Leonard Cohen-one of us cannot be wrong (original)

[MisterBigBlunts]

I put this as the first song on a mix tape for my girlfriend years back. She didn't like it. We broke up.

[lvivboi]

The end... unspeakably incredible

[jsebsteelguitar]

A truly beautyful song!

With a friend, we tried to cover this song... take a look at it if you have time

Musicaly

[johnkiedis27]

"Give me Leonard Cohen afterworld/ So I can sigh eternally."

[JazzyJonas]

In the last minute or so of the song, Leonard jumps of a bridge and, while falling in slow motion, is still singing.

[jucebaux]

wow.. im left speechless.. so much pain in the song

[treejahone]

One of my fav leonard cohen songs, ya just gotta love his emotion in song.

[tsferg]

@BRAUNOCA Do you love the song as much as you love caps lock?

[marybc]

My favorite Cohen song bar none.

[Gwenluvsmusic]

A sublime song from The Master of Sublime. Beautiful lyrics married to a beautiful melody.

[uclrichard]

it's a great song - but he sounds like he's fallen off a cliff in the last phrase.

[MrBlackdiamondred]

Great video, great song

[wavewhiteweddedwords]

yes, the past tense is inappropriate for words that are timeless.

[Grelin1999]

I still think about the lyrics from time to time.

[Grelin1999]

I think it is the second best song from the album

[aliXsin]

tormented love. hits home

reminds me of some notre dame fan i used to love

[pffoni]

people why are you talking about him in past tense? he's alive

[antoniaharan]

!thats because he is a legend

[OPMDESIGN]

LC, A True master of his art.

[MrNalfgar]

i just pooped

[pickymcgee]

Awesome song! Ye should listen to harvey milks cover!

[zoeruls]

one of my favorites by him

[thestranger4812]

But you stand there so nice in your blizzard of ice, oh please let me come into the storm.

[anniespal]

Cohen was first a author and poet he has won juno awards for his work and I lke growing old with him oxoxoxo

[returningman]

this song have a story in which everyone finds a piece of himself

[patsxskip]

patsxskipTokeThe1andOnly, bad blow man I think it went through your head and didn't bother having a look

[faeslover]

very rare for a song to be so beautiful

[truthseeker444]

Has there ever been as song that sums up obsessive love like this one! Classic!

[alestar22]

I suppose that he froze when the wind took your clothes

and I guess he just never got warm...

[wordupassholes]

I just heard this for the first time. One of the most depressing songs I have ever heard.

The ending... My god. What a morbid, fantastic way to end an album.

[dbkillerex]

hey guys, i made a recording of myself, my brother and my father singing and playing it on guitar. I was the main singer and whene at the end i tottaly started yelling like the crazy man in the end and half-crying and everyone tried not to laugh their ass off XD... It was somuch fun, Thank you leonard!!

[dbkillerex]

I never ever get tired of this

[sweetgypsywife]

Beautiful ....a wild ending!!..is it always like this??

[gallgeal]

I LOVE ITT!! 

[iriswigle]

Let's see...we have a necklace in one vid, and MAYBE an orange seed from 1966-67 in another, and this one looks like a bracelet between fingers. God? He isn't looking for a daughter, is he? He sits there like this Daddy thing..."I know all about you!!!" So, what's the real answer? Why the bracelet?

[jolangjolang]

@iriswigle I don't understand your comment - what does a bracelet have to do with 'looking for a daughter'?

[mejja10]

I know exacly what

"But you stand there so nice, in your blizzard of ice, oh please let me come into the storm". We cannot have it all can´t we .

[Zidanie5]

In my personal chart of the best songs ever, this song ranks second, bested only by Visions of Johanna by Dylan.

The lyrics are unbelievable, especially "I suppose that he froze when the wind took your clothes" is a masterpiece of imagery, phonetics and meaning. And his voice makes it even better!

[positive4eugenics]

Leonard Cohen....... I thought jeff buckley wrote this! HA! im very sad and lonely xxxx

[JosephAndDavid]

Me and my friend made our own version of this song. We'd love you to hear it : ). It's posted on this account x

[dinopaic]

I showed my heart to the doctor: he said I just have to quit.

