Leonard Cohen left a lasting legacy as one of the most beloved singer-songwriters, poets and authors. Last month marked the seventh anniversary of his passing, so let’s take a look at the indelible mark he left on the world.
The inspirational lyricist worked until his death, including releasing an album just days before his death.
From his great love spanning 50 years to the hilarious moment when he finally meets Bob Dylan and tells him a lie. Here’s an insight into Leonard Cohen’s enduring legacy.
Cohen’s storied career and iconic successes
In 2005, Leonard Cohen’s agent, Kelly Lynch, was found to have misappropriated more than $5 million from his account and sold most of his publishing rights.She was ordered by the court to pay Cohen $9.5 million, but was never able to repay the money, according to court rules billboard. Lynch was also jailed for 18 months for molesting him.
Hoping to regain some of his lost earnings, Cohen decided to return to touring after a 15-year absence. The creative toured extensively around the world between 2008 and 2013.
Ultimately, the grueling schedule took a toll on Cohen’s physical and mental health. He began to suffer from multiple ailments, including a fractured spine. Although, being unable to move doesn’t prevent him from recording. He let his son set up a studio in his Los Angeles living room.
After spending some time in the living room, Cohen released his penultimate album, You Want It Darker, on October 21, 2016. This happened to be 17 days before his death.
Leonard, who also had leukemia at the time, died in his sleep on November 7, 2016, after falling in the middle of the night.
Cohen is thought to have known the end was at hand and confronted his demise on the album You Want It Darker. The album focuses on his memory and his relationship with God.
Following his death, a follow-up album was released posthumously in 2019.
Leonard lied to Bob Dylan
When Cohen met for coffee in Paris with another of the world’s finest composers, Bob Dylan, Cohen felt compelled to lie about his compositional skills.
talk to janice afternoon showCohen’s son Adam later recounted Dylan asking his father how long it took him to write “Hallelujah.”
Adam recalls: “My dad totally lied to Dylan and said, ‘Oh, you’ve known for years.'”
He continued: “I think it’s actually seven years”
Cohen then asked Bob Dylan, “How long did it take you to write Like a Woman?” He replied, fifteen minutes. Adam fondly recalls that his “Old Man” approach to songwriting was “more like chiseling marble.”
Leonard becomes a monk in Mumbai to fight depression
songwriter has It is said “Battled with depression since his adolescence,” which left him feeling debilitated, as he often found it “difficult to get up from the couch. Even when he was “going all out,” he still felt “painful background noise” still exists”.
In his later years, Cohen underwent several hospitalizations and was prescribed antidepressants. However, he found his dose was “really low” and one day he even pulled over and “threw it out the window”.
By 1994, Cohen’s depression had become so severe that he avoided the spotlight and joined a Buddhist monastery as a monk in Mumbai. Years later, Cohen revealed that he had recovered from depression as a result of the two years of travel.
Leonard Cohen’s undying love lasted 50 years
During Cohen’s lifetime, he had an on-and-off relationship for half a century with a woman named Marianne Ihlen. She ended up being the love of his life, and arguably the one who left.
Cohen wrote a song called The Marian Treaty, in which he talks about wanting some kind of written agreement between the two. After all, their on-and-off relationship lasted their entire lives.
He also wrote the iconic track So Long Marianne, about the duo’s parting. Ihlen’s death came just months before Cohen’s, and the lyrics to “So You Want It Darker” see Cohen finally come to terms with his regrets about their relationship.
When Marianne died of leukemia in hospital in 2016, he wrote a letter for her. Cohen noted that he hopes the lovers will reconcile in the afterlife.
Leonard written: “Dearest Marianne, I am just a little behind you, close enough to hold your hand. This old body has given up, just like yours. I have never forgotten your love and your beauty. But You know. I don’t have to say any more. Safe travels, old friend. See you on the road. Love and gratitude beyond measure. Your Leonard.”
There’s even a documentary called Marianne and Leonard: Words of Love that recounts their relationship journey. Nick Bloomfield, the film’s director, shared his thoughts: “Until the end, Leonard was Marianne’s favorite. Leonard loved her, too, until the end.”
Helpline
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the article or would like someone to talk to you. Contact Samaritans on freephone 116 123.You can also email to [email protected] or visit samaritan site Find your nearest UK branch. In the United States, visit Samaritans USA for more information.
If you have been affected by this story, please check the relevant helpline for support. In the US, call Cancer Care at 800‑813‑HOPE (4673) or follow this link.You can also call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-234 or visit their website.
In the UK you can call 0808 800 6000 or visit Cancer Research UK or Macmillan Cancer Support.
Anything to tell us about this article?
