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Hi all,
I'm new in here but was hoping for some help - I am dedicating my son Leonard in 3 weeks time and would like a Leonard Cohen poem/song to read/play at the ceremony as my little boy was named in Leonard's honour.
At my first son Dylan's dedication, we played the Bob Dylan song "Forever Young".
Any suggestions gratefully received!
thanks
Katherine

That will be tough! The only one I can think of is "The Guests". Among the ones that flashed through my mind were "Because Of" and "The Great Event", but somehow I think not!

thanks for your thoughts John
one of my friends suggested I go with hallelujah - I said that Lenny has tied me to a kitchen chair for a while, but the song may not be that appropriate for a dedication haha. At least she recognised it as a Leonard song I guess.

I was thinking of "If it be your will", but was struggling a bit with the whole trust thing - I'm now leaning toward "Anthem". The ironic thing is the line in Anthem "Don't dwell on ...what is yet to be"; maybe this line is "the sign" I needed - "We asked for signs, the signs were sent".

Yep, I'm thinking Anthem at this stage

Anthem would be beautiful, Katherine.

kwhincop wrote:thanks for your thoughts John
one of my friends suggested I go with hallelujah - I said that Lenny has tied me to a kitchen chair for a while, but the song may not be that appropriate for a dedication haha. At least she recognised it as a Leonard song I guess.

I was thinking of "If it be your will", but was struggling a bit with the whole trust thing - I'm now leaning toward "Anthem". The ironic thing is the line in Anthem "Don't dwell on ...what is yet to be"; maybe this line is "the sign" I needed - "We asked for signs, the signs were sent".

Yep, I'm thinking Anthem at this stage

How about "The Bells" from "Night Magic"? It is an early version of Anthem, and is, perhaps, a bit more overtly cheerful and therefore suitable for the event?

Good choice Avi!

Katherine, might I also suggest 'There For You' from Dear Heather -

When it all went down
And the pain came through
I get it now
I was there for you
Don't ask me how
I know it's true
I get it now
I was there for you
I make my plans
Like I always do
But when I look back
I was there for you
I walk the streets
Like I used to do
And I freeze with fear
But I'm there for you
I see my life
In full review
It was never me
It was always you
You sent me here
You sent me there
Breaking things
I can't repair
Making objects
Out of thoughts
making more
By thinking not
Eating food
And drinking wine
A body that
I thought was mine
Dresed as Arab
Dressed as Jew
O mask of iron
I was there for you
Moods of glory
Moods so foul
The world comes through
A bloody towel
And death is old
But it's always new
I freeze with fear
And I'm there for you
I see it clear
I always knew
It was never me
I was there for you
I was there for you
My darling one
And by your law
It all was done

Ohh, that's a good one, too, Mary.

"O mask of iron
I was there for you...

I see it clear
I always knew
It was never me
I was there for you
I was there for you
My darling one
And by your law
It all was done"

It's a great song, but I don't think the "you" is a mortal being.

SueJB wrote:It's a great song, but I don't think the "you" is a mortal being.

SueJB,
You're so right on this, but I was thinking that Katherine would be able to relate to many of the lines if 'you' became her son especially right from the beginning when he says;
When it all went down
And the pain came through (referring to childbirth).....
I know it is not what he meant, but, if taken from the perspective of a mother speaking to her child, there are so many lines that would work IMHO.

Kindest regards,
Mary

I agree with Mary, SueJB. One of the many beauties of Leonard's lyrics is that they're intentionally multi-layered. "You" can be G~d, your friend, your lover or spouse, or your child. No matter how you choose to apply them, they will most often fit. That's a beautiful one for Katherine to use, and it will always hold up.


~ Lizzy