Songwriting is a complex artform in many ways and most musicians spend a lot of time unfolding these complexities. We carefully examine each note, chord, tempo, melody, and phrasing and sometimes one basic building block to a great song gets lost in the weeds – the lyrics. Not necessarily the delivery of the lyrics, but the lyrics themselves – the utter poetry that can stand alone, aside from the sonic backdrop of a song. Few musical poets are more revered than Leonard Cohen. So, let’s take a look at what makes his compositions so impactful.
Leonard Cohen’s Minimalist Harmony and Emotional Impact
Sometimes, the instrumentation and musical composition can distract from a great set of lyrics. If a songwriter is simply a poet with a keen understanding of how to deliver their words to maximize their effect, then Leonard Cohen is a brilliant songwriter. Cohen spent a lot of time perfecting his songs. He reportedly spent five years writing his most iconic song, “Hallelujah,” writing somewhere between 80 and 180 draft verses. That song would go on to elevate him as a cultural icon with universal reverence. While his song catalog is full of brilliant music, “Hallelujah” was the song that finally cast a light onto his artistry.
Some of his compositional choices are used to create a solemn atmosphere for the song, albeit with some subtleties to make it unique. The finished version of “Hallelujah” that we all know today contains a progression that includes an interesting modal twist, changing the traditional minor iii chord into a major one (E major in the key of C). This gives the song a subtle tonal color beyond a simple diatonic harmony.
Cohen’s music is highly intimate and emotional, which is owed to his brilliance as a poet. The backdrop of music accompanying his poems is often found to be quite minimalistic yet carefully crafted to fit the mood of the song. His music leans into diatonic minor modes like Aeolian and Dorian to set a reflective and emotional tone. The chord progressions are generally straightforward and repetitive to emphasize his poetic lyrics.
The Poetic Power of Leonard Cohen’s Lyrics
As for the lyricism itself, Cohen is a master of using conceptual metaphors as a means of conveying emotions like love, mortality, loss, redemption, eroticism, and spirituality. He is also careful to leave his lyrics open to interpretation. Again, using “Hallelujah” as an example, the song is not necessarily a religious song, but rather evokes religious imagery to convey an emotional journey rather than a strictly spiritual one. People still analyze Cohen’s lyrics and find deep meaning and connection in songs like “Anthem,” “Bird on the Wire,” “Everybody Knows,” and “A Thousand Kisses Deep.”
Cohen’s minimalism shows us that sometimes the role of the instrumentation of a song is to deflect a spotlight onto the lyrics and support the lyrical delivery. Furthermore, if you can write a great song, then you really don’t need flashy instrumentation or complex compositions; sometimes, a minimalistic approach is the most effective means of conveying a message or mood, especially when your lyrics are as deep and earnest as Leonard Cohen’s.
