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
but he himself was broken
long before the sky would open
forsaken, almost human
he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone
And you want to travel with him
you want to travel blind
and you think maybe you'll trust him
for he's touched your perfect body
with his mind

"Suzanne"
Songs Of Leonard Cohen

The following article appeared in
the Badger Herald, November 3, 1970.

Cohen at Homecoming

By David Smith

For last Saturday's Homecoming, Wisconsin Student Association presented Leonard Cohen in a rare concert appearance. Cohen, poet and novelist as well as song writer and singer, is one of the most unique artists of our era, his music is pure, poetic and beautiful. Conjuring elysian visions of peace and calm,he captivated his audience with songs like "Tryed to be Free" and "I am the One."

After his first song, "Solidarity for Ever", Cohen mentioned that the White Panthers had asked him if they might use the stage after his performance. He said he'd refused, not because he did not favour their politics, but because he disliked their name, considering it ineffectual, and suggested, much tot he audience's amusement, that a name like Snow Cobras would probably be more effective.

While Cohen was talking to the audience a crowd outside could be heard yelling "let us in, let us in." Cohen requested that they should open the doors and let everyone in, and then endeared himself to the audience by improvising a song from the words "let 'em in", which everyone sung until the doors were opened and the crowd entered.

Towards the end, Cohen held his audience spellbound with "The Stranger" and "Suzanne."

"He had touched our perfect bodies with his mind."

The above review was contributed by Joe Way,
a great Cohen fan and inquisitive Cohen historian.
Many thanks, Joe, for taking us down memory lane
and making those days real and alive once again.
Thank you for your tender contributions and your great patience.

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Cohen at Homecoming

By David Smith

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