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.
You Want it Darker 2016
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
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If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord
There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There's a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it's written in the scriptures
And it's not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame
They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord
Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni
Leonard Cohen’s song “You Want It Darker” is a haunting interpretation of accepting death and confronting the darkness within oneself. The lyrics depict a dialogue between Cohen and a higher power, where he proclaims his readiness to meet his maker. Through the lyrics “If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game” and “If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame,” Cohen acknowledges that he is ready to leave this mortal world and enter the unknown. The phrase “You want it darker” is repeated throughout the song, evoking a sense of impending doom and finality.
The lyrics also explore themes of shame and redemption, expressed through the lines “If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame” and “We kill the flame.” Cohen is accepting his own faults and is ready to face the consequences of his actions. The Jewish phrase “Hineni” which means “Here I am” is repeated throughout the song, which is traditionally used when someone is called to perform religious duties. Cohen is using the phrase to signify that he is ready to answer the call of his higher power and accept his fate.
Line by Line Meaning
If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you're the one in control, I want no part in this anymore.
If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If you're the one who can fix me, then it means I'm beyond repair and helpless on my own.
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
If you're the one who is deserving of praise, then that means I must be the one who is unworthy and shameful.
You want it darker
You desire a world that is more dismal and foreboding.
We kill the flame
We extinguish the light and hope that used to exist.
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
We acknowledge and revere your divine name and presence.
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
We have often been reviled and put through intense suffering, as though we were crucified in human form.
A million candles burning for the help that never came
Though we have prayed for aid and guidance many times, it has never come.
Hineni, hineni
Here I am, ready to serve and follow your will.
There's a lover in the story
There is someone who loves in this tale.
But the story's still the same
Even so, the narrative remains unchanged and unfulfilled.
There's a lullaby for suffering
There exists a soothing tune for all those who suffer.
And a paradox to blame
Yet we often feel that there is a contradiction or inexplicable twist to this situation.
But it's written in the scriptures
It is recorded in the holy texts and teachings.
And it's not some idle claim
This is not just an empty assertion.
They're lining up the prisoners
Human beings are being held captive en masse.
And the guards are taking aim
Those in power and authority are preparing to attack and harm the captives.
I struggled with some demons
I battled against my inner demons and dark thoughts.
They were middle class and tame
My demons were surprisingly conventional and unremarkable, despite their negative impact on me.
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
I was unaware that I had the authority or freedom to cause harm to others.
If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the one calling the shots, please release me from this cycle of control.
If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
If you are the only one who can mend me, then it means that I am facing a dire state of disrepair and disability.
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
If you are truly deserving of honor and acclaim, then I must accept that I am deserving of guilt and embarrassment.
Hineni, hineni
Here I am, presenting myself to be used as per your command.
Hineni, hineni
Here I am, ready to serve you in any way that you see fit.
Hineni
I am willing to do your bidding, whatever it may entail.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Patrick Leonard
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind