Greetings,
So Leonard Cohen. Yeah, I like him a lot. I think I've made that clear in the past. Still, one thing I have never done here is make a list of my favorite songs by this great man. Not that I haven't wanted to do this. In fact, I have been working on this for quite a while. But it is so hard to pick favorite songs where people like Leonard Cohen are concerned. He has so many amazing ones, more so than I think some people even realize. But I managed to make decisions, and now I am happy to share them with you all. Keep in mind, I thought I would add some of my own interpretations of these compositions. Why not? Leonard Cohen's work can be quite a conversation started and everyone always has their opinions on it. Gotta love an artist who can get people talking. Off we go.
#10. "Sisters of Mercy" - I have heard some interesting interpretations of what this song might mean, from the "sisters" being angels to them being hookers. Hey, whatever, right? I've always liked this one because of the melody. It's one of the simplest that Leonard has ever written, in my opinion anyway, and also I can sing it really well. Again, in my opinion.
#9. "Suzanne" - Look, I'm not saying that I bought a house near the river, or that I always have Constant Comment tea to give to some guy that might happen to stop by, or that I consider myself half-crazy sometimes, just so I can be Suzanne in my own way. I'm not going to say it, but, you know, stuff happens in life. Am I right?
#8. "Hallelujah" - Not as high on the list as you thought, is it? Look, I'm not judging this based on the countless sub par covers of this song, or the one good one (Thank you, Jeff Buckley!) No, I am looking at this as if Leonard's original is the only version. And it's really good. It shows how much he likes to put in some religious imagery and how great of a storyteller he is. It also, believe it or not, shows a bit of how well he can inject some humor into his work. Just read the long version of the lyrics, and you'll know what I mean.
#7. "In My Secret Life" - This was the opening track on the album Ten New Songs, the first one he had released in a decade. It was a great pick for that, kind of setting the tone. And, lyrically, it feels very real and true to life. But that's just Leonard being Leonard, I suppose.
#6. "The Traitor" - Okay, so this song just might be about betrayal of some kind. It's a guess of mine. Interestingly, I think it may be about someone betraying himself. And the way he is betraying himself is by settling for something less than true love. Something else I really like about this is all the images and mentions of war that he puts in here. I guess it was his way of saying that love is a ... battlefield? Oh, no!
#5. "A Thousand Kisses Deep" - In the documentary Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man, he says some fascinating things surrounding this song. What hit me the most was when he talked about how you never get to your masterpiece when you're looking for it. You always slip into it once you learn to let go. Once you stop trying to be the best, you become your best. I'm sorry, but this man is brilliant. And it is those words of which I think whenever I hear this song.
#4. "Famous Blue Raincoat" - "What a twist!" Yeah, that might be what some people say at the end of this song the first time they hear it. Of course, I'm taking about the framing here. Now this is actually a song about a love triangle, something that has been overdone by so many people. Nothing wrong with that, but it's all about finding a new way to present a type of story that we've all heard before. That is definitely what he did here.
#3. "Tonight Will Be Fine" - Admittedly, what made me fall in love with this song was when I heard Teddy Thompson sing it. Sorry. But listening to the original is amazing, too. Leonard has written about love from every angle that it can be done, but this has always seemed like one of, if not the most straight forward love song he has ever made. Sure, the lyrics are still classic Cohen, but in a simpler, easier to attain way.
#2. "Anthem" - "There is a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." I think it's these words that bring everyone back to this song again and again. Of course, all the lyrics are amazing, some that hit extremely close to home for me, but these particular ones define the entire song for a lot of us. That idea that flaws can make you see how wonderful everything is when you didn't before is a very good one. Leonard has even described it as something of a credo. I agree.
#1. "If It Be Your Will" - I have actually heard people describe this song as a love letter to God. I can see why they might think that, since Leonard often speaks about spiritual things. My personal interpretation has always been close to that. To me, this song has always felt like something of a prayer, and I do love songs like that. And if it is a prayer, it sounds to me like a song of praise and mercy and hope. Hard to get any better than that.
Let me say this again, I love Leonard Cohen. I love the way that he and his work almost seem like one and the same. Just listen to the man speak. When he talks, just in conversation, so much of what he says is said in a way that practically sounds like a song all on its own. And that is how a true artist, a write in particular, should be. Our work should be a major part of who we are, enough so that others don't have to ask what we do. They'll just know. If I had a conversation with Leonard Cohen, not knowing who he was, I would know he was a writer, because of the way he speaks. It's how all of us writers should be, and he is a great inspiration for it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
