21 September 2026 marks 92 years since the birth of Leonard Norman Cohen in Montreal. A poet, novelist and singer-songwriter, he grew up in a Jewish family in Westmount and graduated in English literature from McGill in 1955, before building a literary career and then a musical one.

His first poetry collection, Let Us Compare Mythologies, appeared in 1956. It was followed by, among other books, The Spice-Box of Earth (1961) and the novels The Favourite Game (1963) and Beautiful Losers (1966). Disappointed by literary sales, he turned in 1966 toward New York’s folk scene.

His debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen, was released in 1967 and included tracks such as “Suzanne” and “Sisters of Mercy”. The writing explored love, faith, loss, solitude and moral tension. Anniversary coverage does not reproduce protected song lyrics.

“Hallelujah” appeared on the 1984 album Various Positions. The song had limited initial impact, especially after Columbia declined to release the album in the United States, and became widely known only through later reinterpretations. Cover versions should be distinguished from the original recording.

Cohen returned to extensive touring after a long absence, in part because of financial losses tied to former management of his affairs. The last album issued during his lifetime, You Want It Darker, appeared in 2016.

He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada and inducted, among other honours, into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2008). Awards do not stand in for the discography and do not justify extensive quotation of lyrics.

He died in Los Angeles on 7 November 2016. Anniversary coverage stays with publication and career facts, not speculation about what the songs meant.

Image: Gorupdebesanez, Leonard Cohen (1988), CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons.

Source consulted: Leonard Cohen — The Canadian Encyclopedia.