Leonard, oh Dear Leonard

I was a university student in 1971 when Maureen and I were walking on campus one night talking about political and cultural stuff of that era. Maureen was a rather butchy gal who hung out with our little campus network of hippie wannabees and campus rebels. We had just seen a documentary flick that presented a very negative view of Nixon. As we were walking out into a dark night, she told me not to do anything rash. That was one thing I remember she said. The other thing I remember she said was, "Leonard Cohen is down!" . . . which is to say, if you're feeling "down" and you want some music appropriate to your state of mind, listen to Leonard. I hardly knew anything about Leonard at the time. But apparently she did. She was from New York, y'know. . . the eastern center of the media universe. But she had also been to Los Angeles, the western center of the media universe. Since that time, I have spent five and half decades living a wonderful life. In 1977, I became a follower of Jesus. In 1980, I became a husband. In 1981 I became a father. Becoming a Christian, a husband and a father changed everything. All along the watchtower of those years of us boomers growing up, we've all gone our separate ways. Most notable among our musical stars were the Beach Boys, Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Joan Baez, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Still Nash and Young. After my born again experience came Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith. Rich Mullens. In the late 1990's I was fascinated with Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which I called the earliest rock music. Along the background sound tracks of my many years, I have appreciated a diverse string of so many incredible symphonies, songs and concerts that covered a multiplicity of influences and geniuses. Now, in 2024, I find myself amazed at Leonard, a rather oddball songwriter who has, at the sunset of his life and his life's work, presented an international blockbuster hit! There he was all along, plugging away; he never had a chart-topping hit - "Suzanne" was the closest - but who suddenly took the musical world by storm with his song "Hallelujah!" All the principal singers of our time have lately covered Leonard's "Hallelujah." Considering Leonard's life opus and his last-act victory with that amazing song, "Hallelujah" I stand amazed. I've been reading the Bible seriously for 54 years. It is a collection of historical, spiritual and evangelical documents that extend back in time for, I guess, four of five thousand years. When I ponder Leonard's profound Hallelujah treatise, I see the quintessential, historic Jew who, like King David, put the Lord to the test, and who, like Jacob, wrestles with God. There is something very special - absolutely unique to Leonard himself, going on in his song. Yet the song is also indicative of the ancient Jewish dialogue with YWHW Creator of the universe. Leonard hardly made a dent in the history of baby boomer music, but he sure came through in the end with this blockbuster hit: Hallelujah! I am amazed at the impact Leonard's Hallelujah! has made in the superstructure of popular music. Leonard, in cahoots with his YWHW Lord, has taken the song-world by storm. He has made his life-exit like the King David of psalm/song. In "Hallelujah" he expresses it in this final verse:

"I've done my best. It wasn't much. I couldn't feel, so I learned to touch.I didn't come here just to fool you (his audience). And even though it all went wrong, I'll stand right here before the Lord of song with nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah! Hear Maestro Andre Rieu with his JStraus orchestra and singers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRY2tAlvtZ0 Leonard in London, 2009 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLk4vdY28Q King of Soul