone and far
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
@chinekevantil628
This album is my "guilty pleasure"
as a dancing child from 1960 I love to move
my hands and arms on the sound of brass.
It was my December gift in 1977.
The best juvenile memories go with the drama of this album.
Truth is, you could consider that look on his face a smile.
Since L.Cohen himself has forgiven Phil Spector
I'm a happy and proud owner of both the long player and CD.
@ricardo_valadez
This is what falling in love sounds like
@toszatesze3796
As the mist leaves no scar
On the dark green hill
So my body leaves no scar
On you and never will
Through windows in the dark
The children come, the children go
Like arrows with no targets
Like shackles made of snow
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
As a falling leaf may rest
A moment on the air
So your head upon my breast
So my hand upon your hair
And many nights endure
Without a moon or star
So we will endure
When one is gone and far
True love leaves no traces
If you and I are one
It's lost in our embraces
Like stars against the sun
@chinekevantil628
Such a great poet
@bidou1822
Merci 😊
@julieadam7425
This is one of his best!! ❤ Eternal love!!! The melody, the lyrics and the soft mellow of this song is so melodious!! ❤️🎵❤️🎧🎶
@tamaragurzuff6798
люблю поезію, музику, пісні і вокал Леонарда Коена. Дякую за творчість!
@chinekevantil628
This album is my "guilty pleasure"
as a dancing child from 1960 I love to move
my hands and arms on the sound of brass.
It was my December gift in 1977.
The best juvenile memories go with the drama of this album.
Truth is, you could consider that look on his face a smile.
Since L.Cohen himself has forgiven Phil Spector
I'm a happy and proud owner of both the long player and CD.
@kelseycrace2358
Phil spector brought me here...I was born in 1960..funny...I was 17 listening to lynyrd skynyrd...Fleetwood mac...almond brothers... etc..and in the yr. 2021 @ the age of 60 I discover Leonard cohen.....💙❤💚🧡💛💜😕😉🙂
@tagamaga797
@@kelseycrace2358 никогда не поздно, друг
@goodmorningcanary
for me too@@kelseycrace2358