Five years have passed since Canadian poet, songwriter, singer, and novelist Leonard Cohen‘s death on 7 November 2016
“Bird on the Wire”, from “Songs from a Room” (1969), is one his signature songs, with which he generally started his concerts.
Bird On The Wire
Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
If I, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you.
Like a baby, stillborn,
like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
and by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
he said to me, “You must not ask for so much.”
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
she cried to me, “Hey, why not ask for more?”
Oh like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free
Cohen lived on the Greek island Hydra for seven years from 1960 to1967. While there, during a bout of extreme depression, his girlfriend Marianne tried to help him get out of his unhappy condition by handing him his guitar. So he began composing “Bird on the Wire”, inspired by a bird seen outside the window resting on one of the telephone cables recently installed on the island. Another reference to Hydra contained in the song is when he speaks of the midnight choirs: that place was known for its late night revelry when groups of drunken men stumbled up its stairs, singing loudly with their arms around each other.
Cohen described this song as a simple country song, but it is also a prayer and an anthem about a search for freedom, and the possibility for redemption.
The bird is often used as a symbol for freedom: when it sits down on a wire, it has stopped flying and is free to choose whether to fly or not, to remain or not.
As the song progresses, Cohen creates a number of images that suggest the idea of of the search for freedom, peace and forgiveness in the balance between various states.
Sometimes freedom is impossible like when a worm is attached to the hook or a knight has saved all his trophies (ribbons) to show his devotion to one lady in particular, which suggests a limitation of his freedom.
The plea for forgiveness is due to the fact that people because people, intentionally or not, have the ability to hurt anyone who tries to reach out and help.
Towards the end there is the beautiful contrast between two different characters: a disabled beggar who has learned to expect nothing and a pretty woman who has learned she can get a lot using her looks and femininity. People can recognize themselves in these different aspects of the human personality, switching from one to the other according to the moment: beautiful and powerful, or broken and unwanted.
Sono trascorsi cinque anni dalla morte del poeta, cantautore, cantante e romanziere canadese Leonard Cohen, avvenuta il 7 novembre 2016
“Bird on the Wire”, dall’album “Songs from a Room” (1969), è una delle sue canzoni distintive, con cui generalmente iniziava i suoi concerti.
Come un uccello sul filo.
come un ubriaco in un coro di mezzanotte
ho cercato a modo mio di essere libero.
Come un verme sull’amo
come un cavaliere in un vecchio libro
ho conservato tutti i miei trofei per te.
Se sono stato crudele
spero tu possa passarci sopra.
Se sono stato disonesto
spero tu sappia che non lo sono mai stato con te
Come un bimbo nato morto,
come una bestia con il suo corno
ho straziato chiunque cercasse di arrivare a me
Ma giuro su questa canzone
e su tutto quello che ho fatto di sbagliato
che ti ripagherò di tutto.
Ho visto un mendicante appoggiato sulla sua stampella di legno
che mi ha detto: “Non devi chiedere così tanto”
E una donna graziosa affacciata alla sua porta buia,
mi ha urlato: “Hey, perché non chiedere di più?”
Come un uccello sul filo,
come un ubriaco in un coro di mezzanotte
ho provato a modo mio di essere libero.
Cohen visse sull’isola greca di Hydra per sette anni dal 1960 al 1967. Mentre era là, durante un periodo di estrema depressione, la sua fidanzata Marianne cercò di aiutarlo a venirne fuori porgendogli la sua chitarra. Così ebbe inizio la composizione di “Bird on the Wire/Uccello sul filo”, che fu ispirata da un uccello visto fuori dalla finestra, appoggiato su uno dei cavi telefonici installati di recente sull’isola. Un altro riferimento a Hydra contenuto nella canzone, è quando parla dei cori di mezzanotte. Infatti il luogo era noto anche per le baldorie notturne quando gruppi di uomini ubriachi incespicavano su per le scalinate, cantando ad alta voce e a braccetto.
Cohen ha descritto questa canzone come una semplice canzone country, ma è anche una preghiera e un inno sulla ricerca di libertà e sulla possibilità di redenzione
L’uccello è spesso usato come simbolo di libertà: appollaiato su un filo, ha smesso di volare ed è libero di scegliere se spiccare ancora il volo o no, restare o andar via.
