How were you first introduced to the words of Leonard Cohen?

[Tonto]

Hello everyone. I have spent a lot of time on here for some time now, but never posted, but thought I would add my experience to this thread.
I was a student nurse, it was 1969, and I was 18. I was walking along the corridor in the Nurses' Home, and heard the radio playing through someone's open door.
It was "Hey, that's no way to say goodbye".
I ran along the corridor to my room to turn my radio on quickly to drink it in, and at that moment my love for Leonard Cohen began.
That was almost 39 years ago.[/b]

[lizzytysh]

I ran along the corridor to my room to turn my radio on quickly to drink it in, and at that moment my love for Leonard Cohen began.

This describes it so well, Tonto. It's how I felt when I was already in place, lying on the floor, listening to "Suzanne" and Leonard's album for the first time. It continues through to today, when I perchance on rare occasion hear something by Leonard being played on the radio. It's an internal, visceral feeling that never goes away.

Welcome .


~ Lizzy

[dharma]

There was never a moment of epiphany for me - Lenny kinda crept up on me over the years.

My earliest memory of Lenny is from around 1970. I remember seeing the cover of Songs of Leonard Cohen each time I browsed through my brother's collection of LPs. Apparently, my brother bought the album after hearing Lenny on the CBS compilation album, Fill Your Head With Rock.



My other brother (who is 14 years older than me) also got into Lenny in the early 1970s and bought Songs of Love & Hate. I have very happy memories of going round my brother’s house in those days. He was something of a hi-fi buff with absurdly large loudspeakers and a decent taste in music – Dylan, Hardin, Lightfoot, Chapin, etc., but it was always his Cohen albums that I loved hearing the most.

However, I spent most of the 1970s listening to prog rock albums, but slowly began to discover the likes of Tom Waits and Van Morrison. It wasn’t until 1980 (at the grand old age of 20) that I finally bought my first Lenny albums. I’d just seen Robert Altman’s movie McCabe & Mrs Miller which, as most of you know, features a few songs from Lenny’s first album.



I really don’t know why, but the very next day I went out and bought Lenny’s first three albums, and during the following weeks and months acquired ALL his albums and books. I was hooked.

I was fortunate enough to see Lenny at Hammersmith Odeon in 1985, and again at the Albert Hall in 1988 and 1993. I also attended (and videoed) his talk with Philip Glass at the Barbican last year.

Happy days.

[Alice has a username]

Hi, I am new to this forum (in fact this is my first ever post on a forum!). It is interesting to hear your stories.

Here is the short version of my first introduction to Leonard. I was staying at a friend's house, who I was just starting to get to know, and we watched the film Exotica by Atom Egoyan, and I was astounded and moved by the depth of the song 'Everybody Knows'. My friend then played me his Leonard Cohen albums and I had to obtain recordings of them all. I was hooked! It is still my favourite song.

Leonard's words, songs and creations of every sort have soothed my soul over and over again. I wish I had discovered him sooner (I was about 30).

Alice

[John Etherington]

Hi Alice,

It's good to see you've finally got round to posting here. It was good that you and your friend Frances were able to come to the Barbican event last year. It's a pity that you didn't have time to join the gathering afterwards, because you could have met Jarkko and other friends there.

All good things, John E

[pjlindley]

I first heard Leonard's music covered by a local singer in a folk club in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK - in 1969 - I think. The song was So Long Marrianne. I bought the alsbum the following day, played it so much I wore it out and bought a replacement a couple of weeks afterwards. It's difficult now looking back to overstate the impact of the experience; from that point onwards his music seemed to be the soundtrack to my life. I have all the albums, and most of the books and was very fortunate to see him at the Royal Albert Hall - early 70s. I would be very grateful if someone could point me to a source of information on the dates and song lists for his gigs - I'd like to check out the songs played at that concert. I retired early from an academic career a year ago to have a crack at screenwriting. I'm doing an MA and in my first student project - short film script about two older people who have never spent a day apart for over 60 yrs I used his music for the sound track.
regards to all

[Davido]

pjlindley:
All known concert listings with set-lists etc:
http://www.leonardcohenlive.com/
Dave

[joe blair]

Hi Cate,

I first heard Leonard in 1970 when my girl friend Muriel's brother Alan loaned us his vinyl to play. It was the Songs of Leonard Cohen album. I was immediately struck by the profoundness of Leonard's words and hypnotised by his magical voice. As a would be guitarist myself. I have strived for many years to play some of Leonard's songs and also own most of his poetry books, song books, novels and the biography Various Positions as well as the most recent publication the book of longing. I have the cds and one video of the famous BBC Arena programme Roc Docs which featured Leonard in 1988. I have his Austin Texas concert on dvd and a Canadian Television concert.

I love his humour his honesty, and his selflessness. The poem about his guitar in the book of longing captures Leonard's humility;-

My guitar
is so
beautiful
sometimes I wish
I could play it

This sums up it all, from a man who has entertained millions with his guitar and music. Totally stoic and humble. This is an awesome quality to posess.

I hope to see Leonard when he comes to Dublin so if you/anyone out there has any info on the Dublin concerts, please let me know. I have never seen Leonard live. I have so many favourite songs by Leonard but the folowing I play and sing with my friends.

Hallelujah
If it be your Will
Alexandra leaving
Suzanne
First we take Manhattan
Dance me to the end of Love

There are more, but these are my personl favourites.

