Canadian singer, songwriter, and poet, Leonard Cohen, died on Monday 7 November at the age of 82. It was announced on Thursday 10 November 2016.

Cohen’s manager, Robert B. Kory, said on 16 November that his death was ‘sudden, unexpected and peaceful.’ He died in his sleep after falling during the night at his Los Angeles home, his manager said.

The Huffington Post said, ‘Throughout his career, Cohen wore his heart on his sleeve, never shying away from talking, writing, or singing about life, sexuality, spirituality, or death.’ Among Cohen’s songs were ‘Hallelujah’, ‘So Long Marianne’, ‘First We Take Manhattan’ and ‘Tower of Song’ and ‘Closing Time.’

Cohen (1934-2016) was inducted into the Canadian Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2008 he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. In 2010, The Recording Academy honoured Cohen with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

Huffington Post said Cohen spoke candidly to The New Yorker in October 2016 about his ‘proximity to death.’ ‘I’ve got some work to do,’ he told David Remnick. ‘Take care of business. I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.’ He released his 14th studio album, ‘You Want it Darker’ in October 2016 in which he sings ‘plainly and beautifully about death knocking at his door.’

 

I’m Your Man

If you want a lover,

I’ll do anything you ask me to

And if you want another kind of love,

I’ll wear a mask for you

If you want a partner, take my hand

Or if you want to strike me down in anger,

Here I stand

I’m your man

 

If you want a boxer,

I will step into the ring for you

And if you want a doctor,

I’ll examine every inch of you

If you want a driver, climb inside

Or if you want to take me for a ride,

You know you can

I’m your man

 

Ah, the moon’s too bright

The chain’s too tight

The beast won’t go to sleep

I’ve been running through these promises to you

That I made and I could not keep

But a man never got a woman back,

Not by begging on his knees

Oh I’d crawl to you baby

And I’d fall at your feet

And I’d howl at your beauty

Like a dog in heat

And I’d claw at your heart

And I’d tear at your sheet

I’d say please, please

I’m your man

 

And if you’ve got to sleep

A moment on the road,

I will steer for you

And if you want to work the street alone,

I’ll disappear for you

If you want a father for your child,

Or only want to walk with me a while

Across the sand

I’m your man

 

(If you want a lover)

 

Songwriters: COHEN, LEONARD

I’m Your Man lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/l/leonard+cohen/im+your+man_20082812.html

Photograph: Leonard Cohen from newyorker.com (top)