I'm Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen

"Hallelujah" It was in the winter of 1969, June to be precise, and it was refreshingly cool for a change. An interlude. Seven days away from the war, and I am not speaking of the one between the sexes. As would happen so often in subsequent years, the lyrics rolled around in my brain, as I stood on the shore of Sydney harbor: "and the sun poured down like honey, on our lady of the harbor." The sun indeed felt like honey in the coolness and there was s. "The best bio I've ever read - a must read." according to Raymond Cannefax. It is perhaps the best written biography I have ever read. Sylvie brings many of those who she uses for her information into the biography by interviewing them and getting their direct input, not her interpretation. It is detail, it is without bias, it is compelling to read and answers so many questions I had about Leonard's life, even though I had been familiar with him since 1971. It also dispels so many of the erroneous comments presen. Over This book as well as Mr. Cohen's earthly time have ended. I don't usually read biographies, especially ones that read like "hagiography." This one--at the subject's request--did not. The biographer covered her subject in intimate and thorough detail. Reading it felt like living his life with him--from birth to late life with every woman, every drug, every writer's experience and life event in between. So many memories I share with someone

Simmons also discusses at length Cohen’s impressive body of work, including poetry and prose as well as songs (his iconic “Hallelujah” has been covered by more than 300 artists), mentions his numerous bouts of depression, and recounts his unfortunate financial difficulties when his former manager stole funds from his retirement account. In this compelling biography, Simmons chronicles the career of the courtly, elegant—“I was born in a suit”—singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist, from his first band in Montreal (a country-and-western trio, no less) to his early days in New York, where he lived at the famous Chelsea Hotel, to his most recent world tour, during which the seventysomething Cohen literally skipped onstage. Simmons includes fascinating anecdotes—Cohen meeting Judy Collins, who would later record one of his signature songs, “Suzanne”; encountering fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell in

Singer/songwriter Leonard Cohen is one of the most important and influential musical artists of the past fifty years—and one of the most elusive. In I’m Your Man, journalist Sylvie Simmons, one of the foremost chroniclers of the world of rock ’n’ roll and popular music, explores the extraordinary life and creative genius of Leonard Cohen.I’m Your Man is an intimate and insightful appreciation of the man responsible for “Suzanne,” “Bird on a Wire,” “Hallelujah,” and so many other unforgettable, oft-covered ballads and songs.  Based on Simmons’s unparalleled access to Cohen—and written with her hallmark blend of intelligence, integrity, and style—I’m Your Man is the definitive biography of a major musical ar