# Leonard Cohen dies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440 "2016-11-11T02:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/21 "2016-11-11T03:44:03Z")
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch, he said to me, “You must not ask for so much.” And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door, she cried to me, “Hey, why not ask for more?” Oh like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/22 "2016-11-11T03:50:17Z")
I’m crying now. I shouldn’t be surprised; the man was 82. But still… Great [character piece](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/leonard-cohen-makes-it-darker) on him in _The New Yorker_, and what told me that he’d never replicate that wonderful concert from his last tour in 2009. Afterwards, we bumped into some of his backup singers at the convenience store at the head of the road to the venue. I regret not having the courage to ask them if he was anywhere around, or how it was to tour with him… So it goes. Since the two songs I would’ve quoted already have been, I’ll try this one: - > [@](#): > > You told me again you preferred handsome men > but for me you would make an exception. > And clenching your fist for the ones like us > who are oppressed by the figures of beauty, > you fixed yourself, you said, “Well never mind, > we are ugly but we have the music.” - Goodbye Mr. Cohen. ---
**Author:** ![Sefton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@Sefton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sefton)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/23 "2016-11-11T03:51:01Z")
RIP, Mr. Cohen \* They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom For trying to change the system from within I’m coming now, I’m coming to reward them First we take Manhattan, then we take Berlin\* ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/24 "2016-11-11T03:52:53Z")
Marianne Jensen died on 28 July 2016. Cohen’s farewell letter to Marianne was read at her funeral, stating that “… our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.” ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/25 "2016-11-11T03:52:58Z")
Ugh. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/26 "2016-11-11T03:55:23Z")
I had heard he was failing, but it’s still a rough bit, especially this week. \* And who by brave assent, who by accident Who in solitude, who in this mirror Who by his lady’s command, who by his own hand Who in mortal chains, who in power And who shall I say is calling?\* ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/27 "2016-11-11T04:04:16Z")
“And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them But he himself was broken, long before the sky would open Forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone” Ten thousand gospel songs couldn’t say anything so profound. No one has ever made music this good for as long as he did. I will still be listening to him when I am eighty-two. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/28 "2016-11-11T04:06:19Z")
Just saw the news. Live at the Isle of Wight is spellbinding and should be watched over and over. May he have all peace. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/29 "2016-11-11T04:07:43Z")
[I always loved this story about Leonard Cohen and his buddy Iggy Pop answering dating adverts.](http://cohencentric.com/2015/04/01/leonard-cohen-iggy-pop-2-stories-about-a-proposed-three-way/) ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/30 "2016-11-11T04:10:51Z")
A live [Closing Time](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0BdtZr2_M) ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/31 "2016-11-11T04:12:22Z")
And I just found this great quote from Iggy about touring Europe with the Stooges in 2010 at the same time Leonard Cohen was touring: > [@](#): > > Did you catch any of Leonard Cohen’s recent shows? > > Iggy Pop: No, it was terrible, because the Stooges’ European tour was three days behind him everywhere we went. We’d get to town and they’d say, “Leonard Cohen was fantastic and sensitive, and played for three hours!” I’d say, “Well, we’re the Stooges, our typical song has 11 words, and after an hour and a quarter you’ll want us to leave!” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/32 "2016-11-11T04:24:03Z")
Eight words. \* Get ready for the future It is murder\* ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/33 "2016-11-11T04:39:15Z")
☹ I’m not really one for heroes but Leonard was pretty close to that for me. What a week. Was just grooving to something off his new album this afternoon at work. Jeez… ---
**Author:** ![MacCat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maccat/32/216_2.png) [@MacCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacCat)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/34 "2016-11-11T04:41:03Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > Marianne Jensen died on 28 July 2016. Cohen’s farewell letter to Marianne was read at her funeral, stating that “… our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.” I found that story so moving when I read it a few weeks ago. The paragraph before, and his, so very much in his voice and as comforting as could be… > [@](#): > > Well Marianne, it’s come to this time when we are really so old and our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine. And you know that I’ve always loved you for your beauty and your wisdom, but I don’t need to say anything more about that because you know all about that. But now, I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road. And the response two days later, so sad but so comforting… > [@](#): > > Dear Leonard > > Marianne slept slowly out of this life yesterday evening. Totally at ease, surrounded by close friends. > > Your letter came when she still could talk and laugh in full consciousness. When we read it aloud, she smiled as only Marianne can. She lifted her hand, when you said you were right behind, close enough to reach her. > > It gave her deep peace of mind that you knew her condition. And your blessing for the journey gave her extra strength. . . . In her last hour I held her hand and hummed “Bird on the Wire,” while she was breathing so lightly. And when we left the room, after her soul had flown out of the window for new adventures, we kissed her head and whispered your everlasting words. > > So long, Marianne . . . from the [New Yorker article](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/leonard-cohen-makes-it-darker) just 3 weeks ago… ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/35 "2016-11-11T04:44:37Z")
I’m sentimental, if you know what I mean I love the country but I can’t stand the scene. And I’m neither left or right I’m just staying home tonight, getting lost in that hopeless little screen. But I’m stubborn as those garbage bags that Time cannot decay, I’m junk but I’m still holding up this little wild bouquet: Democracy is coming to the U.S.A. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/36 "2016-11-11T04:48:47Z")
Did you ever Go Clear? ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/37 "2016-11-11T05:27:06Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > Marianne Jensen died on 28 July 2016. Cohen’s farewell letter to Marianne was read at her funeral, stating that “… our bodies are falling apart and I think I will follow you very soon. Know that I am so close behind you that if you stretch out your hand, I think you can reach mine.” More on this in [post #34](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19772008&postcount=34), thanks **MacCat**. The _New Yorker_ article is an excellent read. Not only were Cohen’s lyrics powerful and poignant, for many of us his early works are inextricably associated with our youth and our own dawning perceptions. I feel like I’ve lost a dear friend. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/38 "2016-11-11T05:44:26Z")
[QUOTE=MacCat (quoting Leonard Cohen)] Oh like a bird on the wire, like a drunk in a midnight choir I have tried in my way to be free. [/QUOTE] This. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/39 "2016-11-11T05:51:58Z")
Well, this made me cry. He’s turning to gold. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2016, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440/40 "2016-11-11T06:48:47Z")
God, I’m gutted. I wouldn’t have thought the death of someone whom I’ve never met could have that effect on me. It just feels like he was there for me through so many times of darkness, so who do I turn to now? What a shitshow this year’s been. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leonard-cohen-dies/771440.md?page=3)