Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a C… Read Full Bio ↴Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter poet, singer, and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and romantic relationships. Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. In 2011, Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize.
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.
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.
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Leonard Cohen Lyrics
01 In my secret life In my secret life In my secret life In my secret life In…
01. Waiting for the Miracle Baby, I've been waiting I've been waiting night and day I di…
03. Everybody Knows Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls wit…
04. I'm Your Man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
06. bird on a wire Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a…
08 The Gypsy's Wife And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight I've…
09 The Smokey Life I've never seen your eyes so wide I've never seen…
10 The Partisan When they poured across the border I was caut…
10. In My Secret Life In my secret life In my secret life In my secret life In…
11. Tower Of Song Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey I…
116. I'm Your Man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
15 The Stranger Song It's true that all the men you knew were dealers Who…
16 im your man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
2. Ain't no Cure for Love I loved you for a long, long time I know this…
3-be for real Are you back in my life to stay Or is it…
32. Almost Like the Blues I saw some people starving There was murder, there was rape …
4. I'm your man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
4.here it is Here is your crown And your seal and rings And here is…
A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes A bunch of lonesome and very quarrelsome heroes were smoking…
A Singer Must Die Now the courtroom is quiet, but who will confess Is…
A Street I used to be your favorite drunk Good for one more…
A Thousand Kises Deep I saw you this morning. You were moving so fast. Cant seem…
A Thousand Kisses The ponies run, the girls are young The odds are there…
Ain I loved you for a long, long time I know this…
Alexandra Leaving Suddenly the night has grown colder The god of love preparin…
Almost Like the Blues I saw some people starving There was murder, there was rape …
Always (Oh friends, don't matter if you're a man or a…
Amen Tell me again When I’ve been to the river And I’ve taken…
Anthem The birds they sang At the break of day Start again I heard…
Anyhow I know it really is a pity The way you treat…
Avalanche Well I stepped into an avalanche It covered up my soul When…
Avalanche {from 1971 'Songs of Love and Hate' album} Well I stepped into an avalanche, It covered up my soul; W…
Ballad of the Absent Mare Say a prayer for the cowboy His mare's run away And he'll…
Banjo There’s something that I’m watching Means a lot to me There’…
Be For Real Are you back in my life to stay Or is it…
Because Of Because of a few songs Wherein I spoke of their mystery, Wom…
Bird n the Wire Like a bird on the wire Like a drunk in a…
Blessed Is the Memory I remember the promise That you made in the barn When the…
Boogie Street O crown of light, o darkened one I never thought we'd…
Born in Chains I was born in chains but I was taken out…
Butcher I came upon a butcher, He was slaughtering a lamb, I accus…
By the Rivers Dark By the rivers dark I wandered on. I lived my life In Babylon…
Came So Far for Beauty I came so far for beauty I left so much behind My…
Cheldea Hotel No.2 I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel You were talking…
Chelse Hotel #2 I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel, You were talking…
Chelsea Hotel I remember you well in the Chelsea Hotel You were talking…
Choices I've had choices Since the day that I was born There were…
Closing Time Ah we're drinking and we're dancing And the band is really…
Come Healing O gather up the brokenness Bring it to me now The fragrance…
Coming back to yo Maybe I'm still hurting I can't turn the other cheek…
Coming Back to You Maybe I'm still hurting I can't turn the other cheek…
Crazy to Love You Had to go crazy to love you Had to go down…
Dance me.. Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me…
