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.
song
Leonard Cohen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was sick in bed
I suppose that he told you everything
That I keep locked away in my head
Your master took you travelling
Well at least that's what you said
And now do you come back to bring
Your prisoner wine and bread?
You met him at some temple
Where they take your clothes at the door
He was just a numberless man in a chair
Who'd just come back from the war
And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
And he hands you the apple core
Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
Of all the kisses we put on some time before
And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
With a collar of leather and nails
And he never once made you explain or talk
About all of the little details
Such as who had a word and who had a rock
And who had you through the mails
Now your love is a secret all over the block
And it never stops not even when your master fails
And he took you up in his aeroplane
Which he flew without any hands
And you cruised above the ribbons of rain
That drove the crowd from the stands
Then he killed the lights in a lonely lane
And, an ape with angel glands
Erased the final wisps of pain
With the music of rubber bands
And now I hear your master sing
You kneel for him to come
His body is a golden string
That your body is hanging from
His body is a golden string
My body has grown numb
Oh now you hear your master sing
Your shirt is all undone
And will you kneel beside this bed
That we polished so long ago
Before your master chose instead
To make my bed of snow?
Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
And you're speaking far too low
No I can't make out what your master said
Before he made you go
Then I think you're playing far too rough
For a lady who's been to the moon
I've lain by this window long enough
To get used to an empty room
And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
Who is tapping his foot to a tune
And your thighs are a ruin, you want too much
Let's say you came back some time too soon
I loved your master perfectly
I taught him all that he knew
He was starving in some deep mystery
Like a man who is sure what is true
And I sent you to him with my guarantee
I could teach him something new
And I taught him how you would long for me
No matter what he said no matter what you'd do
I believe that you heard your master sing
While I was sick in bed
I'm sure that he told you everything
I must keep locked away in my head
Your master took you travelling
Well at least that's what you said
And now do you come back to bring
Your prisoner wine and bread?
The song Master Song by Leonard Cohen is a narrative about an unbalanced love triangle. The singer believes that his lover had an affair with his master, who he taught everything he knew. The lyrics reflect the singer's confusion and pain as he tries to come to terms with what happened between them.
The song begins with the singer acknowledging that his lover may have confided in their mutual master about everything he keeps hidden away in his own head. He questions whether she has returned to their relationship only to bring him "prisoner wine and bread." Throughout the song, Cohen's use of surreal imagery paints a vivid picture of the affair, highlighting the stark contrast between the singer's reality and the fantastical world of his lover and their master.
At the end of the song, the singer appears to speak directly to his lover, questioning whether she will kneel beside their polished bed, where she once lay with their master. The singer confesses that he loved his master perfectly and taught him everything he knew. He agonizes over the power dynamic between them and the fact that his lover will always long for him, no matter what the master says or does. The song is a complex exploration of desire, dominance, and the ways in which past relationships can haunt us.
Line by Line Meaning
I believe that you heard your master sing
I think you heard my lover singing
When I was sick in bed
At the time I was unwell and unable to be with him
I suppose that he told you everything
I assume he confided in you all that I keep hidden in my mind
That I keep locked away in my head
Those secrets and memories that I don't share with anyone
Your master took you travelling
He took you on journeys and adventures
Well at least that's what you said
That's what you claimed to have done with him
And now do you come back to bring
Are you returning here to offer
Your prisoner wine and bread?
