Modern Australian
Men's Weekly

.

singing sadness to sadness in these anxious times

  • Written by Jen Webb, Dean, Graduate Research, University of Canberra
singing sadness to sadness in these anxious times

In our series Art for Trying Times, authors nominate a work they turn to for solace or perspective during this pandemic.

If anyone can express the particularities of distress, it is surely the artists; and they are surely needed at times like the present – times when uncertainty, anxiety and, for too many people, bitter loss are the order of the day.

My first such experience was in my mid-teens, when I had to confront uncertainty, loss and grief without script or rehearsal. Initially at least, I longed like Keats “to cease upon the midnight with no pain”. But cometh the hour, cometh the art, and I found my sister’s copy of Songs of Leonard Cohen.

In the months that followed, I played the Canadian singer-songwriter’s 1967 debut album obsessively, stretched out on the floor, listening to that lion-rumble baritone as it soothed and smoothed my wounded heart and head and self.

This may seem counter-intuitive. Cohen told his biographer, Sylvie Simmons:

People were saying I was ‘depressing a generation’ and ‘they should give away razor blades with Leonard Cohen albums because it’s music to slit your wrists by’.

But for me it worked like homeopathy; a small dose of sadness to counter my sadness. Or maybe it worked like kintsugi, the Japanese art of repair that transforms brokenness into beauty.

Read more: As a writer-musician, Leonard Cohen was a one-off

Among the garbage and the flowers

What Cohen’s album persuaded me was that there are always reasons to keep going – that there is beauty even in a broken world.

I think of the dignity in the character of the “half-crazy” Suzanne, she of the first song on the album.

I think of the pointless charm of Jesus waiting until “only drowning men could see him” before offering his truth. Of the heroes who can be seen only “among the garbage and the flowers”; or Suzanne’s own “rags and feathers”.

In this and other songs on the album, the world is revealed in its strange enchantment, despite the melancholy that permeates the music.

‘She lets the river answer, that you’ve always been her lover.’

Winter Lady, the third track on the album, consoles too in its focus on what is not finished, not whole. The singer’s first love, that “child of snow” who has left him a gift: the image of her weaving her hair “on a loom / of smoke and gold and breathing”. The “trav’ling lady” for whom he is “just a station on the road”, whose transience reflects the consolation of contingency, of not having to “talk of love or chains and things we can’t untie”.

Read more: Marianne & Leonard: a new film tells us little about the woman fixed in the role of musician's muse

This sort of letting go can be such a solace. In the 2005 biopic Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man, Cohen says:

I found that things became a lot easier when I no longer expected to win. You abandon your masterpiece and you sink into the real masterpiece.

Yes; but still I’d claim that Songs of Leonard Cohen is “the real masterpiece”. A 2014 Rolling Stone readers’ poll to rank his five-decade strong back catalogue placed So Long, Marianne at #6 of all his songs, and Suzanne at #2. A year later, Guardian critic Ben Hewitt’s list had So Long, Marianne at #2, and Suzanne topping the charts.

‘It’s time that we began to laugh. And cry and cry and laugh about it all again.’

Spanning decades

No doubt their enduring appeal is associated with the saturation of these songs across the decades, but for me it’s because of the exquisite crafting of the poems; the spare melodies against which they operate; and the wit that shimmers through the songs.

Like, for instance: “I lit a thin green candle, to make you jealous of me. / But the room just filled up with mosquitos, they heard that my body was free”. Maybe it’s not laugh-out-loud funny, but it is delightfully wry.

An album is more than the songs; covers really matter too. Songs of Leonard Cohen looks like the album that 1960s parents would approve of – the so-not-a-rockstar portrait: the sepia, the solemn face, solemn border.

‘Your eyes are soft with sorrow. Hey, that’s no way to say goodbye.’

I spent a lot of time looking at that cover while drifting along with the music, and suspect that’s because it resembles a poetry book. Cohen’s image represented what back then I would have characterised as “mature”; and his sharp intelligence and attentive gaze spoke of “artist”, of “poet”.

He was, of course, always a poet, and though I did, and still do, love the musicality of his albums, it is always the words, the phrasing, their conjuring of mood and image, that work on me.