Then he wrote himself a prescription,

and your name was mentioned in it!

Some of the most beautiful lines ever written,

Sadly, they are so true ...

[Glowskully]

.... i its the first time i hear this song, just had a row with my boyfriend and for some reason i feel it will be allright now ....

[MrFlauder]

always makes me cry

[thomlmcm]

always makes me smile

[Ermengarde11]

I heard of a saint who had loved you,

so I studied all night in his school.

He taught that the duty of lovers

is to tarnish the golden rule.

And just when I was sure that his teachings were pure

he drowned himself in the pool.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE EXCERPTS !!

Cohen's poetic skill and his imagery are unequaled.

[nestee86]

i adore this song. he is a genious, LC.

[kaufmann6988]

Pure poetry !

[jerryhayes07]

Amazing.

[saucierrr]

Leonard was awesome to see live! I was amazed I knew all the songs he sang!

[TokeThe1andOnly]

***ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL SONG***

The best part, however, is the end - after the "normal" vocals have finished you get to hear a man totally lose it for a few seconds. Cracks Me UP every time! Leonard was an artist from the starting line. He just broke out all talented and driven, waited a few decades for the adult voice to show and now he's the complete package as are those Webb sisters!

[johnmair]

@TokeThe1andOnly shut the FUCK up you awful sentimentalizing imbecile! ugh

[zotcrew]

@TokeThe1andOnly tosser

[holden415]

@TokeThe1andOnly

YES!! I love this song, but the guy at the end just makes it happen! I always laugh, but I can't help but feel the sadness. I guess its only because its hard to ignore the sadness in this world. People are lonely and melancholy. It can't be helped.

[holden415]

@TokeThe1andOnly

YES!! I love this song, but the guy at the end just makes it happen! I always laugh, but I can't help but feel the sadness. I guess its only because its hard to ignore the sadness in this world. People are lonely and melancholy. It can't be helped.

[dashbyan]

oguyism .hmf h g gughvut utht hutg yt y gt tyt 5yt t7 t 7ty7ytut r yg 7g yg78 y tr7gy 7y 7y8

[ametllet]

Precious!!

[magoulianitissa]

Oh  Leonard you are a great poet and singer...

This is just so wonderful!!!

Thanks for posting.

[smythers55]

listen lads thats all you have to do, the man writes songs all he asks is that you listen. simple! make what you will of meanings, funny thing is only the guy who writes it knows what his song are about. so just listen is it too much to ask ?

[yeahsee33]

Is this his best album from the early days? I Love it. WHAT is YOUR favorite album from the EARLY days? (before he got deep voiced)

[Ermengarde11]

This one would be right up there, I can't calculate the hours and hours I spent listening to it and all his earlier works, more recently catching up on his later works. There is NONE like him, never will be. See some of my covers of LC's songs if you care to!! Peace.

[TomReeseqazwsx]

this song is great D=

and the wailing at the end reminds me of that lou reed song "The Kids" with two children wailing at the end

[Ermengarde11]

Didn't know about that, I'm going to search it right now. Lou Reed is cool!

[Ermengarde11]

OMG, have not heard this one in sooo long. I find his wailing at the end so emotional, it moves me to tears. Right from deep down in his guts it seems. I've seen him do this one in concert long ago, & if I never saw any concert my entire life, I would not have missed him for the world. Saw him like 3 times. Still my absolute fave solo male artist (Janis is the female), and ironically I didn't know about their affair until after my admiration for them both was long established.

[jeanandbilly]

Wow I got goosebemps listening to it. Such emotion. He did a concert in Paris recently.leonard lost most of his fortune in the Madoff scandal.He said he now has to come out of retirement and hit the road with concerts to make up for his losses.Thanks for this Kat.

[smythers55]

how does one man write so many great songs, so many great lyrics, what woman would not give her arm for her lover to turn to her and say "but you stand there so nice in your blizzard of ice, oh please let me come into the storm " for every woman to a man is a storm, pure genius mr cohen. thank you

[jeanandbilly]

Mr.Smythers that was beautifully said.The man's truly a poet and I think unaware of how great he is.