Darkness I caught the darkness, it was drinking from your cup I…
Dear Heather Dear Heather Please walk by me again With a drink in your…
Death of a Ladies' Man Ah the man she wanted all her life was hanging…
Democracy It's coming through a hole in the air From those nights…
Diamnonds in the mine The woman in blue, she's asking for revenge The man in…
Did I Ever Love You Did I ever love you Did I ever need you Did I…
Different Sides We find ourselves on different sides Of a line nobody drew T…
Do I Have To Dance All Night I'm Forty-One, the moon is full, You make love very well. Yo…
Don Why don't you try to do without him? Why don't…
Don't Go Home With Your Hard I was born in a beauty salon My father was a…
Don't Go Home With Your Hard On I was born in a beauty salon My father was a…
Don`t Go Home With Your Hardon I was born in a beauty salon My father was a…
Dress Rehearsal Rag Four o'clock in the afternoon And I didn't feel like…
Elegy Do not look for him In brittle mountain streams: They are to…
Everybody Know Everybody knows that the dice are loaded Everybody rolls wit…
Famous Blue Rain Coat It's four in the morning, the end of December I'm writing…
Famous Blue Raincoat It's four in the morning, the end of December I'm writing…
Field Commander Cohen Field Commander Cohen, he was our most important spy. Wound…
Fingerprints I touched you once too often Now I don't know who…
First Take Manhattan They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to…
Go No More A-Roving [Dedicated to Irving Layton] So we'll go no more a-roving S…
Going Home I love to speak with Leonard He’s a sportsman and a…
Got A Little Secret I got a little secret If you promise not to tell I…
Gypsy's Wife And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight? I've hear…
Halleluja Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played,…
Hallelujah Now, I've heard there was a secret chord That David played,…
Halleluljah Now I've heard there was a secret chord That David played,…
Happens to the Heart I was always working steady But I never called it art I…
Hear with no companion Now I greet you from the other side of sorrow…
Here It Is Here is your crown And your seal and rings And here is…
Hey I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and…
Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye I loved you in the morning Our kisses deep and warm Your…
Humbled in Love Do you remember all of those pledges That we pledged in…
Hunter Your father's gone a-hunting He's lost in the forest so wild…
I If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
I Can I stumbled out of bed I got ready for the struggle I…
I Left a Woman Waiting I left a woman waiting I met her sometime later She said,…
I Tried to Leave You I tried to leave you, I don't deny I closed…
I'm Your Man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
If Be Your Will If it be your will That I speak no more And my…
If I Didn't Have Your Love If the sun would lose its light And we lived an…
If It Be Your Will If it be your will That I speak no more And my…
If It Be Your Will (Live in Du If it be your will That I speak no more…
Im Your Man If you want a lover I'll do anything you ask me…
In My Secret Garden In my secret life In my secret life In my secret life In…
Intro to So Long Marianne Come over to the window, my little darling I'd like to…
Intro: Diamonds in the Mine The woman in blue, she's asking for revenge The man in…
Introduction Thank you so much friends. I was having a drink with…
Iodine I needed you, I knew I was in danger Of losing…
Is This What You Wanted You were the promise at dawn I was the morning after You…
It Seemed the Better Way Seemed the better way When first I heard him speak Now it's…
It's Torn I see you in windows that open so wide There's nothing…
Jazz Police Can you tell me why the bells are ringing? Nothing's happene…
Joan of Arc Now the flames they followed joan of arc As she came…
La Manic Si tu savais comme on s'ennuie à la Manic Tu m'écrirais…
Lady Midnight I came by myself to a very crowded place; I was…
Last Year The rain falls down on last year's man, That's a Jew's…
Last Year's Man The rain falls down on last year's man, That's a Jew's…
Last year*s man The rain falls down on last year's man, That's a Jew's…
Leaving Green Sleeves Alas, my love, you did me wrong To cast me out…
Leaving the Table I'm leaving the table I'm out of the game I don't know…
