So Long, Marianne

"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." The song was inspired by Marianne Jensen (later Marianne Ihlen), whom Cohen met on the Greek island of Hydra in 1960. Cohen said she was the most beautiful woman he had ever met. She had recently been left by her husband, the Norwegian writer Axel Jensen, leaving her and her 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. 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 died July 28, 2016. The song has been covered by Beck, John Cale with Suzanne Vega, Brian Hyland, James, Bill Callahan, Russian Red and others, including Cohen's own son, Adam Cohen. It was also covered by the New Zealand band, Straitjacket Fits on their "Hail" LP.

[Verse 1] Come over to the window, my little darling I'd like to try to read your palm I used to think I was some kind of Gypsy boy Before I let you take me home [Chorus] Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again [Verse 2] Well you know that I love to live with you But you make me forget so very much I forget to pray for the angels And then the angels forget to pray for us [Chorus] Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again [Verse 3] We met when we were almost young Deep in the green lilac park You held on to me like I was a crucifix As we went kneeling through the dark [Chorus] Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again [Verse 4] Your letters they all say that you're beside me now Then why do I feel alone? I'm standing on a ledge and your fine spider web Is fastening my ankle to a stone [Chorus] Now so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again [Verse 5] For now I need your hidden love I'm cold as a new razor blade You left when I told you I was curious I never said that I was brave [Chorus] Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again [Verse 6] Oh, you are really such a pretty one I see you've gone and changed your name again And just when I climbed this whole mountainside To wash my eyelids in the rain [Chorus] Oh so long, Marianne, it's time that we began To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again