The final refrain, ‘I have tried in my way to be free’, is the essence of Cohen, condensed into a single line. Marianne told him, ‘if the bird can get used to the wire then so can you’, thus inspiring his mellow and restrained ‘Bird on a Wire’: Samson described her favourite: Cohen had been suffering from immense writer’s block whilst living on Hydra, and became irritated by the newly erected telephone wires outside his window. The event felt like an opportunity to ‘cry and laugh’ about the profound impact Cohen’s work has had on the lives of all who have listened to him it was uplifting, humorous and deeply poignant, just like Cohen’s work.Ĭohen’s life was so eclectic, inspiring and unique that all fans will be able to recount tales from it. His most famous lover, Marianne Ihlen, lived on Hydra with him and inspired his rich folk love song, ‘So Long, Marianne’, penned in 1967:Īnd cry and cry and laugh about it all again.Ĭohen’s work is scattered with iconic refrains, and the lines ‘it’s time that we began to laugh/ And cry and cry and laugh about it all again’, epitomise the evening. Polly Samson, author and journalist, read a selection of Cohen’s poetry and proceeded to discuss her recent visit to the Greek island of Hydra, where Cohen spent much of the 1960s. Each had their own story to tell, their own personal recollection of how Cohen had influenced their life. The relationship between the panel and audience was wholly unique during the event all members of the panel were as much enraptured with Cohen as the audience was. Cohen has so much artistic insight and pleasure to offer us, and the evening opened up and explored the very essence of it. The evening was intimate and often exceptionally moving, underpinned with an omnipresent admiration and affection for Cohen – his work, life, character and soul. It featured readings, music and discussions, celebrating Cohen’s life and works with a focus on The Flame, a recently published posthumous poetry collection that spans Cohen’s literary life.
Part of the British Library’s Season of Sound, the evening was hosted by Will Gompertz, the BBC’s Arts Editor. Nearly two years after his death, the British Library event ‘Leonard Cohen: The Flame’ offered a chance to be surrounded by fellow Leonard lovers, in what felt like long-due and well-needed group therapy for a passing we’d all not really dealt with.
Leonard Cohen, prolific singer-songwriter, poet and novelist, passed away on the 7th of November 2016. ALICE NELSON reviews British Library event ‘Leonard Cohen: The Flame’
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