You were moving so fast
Can't seem to loosen my grip
On the past
And I miss you so much
There's no one in sight
And we're still making love
In My Secret Life
I smile when I'm angry
I cheat and I lie
I do what I have to do
To get by
But I know what is wrong
And I know what is right
And I'd die for the truth
In My Secret Life
Hold on, hold on, my brother
My sister, hold on tight
I finally got my orders
I'll be marching through the morning
Marching through the night
Moving cross the borders
Of My Secret Life
Looked through the paper
Makes you want to cry
Nobody cares if the people
Live or die
And the dealer wants you thinking
That it's either black or white
Thank God it's not that simple
In My Secret Life
I bite my lip
I buy what I'm told
From the latest hit
To the wisdom of old
But I'm always alone
And my heart is like ice
And it's crowded and cold
In My Secret Life
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, and sexual and romantic love, desire, regret, and loss. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. In 2011, he received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize.
Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s, and did not begin a music career until 1966. His first album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), was followed by three more albums of folk music: Songs from a Room (1969), Songs of Love and Hate (1971) and New Skin for the Old Ceremony (1974). His 1977 record Death of a Ladies' Man, co-written and produced by Phil Spector, was a move away from Cohen's previous minimalist sound.
In 1979, Cohen returned with the more traditional Recent Songs, which blended his acoustic style with jazz, East Asian, and Mediterranean influences. Cohen's most famous song, "Hallelujah", was released on his seventh album, Various Positions (1984). I'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen's turn to synthesized productions. In 1992, Cohen released its follow-up, The Future, which had dark lyrics and references to political and social unrest.
Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs, a major hit in Canada and Europe. His eleventh album, Dear Heather, followed in 2004. In 2005, Cohen discovered that his manager had stolen most of his money and sold his publishing rights, prompting a return to touring to recoup his losses. Following a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2013, he released three albums in the final years of his life: Old Ideas (2012), Popular Problems (2014), and You Want It Darker (2016), the last of which was released three weeks before his death. His posthumous, fifteenth, and final studio album Thanks for the Dance, was released in November 2019.
In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked him number 103 in their "200 Greatest Singers of All Time" list.
I always habitually bought everything Cohen put out, but I haven't loved any album he made since Various Positions in, what, 1984? Even that record had a couple of tracks I can live without but it's mainly excellent despite its arrangements and production.
Still, I agree with most of the more negative sentiments expressed here; I believe Cohen's work became dull and uninteresting.
Though I will say that Alexandra Leaving from this album is my favourite Cohen track since VP and almost certainly the best thing he did in his later years.
Somewhat recently I ended a relationship and have dealt with it at times by pretending my love is still with me. Leave it to Leonard (like I'm on a first name basis with him, lol) to have been through a similar situation before my time. And awesome of him to have put my experiences into a song in a way that I never could. So of course I don't believe this song is dull or uninteresting as I can personally identify with it. I suppose it's good that many people can't personally identify with it. But then again, I wouldn't trade that love for anything.
Naturally, I figured he must be a old people’s singer
It took me some 40 years to find out he’s a genius
Of course now I’m old too
But that’s beside the point
He was a master
Thanks RP for playing him
Majority is probably already familiar with this, but I will highly recommend Cohen's concert Live in London O2 arena (released 2009). Available on both DVD and CD. Amazing performance including the musicians and backup vocals.
His "collaborator", Sharon Robinson and the "sublime" Webb sisters. I was lucky enough to see them all in Liverpool on the same tour. The best concert that I ever saw. Perfection in every way.
He's more a poet than a singer.
That is no revelation to anyone even closely acquianted with his biography. And we thank him gratefully for gracefully taking a guitar in his hands and sang Susanne, after alreday being an established name at least in Canadian poetry. The rest is history.
Still, I agree with most of the more negative sentiments expressed here; I believe Cohen's work became dull and uninteresting.
Though I will say that Alexandra Leaving from this album is my favourite Cohen track since VP and almost certainly the best thing he did in his later years.