Man mano che la canzone procede, Cohen crea una serie di immagini che suggeriscono l’idea di ricerca della libertà, del perdono o della pace nell’equilibrio tra vari stati.
A volte la libertà è impossibile come quando un verme è agganciato all’amo o un cavaliere ha conservato tutti i suoi trofei (nastri) per mostrare la sua devozione a un’unica dama, il che suggerisce una limitazione della sua libertà.
C’è anche una richiesta di perdono, perché le persone, più o meno intenzionalmente, hanno la capacità di ferire chi cerca di avvicinarsi e dare aiuto.
Verso la fine c’è il bellissimo contrasto tra due personaggi: un mendicante invalido che ha imparato a non aspettarsi nulla e una bella donna che ha imparato che può ottenere molto usando il suo aspetto e la sua femminilità. La gente può riconoscersi in questi diversi aspetti della personalità umana, perché passa dall’uno all’altro a seconda dell’occasione: un momento si sente bella e potente, e un altro distrutta e disprezzata..
Reblogged this on Il mio viaggio.
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Grazie di cuore 🙏🎶🙏
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One of my favorite songs. Thank you Luisa!
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That’s a great song indeed
Thank you 🙏🎶🙏
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[…] Leonard Cohen: Bird On The Wire 🎶 […]
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Thanks for the lovely reblog 🎶🙏🎶
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Thank you for sharing your wonderful article.. Leonard Cohen was truly a great gift to our generation to gratefully cheerish and enjoy …
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Thank you for taking the time to read! I really appreciate your kind words and I am glad you liked this post!
Have a happy Sunday🙏🎶🙏
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I only know him recentlt but everything I heard – including this – is brilliant.
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He was a great artist ✨✨✨✨✨
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What a great master he was! Thanks for marking the day of his death, Luisa.
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He was a great artist!
Thank you so much, Sarah, for your lovely comment
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This song comes from one of the albums that make up the soundtrack of my life (along with Leonard’s album, “Songs of Love and Hate”). It’s extraordinary to listen to the original version and then one of his live versions from shortly before his death. I think his voice must haver dropped about three complete octaves, if not more!!
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Yes his voice had changed but, while not an expert, I think it’s a natural transformation
Thank you for sharing my appreciation for such a great artist
Have a nice Sunday afternoon
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Lovely post as usual Luisa! I believe towards the end Cohen turned to a spiritual way of life and meditation. His empathy is so touching..👏💜
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Thank you so much, Shammni, I’m glad you stopped by!
Your comment is really valuable and I totally agree with it🙏🙏🙏
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I had heard of this song before, just the name. I appreciate the post giving the details, which I can deeply relate to. Thank you
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I am very pleased that you thought so and that you enjoyed this
Thank you for your lovely words
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I was unfamiliar with this song, dear Luisa; thank you for bringing it to our attention. The sad, literate words are very wistful. The backstory is fascinating. You have done one of your most masterful jobs to explain this song to us.
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Thanks, dear Pat I have taught all my life and I have remained in the habit, perhaps a little pedantic, of explaining things. Writing a short commentary helps me to clarify my ideas better above all to myself
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Poetry does that for me. 🤗🌞🍁🍂👋
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I know … 😘😘😘
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I didn’t know the story behind this song. In fact I had forgotten that it was written by Leonard Cohen. A great tribute to this Canadian icon. Maggie
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I appreciate your kindness, Maggie!
Thanks for your constant encouragement
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A great musician, poet and human. Thank you, dearest Luisa for reminding this sad separation. 🙏❤
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on him, Aladin
I appreciate that very much🙏🎶🙏
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He was an incredibly talented man, and the world is a poorer place without him. Brilliant song.
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That’s exactly how I feel.
Thanks for your kind comment
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Thank you, Luisa, for this post. A great person. I like both his lyrical and sarcastic sides, as what you’ve cited here and, for example, ‘I struggle with some demons They were middle class and tame…’
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I am much obliged as always for your visit and inspiring comment
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Such a great song! Perfect for this quiet reflective Sunday afternoon! Thanks Luisa. Love and light, Deborah.
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Many thanks indeed!! I am pleased that you enjoyed this song!
Wishing you a good peaceful Sunday afternoon
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Notevoli e versi della canzone è molto bella e completa la tua spiegazione che dopo averla letta, rileggendo i versi mi ha aiutata a comprenderli meglio. Graziece bu9n pomeriggio 💕
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Grazie infinite a te, dolcissima Giusy
Buon pomeriggio ☀️💗☀️
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Très beau titre de Léonard Cohen.