LEONAR COHEN-Dance Me To The End Of Love Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin Dance me…
Light As The Breeze She stands before you naked You can see it, you can…
Like a Bird Like a bird on a wire Like a drunk in a…
Listen to the Hummingbird Listen to the hummingbird Whose wings you cannot see Listen …
Live Track: Tennessee Waltz I was dancing with my darlin' To the Tennessee Waltz When an…
Love Calls You By Your Name You thought that it could never happen To all the people…
Love Itself The light came through the window Straight from the sun abov…
Lover I asked my father, I said, "father change my name." The one…
lover lover I asked my father I said, "father, change my name The one…
Lullaby Sleep baby sleep The day’s on the run The wind in the…
Master Song I believe that you heard your master sing When I was…
Memories Frankie Lane, he was singing Jezebel I pinned an Iron Cross…
Minute Prologue I've been listening To all the dissension I've been listenin…
Morning Glory No words this time? No words. No, there are times…
Moving On I loved your face, I loved your hair Your T-shirts and…
My Oh My Wasn't hard to love you Didn't have to try Wasn't hard to…
Nancy It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone, Looking ate the late…
Never Any Good I was never any good at loving you I was never…
Never Gave Nobody Trouble Couldn't pay the mortgage And I broke my baby’s heart I coul…
Nevermind The war was lost The treaty signed I was not caught I crosse…
Night Comes On I went down to the place where I knew she…
Nightingale I built my house beside the wood So I could hear…
Nothing to One I cannot follow you, my love, You cannot follow me. I am…
Old Revolution I finally broke into the prison, I found my place in…
On That Day Some people say It's what we deserve For sins against g-d Fo…
On the Level I knew that it was wrong I didn't have a doubt I…
One of Us Cannot Be Wrong I lit a thin green candle To make you jealous…
Our Lady of Solitude All summer long she touched me She gathered in my soul From…
Paper Thin Hotel The walls of this hotel are paper-thin Last night I…
Paper-Thin Hotel The walls of this hotel are paper-thin Last night I…
Partisan When they poured across the border I was cautioned to surren…
Passing Through I saw jesus on the cross on a hill called…
Please Don I was walking in New York City and I brushed…
Puppets German puppets burned the Jews Jewish puppets did not choose…
Queen Victoria Queen Victoria, My father and all his tobacco loved you, I l…
Recitation You came to me this morning And you handled me like…
Samson in New Orleans You said that you were with me You said you were…
Save the Last Dance for Me You can dance every dance with the guy Who gives you…
Seems So Long Ago It seems so long ago, Nancy was alone, Looking ate the Late…
Seems So Long Ago%2C Nancy It seems so long ago Nancy was alone Looking at the Late…
Show Me the Place Show me the place Where you want your slave to go Show…
Since You've Asked What I'll give you since you asked is all my…
Sing Another Song (Let's sing another song, boys, this one has grown old…
Sing Another Song, Boys (Let’s sing another song, boys, this one has grown old and…
Sister's of Mercy All the sisters of mercy, they are not departed or…
Slow I'm slowing down the tune I never liked it fast You want…
Smokey Life I've never seen your eyes so wide I've never seen…
So Long Come over to the window, my little darling I'd like to…
So Long, Marianne Come over to the window, my little darling, I'd like to…
SONG I believe that you heard your master sing When I was…
Songs of Love and Hate If you want a lover, I'll do anything you ask me…
Stages Thank you for your generosity This is a gesture of Compassio…
Steer Your Way Steer your way through the ruins Of the altar and the…
Store Room It's not the wind that keeps you up it's not…
Storeroom I love you, without caring whom you love. My hands below…
Stories of the Street The stories of the street are mine The Spanish voices laugh …
Story of Isaac The door it opened slowly My father he came in I was…
Stranger Song It's true that all the men you knew were dealers Who…
Suzanne Suzanne takes you down to her place near the river You…
Take This Longing Many men have loved the bells You fastened to the rein And…
Take This Waltz Now in Vienna there are ten pretty women There's a shoulder…
