I wonder why this is? The lyrics might not be revolutionary but the soundscape and the production is incredible, it oozes style throughout. Ten New Songs seemed to be quite poorly received, maybe poorly is harsh but certainly not considered great, average at best shall we say. I’m fairly new to Cohen, despite knowing about him and having heard a few tracks over the years it’s only the last few months I started really listening to his albums. I heard this album for the first time today. This is before his first album and his larger fame. Some interviews from this time are useful for seeing his thinking here. He set out as a poet and novelist to seduce his generation into his prophetic vision. (This is and sounds radical, but it was a common feeling at the time). He would capture the winds of change stirring already in the 50s and lead a peaceful revolution that overturned society, saved God and ourselves. He determined that he was to pour his heart and soul into being a Jewish prophet, perhaps even the Messiah. The first stanza: "I got my shit together meeting Christ and reading Marx"Ĭohen formed the fundamentals of his worldview essentially by the time he turned 20.
Some more context is needed to understand what he's talking about. Here are the autobiographical opening stanzas of Happens to the Heart, on the beginnings of Cohen's career, his fall from grace, and what he did manage to accomplish. There's a mist of summer kisses where I tried to double park The rivalry was vicious, the women were in charge It was nothing, it was business, but it left an ugly mark I've come here to revisit what happens to the heart I was always workin' steady but I never called it art I got my shit together meeting Christ and reading Marx It failed my little fire but it spread a dying spark Go tell the young Messiah what happens to the heart
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