David Remnick’s podcast featuring his interview with Leonard Cohen, which took place shortly before his death and was the basis for Leonard’s New Yorker profile, is now online.

It is powerful, moving, & eloquent.

 

If the embedded player malfunctions, try Leonard Cohen: A Final Interview With David Remnick

 

Comments From Original Nov 11, 2016 Posting

June
November 11, 2016 at 1:58 pm

Thank you Dear Allan …. Thank you so very much for everything you do … your own sorrow must be very deep yet still you manage to post. We know now that Leonard’s last words to Marianna weren’t just the perfect words to offer comfort to her …. he must have known back then in August, the truth was that he really wouldn’t be far behind her. How fortunate are we to have this last wonderful final album from Leonard … Knowing what we know now little wonder it’s so amazing…
Love this podcast! Thank you so much … love at 17:18 how Leonard says Roshi’s system is “basically to get you to stop whining” I must commit those words to memory and attempt to adopt the principle myself.
My love to all who were close to Leonard – how privileged they were to know and love him but how grief stricken they must be right now. Rest in Peace Dear Leonard ….

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Stefanie (Puddingdale)
November 11, 2016 at 4:34 pm

Well said, June.
And to listen to the interview is so much more intense now than reading parts of it back when it was published. Thank you so much, Allan, for posting it here.
I am sad and grateful. What a teacher of life he still is, leaving us such encouraging words and such an album when he knew he truly did not have much time left here. His acceptance, courage, humour and diligent work in that situation are an example to me. Thank you, Leonard. May you rest in peace and be happy, wherever you are.

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Siby Boyd
November 14, 2016 at 5:05 pm

Thank you for that wonderful interview. I feel so privileged and honoured to have had Leonard Cohen in my life for the past 41 odd years (out of 59) when I was introduced to him by my boyfriend. I had not heard of him coming from Germany until then.
People used to say his music was “depressing”, I never saw that, heard that of felt it.
Like millions of other woman I was and will forever be in love with him.
I read somewhere just earlier when someone said that we were lucky to have lived in his lifetime, So true………..
Thank you Leonard, for all the poems and lyrics and your beautiful unique voice
The last gig I went to was in 2010 in Las Vegas (from London) – it was very special
Rest in peace Dear Leonard <3 <3 <3

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bob quail
November 11, 2016 at 8:15 pm

LEONARD COHEN’S FINAL LESSON

I read that Leonard Cohen said he was ready to die
Now 82-He will soon, sadly, have to say good-bye
Cohen’s wisdom has always helped and amazed me
I found expansion and solace in his deep poetry

Whenever his unique songs played on the radio
I’d pause to reflect on the lessons he shared from his life’s flow
They always seemed to slide and seldom fight
As Leonard stayed open to all that came into his life

He is only 10 years older than me
This articled made me think about my mortality
Like Leonard, I too have had a long, wild, diverse life
Filled with adventures, love, losses and strife

In my “Birth Family” I am the only one still here
At first their too early exit birthed stress, grief and tears
But for all of them I have I have learned to live fuller and on and on
Always wondering would I see them again in the “Great Beyond”?

Right now I do prefer to not yet have to go
For there is so much more I want to do and know
But-I hope-When I am finally in the last of my days
Like Cohen-I too will be brace in the last act of my play!!!

Originally written 10-13-16 Bob Quail

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Doreen Shirley
November 12, 2016 at 12:01 pm

Thank you so much for all your posts, so comforting, especially now that we’ve lost the great man. At least his music and words will live on.

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Kevin O’Shea
November 12, 2016 at 4:17 pm

What a great interview, with a great man. Been a fan since 1968 when I heard a fellow backpacker sing Sisters of Mercy. I saw him live in Dublin in the 1970s and 6 times in the last 8 years. We showed my Dutch mother-in-law one of his 200 concerts and she loved it, calling him “De man met de hoed” – the man with the hat. Such a loss.

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Elizabeth Bacon-Smith
November 13, 2016 at 9:19 pm

I still cannot get to this to listen. Thank you for putting it here for all of us, Allan. We can listen forever. You have served Leonard and us well, his and our dear friend.

Love,
Elizabeth/Lizzie

I am republishing selected posts from my former Leonard Cohen site, Cohencentric, here on AllanShowalter.com (these posts can be found at Leonard Cohen). This entry was originally posted Nov 11, 2016.