Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (2016) reaction commentary

Today I listen to Canadian singer-songwriter, Leonard Cohen perform You Want It Darker from his 2016 album of the same name. Chapters 0:00 - Intro 0:20 - You Want It Darker 5:10 - My thoughts 9:15 - Who is Leonard Cohen? Links Original Video:    • Leonard Cohen - You Want It Darker (Offici...   Folk Rock playlist:    • Folk Music   Canadian Rock playlist:    • Canadian Rock   Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934 – November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist. Themes commonly explored throughout his work include faith and mortality, isolation and depression, betrayal and redemption, social and political conflict, and sexual and romantic love, desire, regret, and loss. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. You Want It Darker is his fourteenth studio album, released on October 21, 2016, by Columbia Records, 17 days before Cohen's death. The album was created at the end of his life and focuses on death, God, and humor. It was released to critical acclaim. The title track was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in January 2018. You Want It Darker is the opening track, with lyrics by Leonard Cohen and music by Patrick Leonard. The song earned the artist a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance and features the vocals of Cantor Gideon Zelermyer and Shaar Hashomayim Choir. Drums – Rob Humphreys Keyboards – Michael Chaves Keyboards [Keyboard Bass], Organ [B3 Organ] – Patrick Leonard Organ [B3 Organ] – Neil Larsen Soloist – Cantor Gideon Y. Zelermyer Choir – Congregation Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir Arranged By [Choral Arrangement] – Adam Cohen, Conor O'neil, Roï Azoulay Engineer – Bill Bottrell, Howard Bilerman, Michael Chaves Mixed By – Michael Chaves Producer [Produced By] – Adam Cohen Lyrics [Verse 1: Leonard Cohen] If you are the dealer I'm out of the game If you are the healer It means I'm broken and lame If thine is the glory then Mine must be the shame You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 2: Leonard Cohen] Magnified, sanctified Be thy holy name Vilified, crucified In the human frame A million candles burning For the help that never came You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Verse 3: Leonard Cohen] There's a lover in the story But the story's still the same There's a lullaby for suffering And a paradox to blame But it's written in the scriptures And it's not some idle claim You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 4: Leonard Cohen] They're lining up the prisoners And the guards are taking aim I struggled with some demons They were middle-class and tame I didn't know I had permission To murder and to maim You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Verse 5: Leonard Cohen] Magnified, sanctified Be thy holy name Vilified, crucified In the human frame A million candles burning For the love that never came You want it darker We kill the flame [Verse 6: Leonard Cohen] If you are the dealer Let me out of the game If you are the healer I'm broken and lame If thine is the glory Mine must be the shame You want it darker [Chorus: Leonard Cohen] Hineni, hineni Hineni, hineni I'm ready, my Lord [Outro: Cantor Gideon Zelermyer] Hineni Hineni, hineni Hineni