Leonard Cohen’s death at the age of 82 has been confirmed on his Facebook page.
Back in July, the lauded musician and songwriter received word that a long-time muse, lover and friend, the inspiration behind his song ‘So Long, Marianne’, was dying. He wrote her a letter then. This is how part of it read:
“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.
I just want to wish you a very good journey. Goodbye old friend. Endless love, see you down the road.”
As a piece of writing, the note showcased everything that made Cohen and his songwriting special: the warmth, the love, the sparsity of poetry and the importance of language.
Indeed, his sheer humility is what marks out all his music, from the gentle kindness on display in his early records as a folk singer, to the sheer joy exuded by his more danceable, poppier later work. Whatever his subject matter, whatever musicians he collected around him: the point was always the humanity. Always.
Endless love. See you down the road.
