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Laughing Len's Likeable List
The Guardian's Alexis Petridis with a top 20 of Leonard Cohen songs. But which of the tunes ranked by him made the cut? Waiting For The Miracle? Is that in there? What about Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye? And where did Hallelujah place?
posted by Webbster on Oct 24, 2026 at 6:14 PM
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Thank you for the enjoyable read. I first came across Leonard Cohen while flipping through a book of his poems when I was a teenager visiting Paris for the first time, and have loved him since.
My favorite song of his is Tonight Will Be Fine, beautifully covered by Teddy Thompson (YouTube link).
posted by wicked_sassy at 6:26 PM
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I would put some of these higher but none of them lower.
posted by babelfish at 6:40 PM
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I would put some of these higher but none of them lower.
This is a perfect way to talk about his work, I think.
His "Live in London" work - especially after him finding out about his financial situation - is a balm to the soul.
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 7:08 PM
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What about Hey, That's No Way To Say Goodbye?
Great question, especially as a duet with Judy Collins.
posted by Wobbuffet at 7:21 PM
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I think its about popularity, to a degree, as First we take Manhattan is my favorite coming in at 20. Hallelujah I love so that set the pattern for listing.
Im enjoying the Judy Collins, thanks, never heard that.
'Leonard Cohen Reads Early Poems, Considers the Poetic Mind'
Originally Published: June 27, 2014.
Alot of friends went to his Detroit gig.
One person we briefly knew stood up and took a picture WITH FLASH BULB WHO DOES THAT.
i think he stopped touring after that tour was up for a bit
posted by clavdivs at 8:14 PM
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I would put some of these higher but none of them lower.
None of them below, and all of them above.
posted by mikeand1 at 12:59 AM
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The memory of Cohen's death is etched in my mind. It happened the day before Trump got elected, so I heard about them on the same day. The two events seemed connected in my heart. I spent three days doing nothing but drinking and listening to Cohen's catalog.
posted by mikeand1 at 1:03 AM
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It's missing Sisters if Mercy, but I don't know what to put it above.
posted by Hactar at 3:03 AM
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Where the Hallefreakinglujah is "Who By Fire" is what I want to know..
posted by Nerd of the North at 3:08 AM
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I can never make myself like Leonard Cohen. So once again, I will listen to a bunch of his songs (this time, this list) and see if I'm swayed.
posted by pracowity at 3:29 AM
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My parents had a few Cohen albums on vinyl; I have a vivid memory of listening to "Suzanne" when I must have been about six, and immediately latching onto the lines:
And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water / And he spent a long time watching from his lonely wooden tower / And when he knew for certain only drowning men could see him / He said all men will be sailors then until the sea shall free them
It was so different and strange from the Sunday School lessons I was getting about Jesus, but not in a disrespectful way; it was just such a vivid image. Even today I think of those lines from time to time. What a fantastic verse.
posted by fortitude25 at 5:40 AM
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In 1955, several professors of English Literature at Queen's University in Kingston Ontario, including George Whalley, held a conference of authors, poets, publishers and those newfangled literary agents. Leonard Cohen drove in from Montreal "in a convertible filled with women". He was 21 years old.
posted by Multicellular Exothermic at 6:00 AM
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fortitude25: "
It was so different and strange from the Sunday School lessons I was getting about Jesus, but not in a disrespectful way; it was just such a vivid image. Even today I think of those lines from time to time. What a fantastic verse."
I usually prefer music with no lyrics but Leonard Cohen is an exception. His lyrics are so evocative and seem to actually encourage a range of interpretations.
posted by Zumbador at 6:51 AM
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RIP Dad you would have had opinions about this
posted by pxe2000 at 7:49 AM
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I'd also add Happens to the Heart and I Can't Make The Hills from the posthumous album. From You Want It Darker, also Steer Your Way. Closing Time, too. I would subtract nothing. Top 20 Leonard Cohen Songs (a list of 30 songs)?
posted by mersen at 9:20 AM
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I'm insulted by this list. Only 20?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 10:39 AM
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At least they didn't overlook Songs of Love & Hate, which sometimes happens. Halleh is great and all but there might still be a moratorium from getting over-played. My cover list leans kinda early:
Avalanche, The Stranger Song, You Know Who I Am, Dress Rehearsal Rag, Last Years Man, Story of Issac, Stories of The Street, Winter Song, Teachers, Sing Another Song Boys, So Long Marianne, Joan of Arc, Everybody Knows, etc..
posted by ovvl at 11:35 AM
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pracowity: "I can never make myself like Leonard Cohen. So once again, I will listen to a bunch of his songs (this time, this list) and see if I'm swayed."
Leonard Cohen's voice, especially on his earlier albums, is often a major blocker to liking Leonard Cohen. The solution to this problem is listening to covers, of which there are many excellent ones.
posted by adrienneleigh at 3:41 PM
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I didn't read the story, I'm just passing through,
sometimes happy
sometimes blue
glad that I ran into you
we are orphans now and
only passing through..
posted by hortense at 3:59 PM
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Thank you for this. I can't rank his songs, but he makes a difference in my life.
posted by theora55 at 4:47 PM
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Halleh is great and all but there might still be a moratorium from getting over-played.
absofuckinglutely
When the phenomenon becomes a coffee table book on prominent display at the Indigo Books, it's past well cooked
posted by runsrealgood at 11:07 PM
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I've got a couple collections of Cohen covers; never had an issue with his voice, but can see it being an acquired taste. Such an amazing writer, always interesting to hear someone else's take on the songs.
Tower of Song: The Songs of Leonard Cohen is mostly pretty mainstream artists (Don Henley, Willie Nelson, Sting); I've always been fond of Billy Joel's take on Light as the Breeze
I'm Your Fan is a more alternative take (Pixies, John Cale, That Petrol Emotion) from 1991. A more...uneven collection, but worth a listen. REM - First We Take Manhattan
posted by Bron at 8:51 AM
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They completely omit New Skin for the Old Ceremony, so I simply cannot approve this list.
Sincerely,
Field Commander Cohen
posted by fellorwaspushed at 10:58 AM
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Bron, if you've not heard it, you really should hear the Who By Fire tribute album that First Aid Kit put out shortly after his death. There's some stunning covers with various collaborators who probably are little known outside of Sweden that both reinvent the material while paying homage to it.
As far as this list? There's always disagreements with these articles but there's some pretty weird choices here. Memories is a fun song but I don't think many people would define it as a pivotal song in their life the way Who By Fire, If It Be Your Will, Chelsea Hotel #2, and others have been.
posted by Candleman at 3:04 AM
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