As part of the album’s general theme, “Is This What You Wanted” is widely believed to be part of Leonard Cohen’s farewell message to his then-partner...
This song references a sexual encounter Leonard Cohen had with singer Janis Joplin in New York’s Chelsea Hotel. In his own words: I wrote this for...
From the album “New Skin For The Old Ceremony”, this song is a dialogue between a man and God. The man is complaining about his life,...
Cohen, referring to himself in the third person as a soldier, has always embodied both sides of the lover/fighter dichotomy. This song was written shortly after...
Why Don’t You Try? Lyrics by Leonard Cohen Why don’t you try to do without him? Why don’t you try to live alone? Do you really...
Cohen played in Israel in 1973 in order to support the soldier involved in the kippour’s war. The “real war” that he saw inspired him for...
A Singer Must Die Lyrics by Leonard Cohen Now the courtroom is quiet, but who will confess Is it true you betrayed us? The answer is...
I Tried to Leave You Lyrics by Leonard Cohen I tried to leave you, I don’t deny I closed the book on us, at least a...
“Who By Fire” is adapted loosely from the Hebrew prayer “ונתנה תוקף קדושת היום” [“U’Netaneh Tokef Kedushat Hayom” (“Let Us Tell How Utterly Holy This Day...
This song was written for Nico, whose real name was Christa Pfaggen, as Cohen stated live in Hannover, in 1979: I wrote this song long time...
This song is an adaptation of the 16th century traditional English love song “Greensleeves,” about an elusive, promiscuous woman whom the song’s narrator would do anything...
Full Leonard Cohen Live Songs Album Lyrics & Tracklist Leonard Cohen used to suffer from stage fright – his biography Various Positions recalls he left the...
Minute Prologue Lyrics by Leonard Cohen I’ve been listening to all the dissension I’ve been listening to all the pain And I feel that no matter...
A 1948 song by Dick Blakeslee covered live by Cohen who continued to play the piece at least into the 1980s. In the 1979 book “The...
You Know Who I Am (Live in Brussels) Lyrics by Leonard Cohen I cannot follow you, my love You cannot follow me I am the distance...
Bird on a Wire (Live in Paris) Lyrics by Leonard Cohen Comme l’oiseau sur la branche Comme l’ivrogne dans le choeur de la nuit J’ai cherche...
Nancy Lyrics by Leonard Cohen The morning had not come Nancy was alone Looking ate the Late Late show Through a semi-precious stone In the House...
Story of Isaac (Live in Berlin) Lyrics by Leonard Cohen This is a song called “Story of Isaac” and it’s about those who would sacrifice one...
Please Don’t Pass Me By (A Disgrace) Lyrics by Leonard Cohen I was walking in New York City and I brushed up against the man in...
Queen Victoria Lyrics by Leonard Cohen Queen Victoria My father and all his tobacco loved you I love you too in all your forms The slim...
Read all Songs from a Room Album Lyrics by Leonard Cohen Below Bird on the Wire Lyrics Story of Isaac Lyrics A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes...
This is the opening song to 1969’s Songs from a Room. It’s a kind of Cohen’s own “My Way.” Country musician Kris Kristofferson has stated he...
According to Leonard Cohen himself: “This is a song called The Story of Issac, and it’s about those who would sacrifice one generation on behalf of...
A Bunch of Lonesome Heroes Lyrics by Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] A bunch of lonesome and very quarrelsome heroes Were smoking out along the open road...
The Partisan Lyrics by Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] When they poured across the border I was cautioned to surrender This I could not do I took...
Nancy (1943 — 1965) was an acquaintance of Leonard Cohen from when he grew up in Montreal. She was suffering from bipolar depression, and committed suicide...
The Old Revolution Lyrics by Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] I finally broke into the prison I found my place in the chain Even damnation is poisoned...
The Butcher Lyrics by Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] I came upon a butcher, he was slaughtering a lamb I accused him there with his tortured lamb...
You Know Who I Am Lyrics by Leonard Cohen [Verse 1] I cannot follow you, my love You cannot follow me I am the distance you...
One of the more straightforward songs in Cohen’s oeuvre, the unadorned lyrics speak to a sad and ascetic existence, sweetened by the night’s coming together. It...