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Original poster

What's your favourite Leonard Cohen song?

93 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/08/2023 09:00

I've recently rekindled my love for Leonard Cohen and am playing a lot of his music. I think my favourite song is Suzanne. What's yours?

OP posts:
StuffLoriThangs · 07/08/2023 13:02

notprincehamlet · 07/08/2023 09:22

I am slightly obsessed with You Want It Darker

This is what I came to say!

Labbingtons · 07/08/2023 13:23

Suzanne.

But Jeff Buckley’s Halleluljah is one of my favourite song recordings. It really is very special.

SwedishEdith · 07/08/2023 13:30

So many and can't think now as will get too distracted. But Waiting for the Miracle always sounds amazing. Ominous and cinematic.

Luckily, I got to see him twice.

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Music
BaronMunchausen · 07/08/2023 13:44

Not sure I've got one absolute favourite, but ATM it's Take This Waltz.

Kind of co-authored with Lorca though.

banjaxedbanshee · 07/08/2023 13:45

Cannot choose just one but right now Famous Blue Raincoat, The Partisan and Sisters of Mercy.

I've also seen him live a couple of times in smaller venues in Ireland. Those evenings will stay with me forever.

WitcheryDivine · 07/08/2023 14:04

guinnessguzzler · 07/08/2023 12:59

Another vote for Famous Blue Raincoat from me but I'm going to look up some of the nominations on here that I haven't yet heard.

I only recently learned that Jarvis Cocker is a big Cohen fan and as a huge Pulp fan this makes a lot of sense and seems so obvious now. Both amazing storytellers more than anything else.

God, that does make sense. I didn't know that either. But yes the sort of dark loser sexuality and the specifics in the lyrics. Urgh love them both.

Susurrar · 07/08/2023 14:08

Who by Fire - goosebumps every time

So Long Marianne - takes me back to my early twenties when we would drink wine, sit in the dark and discuss some made up philosophical issues with my university friendship group

Dance Me to The End of Love - just beautiful

MrsMitford3 · 07/08/2023 14:11

Suzanne.

DH mad Leonard Cohen fan and used to sing it to me.
Although playing it at our wedding did clear the dance floor sharpish...

So long Marianne a close second.

Funnily enough DS-mid 20's- now a big fan!

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/08/2023 14:43

I'm glad there's lots of love for LC on here. When I mention him to friends they usually respond "but he's so depressing"

OP posts:
WeAreOnTheRoadToNowhere · 07/08/2023 14:47

Democracy, dance me to the end of love and I'm your man
Probably more, I can't choose one

StillPerplexed · 07/08/2023 14:52

I don't get people when they say someone's music is depressing. It's so narrow and dismissive. They just mean it's not all in a major key, the melody isn't boppy. But Cohen doesn't make you feel depressed. There are songs of longing, wonder and awe, and also some very funny songs.

GintyMarlowsShinyHair · 07/08/2023 14:58

Dance me to the end of love

Bird on a wire.

And I have a special part of my heart for who by fire. It's part of the Yom Kippur liturgy and it resonates somehow both when I listen any other day, and when I reach that point in the service that day. It's a bit shivery somehow.

BaronMunchausen · 07/08/2023 14:59

EmmaGrundyForPM · 07/08/2023 14:43

I'm glad there's lots of love for LC on here. When I mention him to friends they usually respond "but he's so depressing"

I like his "depressing" stuff too.
Avalanche. Most of Songs of Love and Hate.

AnElegantChaos · 07/08/2023 15:00

Hey, That's No Way to Say Goodbye & Stranger Song from the McCabe & Mrs Miller soundtrack.

EffortlesslyInelegant · 07/08/2023 15:01

Love Itself

The Letters

You Want it Darker

Nevermind

But so hard to choose!

Freysimo · 07/08/2023 15:01

WitcheryDivine · 07/08/2023 10:06

I think “Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye” but it’s impossible to choose (and I also love “You Want It Darker”, “Come Healing” and “Going Home” from his final couple of albums)

hate to say it but I’ve always thought his own versions of Hallelujah were boring - covers much better

Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye is my favourite. I love the line 'walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme'. As they do, when you're in love.

WitcheryDivine · 07/08/2023 15:04

Freysimo · 07/08/2023 15:01

Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye is my favourite. I love the line 'walk me to the corner, our steps will always rhyme'. As they do, when you're in love.

Show quote history

Yes that, and "Your hair upon the pillow like a sleepy golden storm"

LetMeEnfoldYou · 08/08/2023 16:57

notprincehamlet · 07/08/2023 09:22

I am slightly obsessed with You Want It Darker

Same!

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