Your services and affection to me as a captive
You met him at some temple
You first encountered him at a religious sanctuary
Where they take your clothes at the door
A place where people have to remove their belongings before entering
He was just a numberless man in a chair
He was an anonymous figure seated in a seat
Who'd just come back from the war
He had recently returned from a conflict or battle
And you wrap up his tired face in your hair
You use your hair to cover his weary face
And he hands you the apple core
He gives you the leftover fruit core to hold
Then he touches your lips now so suddenly bare
He unexpectedly makes contact with your exposed lips
Of all the kisses we put on some time before
All the pecks and embraces we shared in the past
And he gave you a German Shepherd to walk
He gave you a dog to care for
With a collar of leather and nails
The dog's neckpiece was made of animal skin and metal spikes
And he never once made you explain or talk
He never asked you to clarify or discuss anything with him
About all of the little details
Particulars such as gossip or specifics from your travels or experiences
Such as who had a word and who had a rock
Example subjects like who spoke up and who defended themselves
And who had you through the mails
And who sent you messages or letters
Now your love is a secret all over the block
Your affair is now widely known among the people in the neighborhood
And it never stops not even when your master fails
The desire and passion between you two continues, even if your lover is unsuccessful or absent
And he took you up in his aeroplane
He flew you in a plane
Which he flew without any hands
He piloted the craft without using his hands
And you cruised above the ribbons of rain
You floated past the drizzle and precipitation
That drove the crowd from the stands
The weather was causing the audience to leave their seats
Then he killed the lights in a lonely lane
He shut off the vehicle's lighting in an isolated road
And, an ape with angel glands
And, acting like a primitive creature with divine properties
Erased the final wisps of pain
He made the last traces of agony disappear
With the music of rubber bands
With the strange sound that rubber bands make when plucked or struck
And now I hear your master sing
Now you are paying attention to your lover's voice
You kneel for him to come
You are waiting and eager for him to arrive
His body is a golden string
His body is the ultimate attraction and holds deep significance
That your body is hanging from
It's your source of support and sustenance
His body is a golden string
His physical presence is a crucial part of your life
My body has grown numb
I can't feel anything physically or emotionally
Oh now you hear your master sing
Finally, you are concerned with your lover's voice
Your shirt is all undone
Your clothing is quite disheveled
And will you kneel beside this bed
And will you prostrate yourself near my sleeping space
That we polished so long ago
That we prepared and maintained for some time
Before your master chose instead
Before your lover elected to not care about it anymore
To make my bed of snow?
To have me lying in a cold and stark grave instead?
Your eyes are wild and your knuckles are red
You are agitated and your fists are clenched
And you're speaking far too low
And you're whispering too quietly
No I can't make out what your master said
No, I can't understand the sounds or phrases your lover spoke
Before he made you go
Before he made you leave me
Then I think you're playing far too rough
Then I think you're taking undue risks or pushing your boundaries too far
For a lady who's been to the moon
Especially for a woman who's experienced a great adventure or feat
I've lain by this window long enough
I've spent a considerable amount of time sitting by this window
To get used to an empty room
To become accustomed to being in an environment without anyone else present
And your love is some dust in an old man's cough
And your affection or devotion is as insignificant as a speck of particle in an elderly person's cough
Who is tapping his foot to a tune
Who is moving his feet rhythmically to a piece of music
And your thighs are a ruin, you want too much
And your legs are damaged, you're asking for too many things or sensations
Let's say you came back some time too soon
Let's say you returned earlier than expected
I loved your master perfectly
I felt an intense affection or devotion to my lover
I taught him all that he knew
I instructed him in everything he understands
He was starving in some deep mystery
He was starving in a profound riddle or enigma
Like a man who is sure what is true
Like a man who is confident in the certainty of his beliefs
And I sent you to him with my guarantee
And I authorized you to be with him, with my assurance or warranty
I could teach him something new
I could offer him something fresh or different
And I taught him how you would long for me
And I made him realize how you'd always yearn for me
No matter what he said no matter what you'd do
Regardless of the words or actions coming from either of you
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Leonard Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
g s
0:00 Everybody Know
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you
Богдан Гордасевич
0:00 Everybody Knows
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you
g s
0:00 Everybody Know
6:17 Hallelujah
10:58 Dance me to the end of love
16:09 Suzanne
20:12 Famous Blue Raincoat
25:25 the stranger songs
30:10 The Future
36:51 So Long Marlanne
43:07 Diamonds in the mine
48:28 Hey that is no way to say goodbye
52:54 Avalanche
57:40 Sisters of Mercy
1:00:30 Chelsea Hotel No
1:05:39 Take this waltz
1:11:11 Waiting for the miracle
1:19:00 going home 2013
1:30:26 coming back to you
Cow~EL
Thank you for this
legato1016
Thanks!!👍🏻👍🏻
Esther Cohen
ק11¹1¹¹¹
vacatio
Danke! Very kind!
aebalc
And thank you for spelling correctly. Hallelijah and Watting for the Miracle on the the video drove me nuts.
Julie Gonzaga
Thank you for sharing...love LC his music his poems his voice 1:00:54 ❤️ 💕 💜
nadine pierce
He was and always will be one of the most talented men of all time. His music is timeless... with love and affection 💕
Bonnie Johnson
He was a genius. Uniquely able to combine the light with the dark, the deep sensuality with the broken heart, the sacred with the mundane. The voice of a prophet.
Daniel Appleton
@Bonnie Johnson That gravelly voice sounds like he's addressing the listener directly. It's spiritual which is somewhat overused, but it serves