[Ermengarde11]

Now I'm hopping mad, I mean I was already disgusted enough with Madoff (sentencing tomorrow I think), but 4 Leonard 2 suffer this loss of fortune at the hands of that scum is icing on the cake. I hope Madoff gets the entire 150 years he's up for. So many people hurt by him. Dear Leonard, 2have 2tour in his 70s,when he'd already made his fortune, is not fair, I hope however that he sells out concerts &gains new fans,sells more music &gets more royalties. Of course,his true fortune is his talent.

[Ermengarde11]

That's one version of the story I heard! Poor Leonard lost all he had ($5 million)except for $150K, thus he must tour again. Yes Madoff is finally being punished and then will have to answer to a Higher Authority!!

I see you have about 185 LC videos on your channel, wow I thought I was a hardcore LC lover! I'll check our your playlist soon. :-)

[desowell]

hey dont hate man, but he did a bad bad thing

[Ermengarde11]

I also heard that one of his own employees "Made Off" with his money, leaving him only $150K. I'm so glad Madoff got 150 years. He harmed so many people. And his wife upon being evicted from their penthouse tried to grab a fur coat on her way out the door -- which they didn't allow her to do. She has plenty of friends she can have a nice dinner with at their homes, until that wears out, then she can find out what it's like to eat at the soup kitchen or go to the food bank.

[desowell]

bernie "made off" with so much, and caused a large part of our economic crisis, but what can we do

[Ermengarde11]

I guess what we CAN do is make our voices heard, plus instill in our kids that greed, like pride, can bring down entire nations, &to always avoid selling our souls &our country for excessive gain!! I figure it's going to take major protests &hopefully NOT bloodshed before our "leaders" get the message. Greed: one of the seven deadly sins, affecting not only the sinner, but perhaps his/her entire nation. Now THAT is messed up! An attitude of gratitude is what I have, for every single breath!

[smythers55]

ermengarde, you need to step back, all is not lost , let your kids have there lives, to do what they want, do really think anyone in mr. cohens position has not enjoyed his life ? he has had more fun than most of us ! giving me head on an unmade bed while the limeosine waits in the street ! was that 68? he has lived his life, the good ,the bad and the beautiful. take care

[Ermengarde11]

Yes I've been checking out some websites on LC and seeing interviews, and although he only recently was relieved of his clinical depression he has had a wonderful life I'm sure. Both the good and the bad make for good songwriting, and he's in a class by himself. I've enjoyed him for 35 years, and whatever makes him so blessed with talent is a huge blessing in my life! Anyway it's only money, some of us have a much better type of wealth! You take care too.

[Ermengarde11]

smythers55, can't recall if I noticed your comment before, that's how far behind on emails I am!! Yes I'm sure LC has had a wonderful life, and he seems to take things in stride based on what I've seen!!

[desowell]

maybe she should get a job.... i bus tables for a living while i go to school, people can either make something of them selves, or blame others for their own faults

[Ermengarde11]

There ya go! Mrs.Made-Off will probably have 2 look up "job" in the dictionary first LOL My daughter, single mother of 3, attends tech college &works, has overcome so much to make much of her life,&while I've always had reasons 2B proud,I'm prouder than ever! Bless U in your efforts, what RU studying? Daughter studying criminal justice &determined 2make a difference, as I am..

the more we do right, the more neg. forces will try to discourage us, but we're too strong to give in !

[yeahsee33]

Janis who? Joplin?

[Ermengarde11]

Yes! How cool is that, my two faves having a tryst in the Chelsea Hotel? !

[desowell]

janis who?

[gianina2ro]

Je vous aime merveilleux!!!!

[Tamerica]

;__;

This song is amazingly sad.

[00amnesiac00]

This is one of my all time favourite songs.

[Juliejcoo1]

HE HAS PURE TALENT N THAT VOICE OOOO

[janeymac4]

brilliant!

[jacksolly]

Cohen is just a genius..this is superb, deep and hillarious and the ending is exceptional...I think it says "don't take ourselves so seriously" there are so many fish in the sea...you suckers!!!