Grazie Luisa.
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Merci et très bon dimanche à toi, Jean-Louis 🙂
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Una delle canzoni di Cohen che preferisco. Ho avuto il piacere di assistere ad un suo concerto una trentina di anni fa; fu davvero bello. Una voce indimenticabile
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Era una canzone che non mancava ai suoi concerti… una poesia in musica, come tutte le altre sue composizioni 🎶🎶🎶
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Ora così a lungo, Marianne, è ora che iniziamo
Ridere e piangere e piangere e ridere di nuovo su tutto questo
Leonard Cohen reminds me of late booze filled nights of the seventies ah!
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Thanks for everything, also for sharing the memory of the joyful youthful booze ❣️❣️❣️
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Caspita che poeta infinito🖤grande Lu
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Era un maestro
Buon pomeriggio, Paola 🤗🤗🤗
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😊👏
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Thank you for this share. I am a huge fan. 🎶
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I am really happy to hear that you liked this post and I thank you for letting me know🙏🙏🙏
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My pleasure. 💐
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Leonard Cohen was a legend!
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That’s exactly what I think
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“I have tried in my way to be free” Love this line. “I have torn everyone who reached out for me.” It is a pain that we want to be free but we also don’t want to live like a hermit.
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I could not have said it any better: thank you so much for your insight
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I’ve tried it too. LOL.
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🙏🌺🙏
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Ti dirò luisa, questa canzone mi ha sempre lasciato una profonda malinconia.
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Non è certo allegra, solo una meditazione sulla vita e sulla possibilità di libertà e felicità 🎶💗🎶
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He wrote such amazing songs. I have always loved this one. I didn’t know he wrote it on Hydra although I knew he had lived on Idra at one point. Nice island./
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Do you know that island?
I’ve never visited it 💗
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Yes. Many were the coins we threw in the sea in the hope of returning various smaller uncommercial islands. Indeed we lugged our girls to places where they’d to then lug their bags along beaches, cos there was no road, or finish the marathon journey in some beat up old bus or cart but hey, all good times. Some wonderful memories.
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Oh yes, beautiful memories and a wealth of experiences that can enrich us greatly
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[…] Leonard Cohen: Bird On The Wire 🎶 […]
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Thank you very much for reblogging 🙏🙏🙏
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Cohen è un vero poeta nella musica! Quando ascolto una sua canzone spesso mi commuovo.
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Lo penso anch’io: un vero Poeta della musica
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I love his voice…
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So do I….
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Ecco mi rendo conto di non aver mai approfondito abbastanza Leonard Cohen, fino ad ora, grazie a te.
La ricerca di libertà è molto attuale, ma forse mi ha colpita ancor di più questa dualità che trovo calzante, per quanto forse non troppo considerata.
GRAZIE Luisa!
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Bella riflessione! Sono sicura che, se ascolti o leggi qualcosa di Cohen, non ne resterai delusa
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Reblogged this on attis.
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Thank you so much 🌺🙏🌺
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Leonard Cohen culla gli accarezza anche questa assillante sequenza di pioggia.
Abbraccio ❤
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Buona serata! Qui non piove, per fortuna
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ne ho sentito parlare ma non ho letto o ascoltato nulla di lui.
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Un grande artista!
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Thank you for reminding me about this lovely song. I’ve just looked up the guitar chords and will give it a try! 🎵♥
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How wonderful!!!
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My fav
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Thank you for your kind feedback
🙏🌹🙏
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Such a Poet, and even intimate singer. He just made the moods of so many evenings Luisa, thank you for remembering
Narayan x
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I am really happy to know that you like this great Artist, and I thank you for kindly letting me know. 🙏🙏🙏
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Leonard Cohens words and the imagery they create is magnetic. I really enjoyed this, thanks.
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Many thanks indeed!! I am pleased that you enjoyed it!
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[…] william; brenda; jim; paula; kait; mishmash; writer; tracey; colinandray; bluebird; pelgris; luisa; sandra; […]
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My one regret is not being able to see Leonard live in concert. I couldn’t afford tickets the one year he did come to Edmonton. His lyrics were so inspiring.
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But he lives on in his songs: he died but he has become immortal
Thanks for your lovely words, Wendy
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