One of the most teeth-grindingly annoying things I hear from time to time is “Here’s ‘Hallelujah’ by Jeff Buckley.” No! “Hallelujah” is not by Jeff Buckley, you tool. “Hallelujah” is a song that was originally written and sung by Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, master poet and songwriter, and classy Canadian badass for the ages, Leonard Cohen. Cohen is one of my all-time musical heroes. To work off of the momentum of my previous article (“ The 11 Beatles Songs Every College Student Should Learn to Love,” which you should definitely go read), I’ve decided to denote the following 11 songs by Leonard Cohen as essential. As a little context, it’s important to know that Cohen was an established poet and novelist by the time his first album was released in 1967, and so the songs we’re dealing with here are quite literary and require a certain amount of patience. Now, let’s take a look at one of music’s most mysterious figures- Leonard Cohen.
*Disclaimer: I don’t have the answers or the concrete message that each of these songs is trying to convey. I can only apply each song to my own experiences and beliefs. The fun with Leonard Cohen is that everyone can take a different lesson or narrative away from the experience.
1. “Suzanne” from “Songs of Leonard Cohen”
Here’s to getting things started with a bang. “Suzanne” is probably Cohen’s most notable song that is known for being sung by Cohen himself. The first track on his first album, there’s a certain sweeping feeling to the tune. The song, while musically simplistic, manages to soar to the tip of the pinnacle of great songwriting, exposing to the world Cohen’s unmatched handle on the English language. With a first verse reflecting on a mindful romantic relationship and a second taking on a biblical tone, this one has survived the test of time as well as any song on this list.
2. “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye” from “Songs of Leonard Cohen”
A fairly upbeat song that reflects on a relationship once more, “Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye” is another gem off of Leonard’s debut LP. Filled with imagery of a happier past, Cohen perfectly captures the essence of togetherness, before breaking our hearts at the end of each verse by reminding us that it’s all over. When the background harmonies kick in, the song is elevated to another level that makes you feel like you’re hovering rather than walking, a recurring feeling that comes along with listening to Leonard Cohen.
3. “Bird on the Wire” from “Songs From A Room”
The ultimate song of analogies, all songs that wish to say “I’m sorry” have their roots here. It’s one of the more accessible Leonard Cohen songs, and I think it is probably the song that best suits Leonard’s limited vocal range. The raw emotion you hear in his voice shows a humanity that goes perfectly hand-in-hand with the stripped-down sound of the acoustic guitar. Also, I really enjoy the singular look at the rich and poor’s contrasting attitudes that are presented here. In fact, the song as a whole may be my favorite thing Leonard has ever written.
4. The entirety “Songs of Love and Hate”
I couldn’t pick one song from this album, so I just put the collective experience as one entry on the list. Here we have a concept album that blurs the line between love and hate and makes you feel just about every emotion in the book. This is the peak of Cohen’s career, but also the peak of his chronic depression. It kicks off with the terrifying “Avalanche,” and then makes you question you’re relevance on “Last Year’s Man.” It takes you to the darkest depths of the mind in “Dress Rehearsal Rag,” and then makes you laugh at yourself through “Diamonds in the Mind.” That’s only side one.
Side two treats you to something a little lighter in the form of “Love Calls You By Your Name” before one of the most famous Cohen songs, “Famous Blue Raincoat,” tells the story of a love triangle that doesn’t have a clear cut winner. The album closes on the seemingly live campiness of “Sing Another Song, Boys,” and the six minute, historical fiction novel “Joan of Arc.” Then you’re left to pick up the pieces of your mind, as you’ve just become as broken and lost as Cohen was when he put these songs together. It hurts, it heals, its love, its hate. It’s everything that makes Leonard Cohen one of the great artists.
5. “Take This Longing” from “New Skin For The Old Ceremony”
“Take This Longing” is what a love song sounds like when the love is just out of reach. The plea for pent-up sexual and romantic feelings to be released comes to a whispering shout through this traditional Cohen acoustic number that loses the spotlight on the album “New Skin For The Old Ceremony” to the song that is next on this list. Still, on the surface, we hear Cohen as a desperate but relatable man who can live his fantasies out only through his thoughts.
6. “Who By Fire” from “New Skin For The Old Ceremony”
The best Cohen song that deals with religion, here we see Leonard take an old Jewish poem and turn it into his most musically ambitious song upon its release. In addition, the humorous questioning of religion and callback to “Avalanche” make the song big on in-jokes. Leonard is known as being sneakily funny in his music, and nowhere is this side of him more evident in this song.
7. “Hallelujah” from “Various Positions”
Since this list is pointing out which songs by Leonard Cohen are the most essential, it is necessary to denote “Hallelujah” as such. We know it has been covered so often by so many different people that it is, unfortunately, hardly ever recognized as the work of Cohen. We also know that it is easily the most heard Leonard Cohen song and so by accessibility alone, this song is the most essential song in Leonard’s entire body of work. I’m not even a huge fan of this original version of the song, but I respect it a great amount. Honestly though, where would mellow open mic nights be without “Hallelujah?”
8. “Take This Waltz” from “I’m Your Man”
This is classical music for people who are afraid of classical music. We have the usual epic poetry of Cohen set to the most epic waltz/movie score hybrid ever, a fusion of power that is unique to say the least. A slow driving cut off of Cohen’s classic album “I’m Your Man,” “Take This Waltz” is a sharp contrast to the synthesizer-based sound that was taking over his music in the 1980’s, and a refreshing contrast at that.
9. “Tower of Song” from “I’m Your Man”
When Leonard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he recited this song as his acceptance speech. Truthfully, that story says a lot. “Tower of Song” deals with Leonard’s place in the history of popular music. More importantly though, we see Cohen directly take on his mortality and old age in a way that isn’t droning and tired. In a world of people who live with high school and college mindsets their entire lives, it’s almost refreshing to hear the always adult Leonard remind us that growing up is something that needs to happen.
10. “Anthem” from “The Future”
The highlight here for me is just the glory in the sound of the song. The back-up vocals rise to levels unheard on any other Cohen song. In general, this song really knows how to escalate and when the chorus hits, it absolutely bursts. Of course, every time Leonard sings “There is a crack, a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in,” I get the chills. It’s a triumphant lyric in a triumphant song.
11. “Going Home” from “Old Ideas”
This is the most recent great Cohen song. It’s the song that kind of summarizes Leonard’s career, one that was filled with conflicting feelings. We hear the sounds of sadness, relief, urgency, weariness, and a number of other emotions, combining to form a powerful tune that we are led to believe is taking place completely internally. Leonard’s quest to find himself never truly ends, as we hear in this song, but at least he knows how to find his way back home.
