So long Marianne

Oh Leonard, this song is so incredible. Just heard it again this morning while listening to CBC Radio 2 Morning with Tom Allen. After watching this video of a live performance from the 70s, I was trying to figure out why he was so overcome with emotion. I discovered that 'Marianne' was Marianne Ihlen, a love of Cohen's who he met in Hydra in the 1950s. While at a supermarket one day, Cohen saw her and asked her to join him while sitting outside. Of course she joins him...

Once he returns to Montreal, he sends her a telegram which reads:
“Have house. All I need is my woman and her son. Love Leonard.” That's the stuff movies are made of, no?


NOTE:
If you don't listen to this morning show, you should. Here is a sample of today's line up:
Paulo Nutini
Alex Cuba
Hawksley Workman
Joni Mitchell
Leonard Cohen
Pete Yorn

You can stream it live too, for anyone in the US...here's a link!
http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/index.html