Okay, I admit I lived under a rock at times when it came to music. Having spent my life in police work, I just didn’t get into the banks of knowledge to know who all the artists were. So it was no surprise the other day when someone mentioned Leonard Cohen. The name sounded familiar but I couldn’t place it.
I followed the link to the song and became transfixed with the unique sound. It reminds me of background music that plays in a movie during intense emotional scenes.
Cohen described the song in press materials as “A seeker hits the road and finds the joys of solitude.”
The song is a reworking of a poem that first appeared in Cohen’s 2006 poetry collection Book of Longing.
His career spanned 50 years. He passed from this world November 7, 2016, at the age of 82. This song was released on the “You want it Darker” Album, 2 months before his death. He still does a great job on the song at 82. The video contains some rare unseen footage of Cohen.
I find myself humming this day and night since hearing it. I have learned it on the guitar, but there is no way I can reproduce his unique voice for this song or even come close. Perhaps some of you find it to your liking. Either way have a great Wednesday.
Comments welcome,
Yes, I had posted that at CD a bit ago.
Thank you Stella, I had never listened to his music before I saw your post.
Love the song, Ron. Thanks for posting it and for your thoughtful remarks.
Thank you Ellie, I appreciate that.
Love the song, thanks.
I’m glad you like it, thanks for the comment also.
Cohen was a poet who made his poems into songs. Some of his lyrics are indeed haunting, but I never settled with his voice myself. He was certainly a huge figure in the world of music though, and his songs will live on now that he has gone.
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks for the comment Pete. I gravitate to songs that speak to me, or I feel the message in them. The only two so far that I have settled on of his are Traveling light, and You want it darker.
Check this one out, Ron.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q
That is one of my favorite songs that many artists do. He did a great job with it. Thanks for the comment and the video Mala,
Beautiful!
Thanks for the comment Kate, I find it soothing as background music here in my office/room.
Leonard Cohen was one of the greats! He is greatly missed!
Thanks for the comment, I am sure enjoying his music now.
Cohen was a true poet. I think my favorite of the songs he wrote was Hallelujah – so many singers have done covers of it, but no one came close to the depth and emotion he brought to it. In fact, it wasn’t until I heard his original recording of it that I realized that it was a song of despair.
The one you posted was interesting. At first I thought it was about getting to the end of life, but after seeing the images I guess it was about a relationship. He always makes me think.
I think this song (You want it Darker) was his farewell song as I listen to it.
https://youtu.be/v0nmHymgM7Y
Beautiful. Love the song