Teachers I met a woman long ago Her hair, the black that…
Tennessee Waltz I was dancing with my darlin' To the Tennessee Waltz When an…
Tennessee Waltz (live) LEONARD COHEN LYRICS "Tennessee Waltz (Live)" I …
Thanks for the Dance Thanks for the dance I'm sorry you're tired The evening has …
That Don I fought against the bottle, But I had to do it…
That Don't Make It Junk I fought against the bottle, But I had to do it…
That's No way to Say Goodbye I loved you in the morning, our kisses deep and…
The Butcher I came upon a butcher, He was slaughtering a lamb, I accused…
The Captain Now the Captain called me to his bed He fumbled…
The Darkness I caught the darkness, it was drinking from your cup I…
The Faith The sea so deep and blind The sun, the wild regret The…
The Future Give me back my broken night My mirrored room, my secret…
The Future ) Give me back my broken night My mirrored room, my secret…
The Goal I can't leave my house Or answer the phone I'm going down…
The Great Event It's going to happen very soon The great event, which will…
The Guests One by one, the guests arrive The guests are coming through …
The Gypsy And where, where, where is my Gypsy wife tonight I've…
The Hills I can't make the hills The system is shot I'm living on…
The Jungle Line Rousseau walks on trumpet paths Safaris to the heart of all…
The Land Of Plenty Don't really know who sent me To raise my voice and…
The law How many times did you call me And I knew it…
The Letters You never liked to get The letters that I sent. But now…
The Lost Canadian Un Canadien Errant (A wandering Canadian,) Banni de ses foye…
The Lost Canadian (Un Canadien errant) (by Antoine Gerin-Lajoie) Un Canadien Errant Banni de ses f…
The Master Song I believe that you heard your master sing When I…
The Night of Santiago She said she was a maiden That wasn't what I heard For…
The Old Revolution I finally broke into the prison, I found my place in…
The Partisan When they poured across the border I was cautioned to surren…
The Smokey Life I've never seen your eyes so wide I've never seen…
The Story of Isaac The door it opened slowly, My father he came in,…
The Stranger It's true that all the men you knew were dealers Who…
The Teacher I met a woman long ago Her hair, the black that…
The Traitor Now the Swan it floated on the English river Ah the…
The Window Why do you stand by the window Abandoned to beauty and…
There There is a war between the rich and poor A war…
There ain't no cure for love I loved you for a long, long time I know this…
There for You When it all went down And the pain came through I get…
There Is a War There is a war between the rich and poor A war…
There's a War There is a war between the rich and poor, A…
To a Teacher I met a woman long ago Her hair, the black that…
Tonight Sometimes I find I get to thinking of the past. We…
Tonight Will Be Fine Sometimes I find I get to thinking of the past. We…
Tower of Song Well, my friends are gone and my hair is grey I…
Traveling Light I'm traveling light It's au revoir My once so bright My fall…
Treaty I've seen you change the water into wine I've seen you…
True Love Leaves No Traces As the mist leaves no scar On the dark green…
Undertow I set out one night When the tide was low There were…
Villanelle for Our Time From bitter searching of the heart, Quickened with passion a…
Waiting for a Miracle Baby, I've been waiting I've been waiting night and day I di…
What Happens To The Heart I was always working steady But I never called it art I…
Whither Thou Goest Wither Thou goest - I will go. Wither Thou lodgest -…
Who Be Fire And who by fire, who by water Who in the sunshine,…
Why don Why don't you try to do without him? Why don't…
Why Don't You Try Why don't you try to do without him? Why don't…
Why Don't You Try? Why don't you try to do without him? Why don't…
Wild by fire And who by fire, who by water Who in the sunshine,…
Winter Lady Trav'ling lady, stay a while Until the night is over I'm…
Woke Up this Morning And after three days of drinkin' with Larry Love, I…
You Got Me Singing You got me singing Even tho' the news is bad You got…
You Have Loved Enough I said I'd be your lover You laughed at what I…
You Have Loved Enought I said I'd be your lover. You laughed at what I…
You Know Who I Am I cannot follow you, my love, You cannot follow me. I am…
You Want It Darker If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game If…