Leonard Cohen (1934 – 2016)
“Like a bird on the wire, Like a drunk in a midnight choir, I have tried in my way to be free.”
We mourn the passing of a Leonard Norman Cohen: Canadian Singer, Songwriter, Poet and Novelist. Cohen died today on the 11th of November 2016, at the age of 82. For many years, Leonard Cohen has been revealing his soul to the world through his poetry and songwriting. His profound and timeless words expressed through his poetical music have already touched 4 generations and will continue to do so for many to come.
When Cohen began writing poetry and novels his intellect became more abundantly present. Although for sure he will be remembered more for his songs he has written many beautiful books and poetry.
His bestseller “Book of Longing” contains a great collection of his poetry and drawings. It was published in 2006. Soon after the release Philip Glass composed modern classical music to the beautiful poetic lyrics. Glass and Cohen have been performing together and also recorded a CD that might still be available.
Other novels include “The Favorite Game” and “Beautiful Losers”. Some of his most elegant published poetry is “Let Us Compare Mythologies” and “The Spice-Box of Earth”. I personally think the mystery he added to the words in his songs is what makes his music attractive to people. You never get bored listening to it.
“Cohen is a master of the quasi-surrealistic phrase, of the ‘illogical’ line that speaks so directly to the unconscious that surface ambiguity is transformed into ultimate, if fleeting, comprehension: comprehension of the bewitching nuances of sex and bewildering assaults of culture,” author Tom Robbins wrote in the booklet of “Tower of Song,” a 1996 tribute album.
As a singer-songwriter, he had a literary sensibility that made him a popular artist. The older he got the happier he become which led him to say: “ … That background of distress dissolved. I’m worried now that my songs are too cheerful because I’m feeling well. I think I may be irrelevant pretty soon.” In the end, he didn’t… He will stay with us for a long time….