[EdgeGeraldine]

I saw the drunken wailing at the end as pain. He spends all of the song singing about this woman who ruined all of these other men, as well as himself, and he still wants her.

[Ermengarde11]

Good observation, which brings to mind that the same yearing was the basis of Greensleeves, a woman who will not have the suitor so desperate for her to love him, and all the wealth he throws at her still does not win her heart. See my rendition of Greensleeves if you care to, take care.

[Barker346]

No disrespect but I disagree :)

[makuabob]

Aboslutely fuc.... haunting song! Why? Is it the sex? Is it the mystery of obscure lyrics? Is it Cohen's visceral delivery? Forget the 'lovers' idea; that's just the low string on the guitar. Listen for the higher tone, the one that resonates without being struck. Look out into the night sky as it plays and forget your body! The lyrics are an allegory; find the higher meaning. "Library shelf" Think about it. Listen, think, dig deep! Oh! Don't get your soul caught in the solar wind and blow away!

[zoemurdock]

Yes! Yes. That higher tone you feel in your soul - pulling you where you know you want to go . . .

[dontbro]

the end bit is so god damn haunting

[louiseduvee]

Beautiful video, fit for this song!

[louiseduvee]

One of my favourites.

Thank you.

[EvaMariel]

Ah...my all time favourite Leonard Cohen song. A pity he doesn't play it more often. I love the anguish at the end.

[BytomGirl]

Why is that men love women who cheat and those men have to later see a shrink and go crazy and good, loyal women are alone? Is it because loyal and sweet is not considered sexy? Do I have to be cold and icy before somebody is crazy about me? Do all men really like to torture themselves this way? Life......

[Flaoo]

I've only heard men say that about women. Interesting. Every man I know have got depressed after being betrayed like that.

[BytomGirl]

And every woman, myself included. It goes both ways I suposse. Just how many men are looking for Barbie dolls and pass up wondeful women because their waist is not 20 inches. Sad.....

[TheJyscalator]

Love is fleeting, and fragile. Maybe someone was once in love with you, and you just never noticed it...

[BytomGirl]

TheJyscalator, don't take me wrong :-) I am not yalking about myslef, many men were in love with me, I wasn't an am not a wall flower. But you are right, love is very fragile and doesn't last because so many people don;t knw how to make it work.

It's just sad that often people look at the book cover and don;t see what's inside.

[TheJyscalator]

Oh yeah, I realise that, it's just that my statement was more effective if I targeted it towards you. it made my point sound clearer and more..,intelligent and romantic in a sense. I want to become the most romantic and respected of the internet people.

[BytomGirl]

Thank you, it is beautiful what you said :-)

It's a wonderful aim to be intelligent , respected and romantic :-) And you are on your way :-) Your intelligence is certainly showing and you sound like a romantic person and a hopeless romantic like me can truly appreciate it :-)

[fecinny]

very deep

[b34rh34d]

Incredible. I find his songs just like poetry but set to music. I don't really understand the third verse about the saint so much though :/ help?

[TheJyscalator]

He is actually a poet, I have some books of his poetry around my house somewhere. The saint will become apparent after about five listens, for me anyway....

[adcava]

Cohen's lyrics indeed are beyond anything else, even though he was stoned practically 24/7. I suppose we should thank him for that. To me this song is pure emotion and it is my all time favorite.

[sekarius87]

I showed my heart to the doctor: he said I just have to quit.

Then he wrote himself a prescription,

and your name was mentioned in it!

Perfect example of Cohen's writting.

[MAGICOmagique]

My favorite song of Cohen :) So deep.

[Eagleray99]

This isn't one of my favourites, but it is a great example of LC writing with a sense of humour, especially the Eskimo verse.

[honeychildgirl]

no one in the world has cornered the eternal struggle but un deniable attraction between man and woman like Mr Cohen has

beautiful

[zackepple]

art shouldn't be compared. especially masters like Dylan & Cohen

[RAWRAMP1]

he truly is the weilder of words...

[DAIBEEDIS]

=.) i love you leonard!!!!! =.)..

[diana1255]

God bless you Leonard,For such inspiring music!

