Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1967


So Long, Marianne

Buy So Long, Marianne now from Amazon

First, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.

Wikipedia article




"'So Long, Marianne'" is a song written by Canadian poet and musician Leonard Cohen. It was featured on his debut album, 'Songs of Leonard Cohen'. Pitchfork Media placed it at number 190 on their list of "The 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s."

History



The song was inspired by Marianne Jensen, born Marianne Ihlen, whom Cohen met on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. She had recently been left by her husband,[http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/marianne2006.html "Marianne and Leonard: Interview with Marianne Ihlen by Kari Hesthamar, Norway, 2005", 'LeonardCohenFiles.com']. Retrieved August 6, 2016 the Norwegian writer Axel Jensen, leaving her and their six-month-old son alone on the island. The two hit it off, and Cohen ultimately took her from Hydra back to her home in Oslo, Norway. He later invited her and her son to live with him in Montreal, an offer which she accepted. The two lived together throughout the 1960s, commuting between New York, Montreal, and Hydra.

To quote Leonard Cohen (backcover of Greatest Hits, 1976):

"I began this on Aylmer Street in Montreal and finished it a year or so later at the Chelsea Hotel in New York. I didnt think I was saying goodbye but I guess I was. She gave me many songs, and she has given songs to others too. She is a Muse. A lot of people I know think that there is nothing more important than making a song. Fortunately, this belief arises infrequently in their conversation."

Marianne Ihlen herself, however, said that the original words were not "So long, Marianne", but "Come on, Marianne", indicating that in an early version of the song, it was not meant as a goodbye.Nick Broomfield, quoting Marianne Ihlen, in Broomfield's documentary about her and Cohen's relationship, 'Marianne & Leonard: Words of Love', 2019. This is also confirmed in Mejlnder, Petter (24 June 2006). "Mariannes greske drama" [Marianne's Greek drama] (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Retrieved 17 August 2016.

Cohen dedicated his third volume of poetry, 'Flowers for Hitler', to her, and she directly inspired many of his other songs and poems. A photo of her appears on the back cover of his second album, 'Songs from a Room'.

Marianne Ihlen died in hospital in Oslo on July 28, 2016, aged 81.[https://www.facebook.com/leonardcohen/?fref=nf Leonard Cohen official 'Facebook' page]. Retrieved July 29, 2016[http://www.cmjornal.xl.pt/mais_cm/obituario/detalhe/marianne_ihlen__1935_2016.html Octavio Lopes, "Marianne Ihlen (1935-2016)", 'Correio de Manha', 6 August 2016]. Retrieved August 6, 2016 Cohen wrote to her shortly before her death, saying: "Im just a little behind you, close enough to take your hand. [...] Ive never forgotten your love and your beauty. But you know that. [...] Safe travels old friend. See you down the road. Love and gratitude."[https://theconversation.com/mythmaking-social-media-and-the-truth-about-leonard-cohens-last-letter-to-marianne-ihlen-108082 Tanya Dalziell, Paul Genoni, "Mythmaking, social media and the truth about Leonard Cohens last letter to Marianne Ihlen", 'The Conversation', 5 December 2018]. Retrieved November 16, 2019 He died just more than three months later, on November 7.

Cover versions



The song has been covered by Beck, Noel Harrison, John Cale with Suzanne Vega, Straitjacket Fits, Brian Hyland, James, Bill Callahan, Russian Red, Courtney Barnett, and others, including Cohen's own son, Adam Cohen.

In 1984 it became a hit in the Dutch Top 40 sung by Jos Hoebee, ex-singer of Luv' and TV host Ron Brandsteder.

Adam Cohen and The Webb Sisters performed the song at the 2017 'Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen' concert.[https://www.cbc.ca/arts/watch-tower-of-song-a-memorial-tribute-to-leonard-cohen-on-wednesday-january-3-on-cbc-1.4467590 "Watch Tower of Song: A Memorial Tribute to Leonard Cohen on Wednesday, January 3 on CBC"]. CBC Arts, December 29, 2017. Courtney Barnett performed the song in her 2019 MTV Unplugged performance.

Charts



References



Category:Leonard Cohen songs

Category:1967 songs

Category:Songs written by Leonard Cohen

Category:Columbia Records singles

Buy So Long, Marianne now from Amazon

<-- Return to songs from 1967



This work is released under CC-BY-SA. Some or all of this content attributed to http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1096342706.