Best Wishes,

J.

[matt]

Hello all, newbie here.

I am a very new fan. LC has been on my "to listen to" list for ages, but didn't get round to it until a few weeks ago, when I bought the Essential 2CD set.

I mean it as a compliment (really!) when I say that he is the only artist I have ever heard who can alternately make me think my stereo is broken and then blow my brains out of my head - sometimes in the same song! [First hearings were on the car stereo, which may partially explain the first bit!]

Anyway, I have since bought most of his albums, and the rest should be delivered soon!

[valspace]

Hi all, I am brand new here but I am proud to say I first heard Mr. Cohen on underground radio in the 1960s. I think Suzanne was the first song, but Bird on the Wire they played even more- and it is still my favorite of the older songs. I am looking forward to hearing the newest - and maybe, maybe the U.S. tour will be announced after all.

What a treat to find his myspace page, which I found through a mutual friend who is a singer-songwriter. I have been excited about the RRHOF induction since it was announced- I'll be watching the simulcast on bestbuy.com for sure.
I'm an oboist and retired from a desk job . Now pursuing music promotion which was my avocation for several years before.

So I am doubly happy to find this active forum. Hope to find friends here and of course share the words and music.

Val in Washington, DC

All the best,
http://www.myspace.com/valari

[sagcl1]

Michael Coyne met me in Celle Germany in 68 & told me to buy his 1st album, it never left the record player-in the 40 years since whenever I have heard bad news LC creeps into my mind-"I know you know its over now & war will surely come..." LC has documented my life-good,bad-with his songs- Micheal is no longer with us but I am eternally grateful for his vision- does anyone know if Cardiff is gonna be added to his tour? LOVE to all beautiful losers Clive Lewis

[greeksiren]

Great thread! For me, it was through movies.

First, Pump Up The Volume, years and years ago, with "Everybody Knows". I loved the song but didn't know much about the musician/singer at the time.

Later, it was Quentin Tarantino reintroducing me to him, through "Waiting for the Miracle". After I got that CD and almost wore it out through so many listens, I ran out to get a bunch of his CDs. To my sheer delight, my hubby and his dad were both big fans and had some cassettes.

I've been hooked for years now.

I saw him in Toronto a couple of years ago for the launch of his book, and enjoyed his performances with the Barenaked Ladies and other artists.

The news of his new tour is exhilarating! I NEVER thought I'd get the chance to see him live again!

[Longpig]

Hello all... I've been a member here a few years but only lurked; it took the upcoming tour to draw me out of the woodwork.

Like a previous poster, I first heard Leonard on the Natural Born Killers Soundtrack. Unlike them, however, it was Waiting for the Miracle that grabbed me. The song and the music were so haunting, so compelling, I had to have it. I was 16, I think (friends snuck me into the movie, heh). I looked up the name of the singer and went home raving to my mother about this amazing artist I'd 'discovered'. Imagine my surprise when she told me he had been singing since before I was born, and pulled out some of her old records! Well, I've been enraptured ever since. I've bought every album I could find, and every book I could afford. Nothing moves me like Leonard's voice and words. Because of him, I became an artist... I wanted to create work the way that he writes. Mystical, visceral... I don't think I'm anywhere close to him but he is an inspiration. I got to see him sing a few songs at the book launch in Toronto a couple of years ago and I was moved to tears. I thought it would be the only chance I'd ever have to see him sing. But now he's touring again; I can't believe it, I'm so happy. This will be a religious experience for me.

Waiting for the Miracle is still my very favourite song, by the way.

[greeksiren]

Wow - We have very similar stories!!

Hello all... I've been a member here a few years but only lurked; it took the upcoming tour to draw me out of the woodwork.

Like a previous poster, I first heard Leonard on the Natural Born Killers Soundtrack. Unlike them, however, it was Waiting for the Miracle that grabbed me. The song and the music were so haunting, so compelling, I had to have it. I was 16, I think (friends snuck me into the movie, heh). I looked up the name of the singer and went home raving to my mother about this amazing artist I'd 'discovered'. Imagine my surprise when she told me he had been singing since before I was born, and pulled out some of her old records! Well, I've been enraptured ever since. I've bought every album I could find, and every book I could afford. Nothing moves me like Leonard's voice and words. Because of him, I became an artist... I wanted to create work the way that he writes. Mystical, visceral... I don't think I'm anywhere close to him but he is an inspiration. I got to see him sing a few songs at the book launch in Toronto a couple of years ago and I was moved to tears. I thought it would be the only chance I'd ever have to see him sing. But now he's touring again; I can't believe it, I'm so happy. This will be a religious experience for me.

Waiting for the Miracle is still my very favourite song, by the way.

[soft_naked_lady]

I 1st heard the words of Leonard Cohen from the movie "The Natural Born Killers"...and seeing that movie in the theatre was an experience all on its own...however I didnt become a true fan until...
One evening I found myself surrounded by great friends and a couple of family members probably the best people on earth...we had borrowed my Uncles van. He has a love of books and passion for music. We were young, loving life, free and expanding our minds in the realm of magic mushrooms...we were all laying in the parked van chit chatting and enjoying the trip when from the speakers we heard..."It's four in the morning the end of December"...and as we all looked at the clock to see it was actually 4 am it seemed planets aligned and all was one in the universe as we all fell in Love with Leonard Cohen that morning...this is one of my favorite memories of all and love to share it...