[ixion58]

Legend

[sweetyo0o]

I always Feel bad listening to his music as i'm too dumb to know what hes talking about:(..However he is a genious!! Dont need to be smart to know that :D

[EvelinaKnightly]

something strange happens to me whenever I listen to this song, there's a mixture of feelings that I cannot explain. I luv Leonard, Luv him, Luv him!

[Petiber]

One of the best Cohen songs ever (the best one is Famous Blue Raincoat, though).

[jim71310]

And Nancy...This one gives me shivers

[Phame17]

Ah this made me tear up.

[grenthier]

Best Cohensong ever

[grumpyandrews]

OK this is the best of Leonards love songs.But is it as good as LOVE minus ZERO. by Bob Dylan I don't know.

[iGaucho]

Ah.....Yes.

[Petiber]

leoanrd cohen > bob dylan in my opinion. and this song is a fucking masterpiece

[jim71310]

Yes, sure!!

[DesignaHolixxx]

so true, i love dylan but i think Cohen is just beyond the never knowns.

[DavidRandallCurtis]

During my squandered youth - I was in a local punk band called the "G-Spots" as singer. The guitarist and me had a deal; he picked half the songs and I picked the other. All his were fraking U2 and Ramones (hate both of them) - I'd bring in the lyrics to Cohen songs (like this very one) and we'd play them like the Sex Pistols... and our audience was too drunk and stupid to realize they were hearing some the the greatest lyrics written... Cohen is God :)

[Maratini]

I think he is one of the most original, creative, lyrical, melodic serious poets of the last half-century. As others of you have said, his poetry/lyrics are at once universal and difficult to access. He is also - by his own admission - bipolar, which doubtless informs his exulting, moody, despondent and hopeful lyrics. None of what I just wrote makes any sense, I know, but he makes sense, far more than the "mainstream" poets.

[SaneMan89]

"He taught that the duty of lovers

is to tarnish the golden rule"

Too true. :(

[RisforRockit]

mmmh...do you mind explaining what "tarnish" in this sense means? dulling the 'golden rule'? i can't quite grasp the image.

[silvinka007]

and what does it mean dulling? :) I think tarnish here means blemish...maybe.

I love this song, I have to listen it once more and once more, 20 times a day :)))

[SaneMan89]

In this case, I think it means "to dull or destroy". In other words, destroying the principles of the golden rule by not doing unto your lover what you want her/him to do unto you.

I can relate to that.

[Eagleray99]

It means to spoil or damage, as in: "She tarnished his memory by telling people about some of his failings". To make less bright....

[walalaura]

I agree with you, vivahate33, this song is timeless!

[vivahate33]

God, this song is timeless.

I love you Leonard

[ciuffolina1]

I love him....

[jennjuniper1952]

loved you for so long now you seem like a very intimate friend in good and bad times leonard cohen helps us get through them so we owe him many thanks.

[konstantiss]

The lyrics in this one are pretty straight-forward.

Check out Leonard Cohen - Avalanche.

Now that's something to puzzle your head

[thesoccergod]

One of his greatest songs. Contains some of his profoundest lyrics coupled with a simple guitar melody.

[cyclonefury27]

It really is amazing. It is in the simplicity of this work that the true beauty comes through. Cohen can work such a simple progression into an enigmatic tearjerker that leaves you wondering what it was that moved you to feel that way.

[grenthier]

best Cohensong ever+++++++++++++++++++

[ImeldaLumos]

This is really poetic, but wasn´t he a poet before he started to wrote songs? The lyrics in this song is worth more than the melody. And I know that I have to read the lines of this song over and over again before I fully understand it. Perhaps I need years before I see the light, it´s wonderful. He draws up, while he sings, a beautiful picture, a story...

[cyclonefury27]

Yes, he was a poet and from what I understand still claims it as his mainstay. Though arguably his poetry never received the acclaim his music did.

If you're new to Cohen and don't understand it, you'll run into that quality in a Cohen song frequently. He has a way of expressing so well those feelings and circumstances that we don't fully understand ourselves, and in my opinion, that's part of the charm. Often times I'll relate without being able to explain exactly what he's trying to say. :)

[Vggamegod]

god, these lyrics are hard to wrap one's head around, but contain much meaning