A few weeks ago, with the release of You Want it Darker, Leonard’s last letter to Marianne, was revealed. She was the subject of his early songs and died soon after his letter last July.
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 to you too, Leonard. Leonard was 82. When I saw him in concert I was struck by his spirit, his energy, his humour, his SOUL. His live shows are among the very best I have ever seen. Along with Bob Dylan and Paul Simon he formed a triumvirate of unmatchable North American songwriters and poets.
See the Toppermost on Leonard Cohen, which I co-wrote with Jerry Tenenbaum and Lucretia van den Berg.
Four concert reviews are on this blog:
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