Canadian Singer Leonard Cohen Dies Aged 82

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-37946654

This is very sad news indeed.....Cohen seems to have been around for my entire life.

I can recall exactly where I was when I first heard " Bird on a Wire" and then buying the LP, also a book of his poetry.

Goodness...don't know what else to say.

[seekeerz]

Been around most of mine too, mikey .....brilliant man :((

[mikey4444]

This has made me really sad......I am guessing that Cohen influence on other songwriters is immense. I shall try to get some sleep now !

[Jennykenny]

Just woken up to the news.
Will be playing his music today. Always brings back vivid memories, especially Suzanne.

[david small]

Bye Len, thanks for the poetry and the insight.

[murraymints]

another legend passes..RIP

[DTCwordfan]

Indeed it is, ever so influential and even on the new generation as they rework his songs....rip.

[rsvp]

Loved 'I'm you're Man' - - he'll be missed by many.

[mikey4444]

Here he is with his best song, also with Judy Collins, another favourite of mine...beautiful singing voice.

[mikey4444]

Only a few months ago, Cohen's muse, Marianne Ihlen, his muse, was dying.

He sent her a last poem/message, which I think was overwhelmingly poignant, sad and prescient :::::

"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 for 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"

What a wonderful thing to write.

[murraymints]

for rsvp

[youngmafbog]

Comes to us all but he had a reasonable innings.

RIP Lenard, I enjoyed your music

[Bertrum]

The art-song intellectual Rest in peace

[andy-hughes]

I am really really sad.

Only last month, he was saying in a magazine that rumours of his retirement were exaggerated - mostly by himself! - and he planned to go on forever.

His poetry and music was a big part of my growing up, and I am so sorry that I will never get the chance to see him play in concert.

R.I.P. Leonard.

[Ken4155]

A master wordsmith of the highest quality. True, his music was an acquired taste, but once that taste was acquired, it became a sumptuous feast. RIP, Leonard.

[chrissa1]

He was part of my youth. Very, very sad news. RIP, Leonard.

[jno]

Cohen seems to have been around for my entire life.

Not just seems to, mikey - he was 82.

I knew there really was a Suzanne, I hadn't known there was a Marianne too. I saw him at Wembley five or so years ago, wonderful performance.

[mikey4444]

jno...I saw in at the Isle of Wight festival, when I was 16 !

[jno]

ah, you were both just kids then!

[mikey4444]

Indeed jno....skinny and shy in my case ( yes, shy...really ! )

[EcclesCake]

A music legend, he was definitely born with the gift of a golden voice.

At least he no longer aches in the place he used to play.