Which is why I still turn to this album for solace during trying times. Over the decades I have become more accomplished – more practised – at dealing with disaster, but haven’t forgotten that broken girl I was, who in the wash of this album’s music and magic and mood found a way to survive, and to thrive.

If I really am “locked into [my] suffering”, I know now that my “pleasures are the seal”.

And the seal does not keep me from immersing myself in the world and all it contains – all its wit and tenderness and beauty, all the very good reasons to carry on.

Authors: Jen Webb, Dean, Graduate Research, University of Canberra

Read more https://theconversation.com/listening-to-songs-of-leonard-cohen-singing-sadness-to-sadness-in-these-anxious-times-142661

Understanding the Benefits of Split System Installation for Your Home

Climate control is essential to maintaining comfort in your home, especially during the extreme temperatures that many regions face. Whether you’r...

Best Aluminium Window Sliding Designs for Natural Light and Airflow

Bringing natural light and airflow into a space is one of the most efficient ways to create a healthy and comfortable home. In Sydney and across Aus...

Maximising Operational Efficiency: Electric Winch Hire Australia and Hydraulic Power Pack Hire Solutions

Image by jcomp on Freepik From urban construction sites and remote mining operations to coastal maritime facilities, specialised equipment solutio...

Navigating the Digital Frontier: Managed IT Support and Cyber Security Services in Brisbane

As Brisbane develops its technology scene, the need for adequate IT infrastructure and security becomes apparent. This is how digital transformati...

Navigating the System: Your Guide to Support Finding Work with a Disability Around Melbourne

Image by freepik Finding the right job can be a challenge for anyone, but it can feel particularly daunting when you're also navigating life with a ...

Say Goodbye to Draughts and Hello to Savings: Your Guide to Perth Window Replacement

Image by prostooleh on Freepik Are your windows looking worse for wear? Are you paying a hefty power bill due to sneaky draughts and poor insulation...

How to Choose the Right Horse Trailer for Your Riding Needs

Many horse owners travel long distances for riding lessons, competitions, or to move horses between properties. Having a safe and reliable trailer i...

Sydney Turf Installer for Instant Green Lawns and Long-Term Performance

Having a green lawn at home makes everything look better. Whether it’s the front yard, backyard, or a small patch beside the driveway, people in S...

Designing Better Living Spaces: Why New Kitchens in the Blue Mountains Are in High Demand

The Blue Mountains region is seeing a steady rise in home upgrades. According to recent housing data, kitchen renovations remain one of the most req...

The Role of Packaging Manufacturers in Reducing Supply Chain Costs

In today’s fast-paced logistics and distribution landscape, businesses are under constant pressure to optimise operations and reduce expenses. One...

Customising Roller Shutters for Warehouses, Factories, and Logistics Hubs

In today’s fast-paced industrial and commercial environments, security, functionality, and efficiency are paramount. Whether you manage a busy log...

Top Fire Hazards in Commercial Buildings and How to Avoid Them

When it comes to protecting lives, assets, and business continuity, fire safety should be at the forefront of every commercial property owner’s ri...

Refillable Bottles and the Role of Reusable Caps in a Sustainable Packaging Future

As industries across the globe strive to reduce environmental impact, refillable bottles and reusable caps are emerging as champions of sustainable ...

The Comprehensive Guide to Physiotherapy: Benefits & Techniques

It employs hands-on care, movement and advice to aid recovery and prevent further issues. Individuals of all stages of life utilize physiotherapy for ...

What Can Be Funded by the NDIS? A Guide to Approved Supports

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is designed to empower Australians with disability by providing funding for supports that improve in...

10 Desserts That Aren’t Complete Without a Dollop of Whipped Cream

There’s something undeniably luxurious about a generous dollop of freshly whipped cream. Light, fluffy, and subtly sweet, it has the power to tran...

Why Personalised Ornaments Make the Perfect Christmas Gift

In a season brimming with sentiment and tradition, gift-giving is one of the most cherished ways to show we care. And while store-bought items can b...

What Causes Depression? Biological, Psychological, and Social Triggers Explained

Depression is a complex mental health condition that can impact every aspect of a person’s life—from sleep and energy levels to relationships an...