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1
00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,670
N E\NSRE/-\D ER: The woman who inspired
the songwriter and poet, Leonard Cohen
2
00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,638
to write some of his best-known work
has died.
3
00:01:00,800 --> 00:01:04,236
So Long Marianne” and "Bird on a VWre
were written decades ago
4
00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,868
for Cohen’s then lover and muse,
Marianne Ihlen.
5
00:01:07,40 --> 00:01:10,635
They split up, but when Marianne
grew ill and near death wth leukaemia,
6
00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,713
her close friend Jan Christian Mollestad
contacted Leonard Cohen.
7
00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:19,116
Less than two hours later a message
came back which Jan read to her
8
00:01:21,40 --> 00:01:22,996
Jl-\N: (OVER PHONE) "Dearest Marianne,
9
00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,517
l’m just a lttle behind you,
close enough to take your hand.
10
00:01:28,680 --> 00:01:31,69
l’\/e never forgotten your love
and your beauty
11
00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:34,399
bit you know that.
l dont have to say more
12
00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:37,989
Well safe travels old friend.
13
00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:40,839
See you down the road.
14
00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,916
Endless love and gratitude,
Your Leonard. ”
15
00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,115
(CHEERINGANDAPPLAUSE)
16
00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:01,32
I wrote this for Marianne
17
00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,69
I hope she's here. Maybe she's here
18
00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:10,394
I hope she's here. Marianne
19
00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,630
This song is called "So Long, Marianne'
20
00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:20,315
And... a girl called Marianne
that l know very well,
21
00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,313
she came to me after l sang it
for hertirst, and she said...
22
00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:25,74
She's a Noiwegian
23
00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,312
She said, "l'm certainly glad
that song wasn't written for me
24
00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:31,357
l said, "Oh, yeah?'
25
00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:34,239
l-\nd she said, "Yeah.
Because my name is Mariann-ne
26
00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:37,478
u\PPLAusE>
27
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:46,796
# Come over to the window
my lttle darlin’
28
00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,717
# l’d like to try to read your palm
29
00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:05,76
# l used to think
l was some kind of gypsy boy
30
00:03:09,240 --> 00:03:13,756
# Before l let you take me home
31
00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,877
This is Marianne, Hlmed on the island
of Hydra in the SBTW ’60s.
32
00:03:23,920 --> 00:03:26,354
She said the song "So Long Marianne
33
00:03:26,520 --> 00:03:28,511
was originally called
Come On, Marianne”
34
00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:30,238
and was not her favourite song
35
00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:34,796
She said it was not originally intended
as a goodbye,
36
00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,554
but came in actually
to foreshadow the end
37
00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:40,871
of Marianne and Leonard’s
relationship as lovers.
38
00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:46,435
This is Lttle Axel
Marianne ‘s seven-year-old son
39
00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:47,749
Ll`l'l'LEAXEL: Film it
40
00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,911
MAN: lt looks like
some kind of a lobster.
41
00:03:50,80 --> 00:03:52,594
lt has all kinds of openers
42
00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,676
NICK: lt was the ’60s,
the time of free love and open marriage,
43
00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,149
including Leonard and Marianne’s
44
00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:03,193
l was a rather lost 20-year-old
visiting the island of Hydra
45
00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,430
when Marianne befriended me
46
00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,398
For a short while,
l became one of her lovers.
47
00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:11,796
She encouraged me to follow my dreams
48
00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:15,589
and she played me Leonard’s songs
under the Greek moon and stars.
49
00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:18,832
Her smile and enthusiasm
were one ofa kind
50
00:04:19,0 --> 00:04:23,73
andl felt completeh/ intoxicated
by the beaity of their relationshya
51
00:04:27,280 --> 00:04:28,759
LEONARD: ljust lelt one day.
52
00:04:28,920 --> 00:04:32,117
And, uh, lwon a prize
for a book that l wrote.
53
00:04:33,240 --> 00:04:36,994
And they gave me some money
and l got on a plane and...
54
00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,874
l came, eventually, to...
to Greece and got on a boat
55
00:04:43,0 --> 00:04:45,798
And l just saw this island
that was so beautiful, you know?
56
00:04:45,960 --> 00:04:49,32
l come from a country that's covered
with snow half the year.
57
00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:52,237
And l saw this island, you know,
completely shining.
58
00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:56,876
l just got off, met a girl there
and l stayed.
59
00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:00,236
(DON KEY BRAYS)
60
00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,234
LEONARD: There were just
a few foreigners in those days
61
00:05:05,80 --> 00:05:07,913
And the Johnstons were central fgures
62
00:05:08,80 --> 00:05:11,516
They were older, they were doing
what we all wanted to do,
63
00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:13,955
which was to write
and make a living out of writing
64
00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:18,236
And they were there
and they were very wonderful
65
00:05:18,400 --> 00:05:22,75
colourful, hospitable people
and they helped me settle in
66
00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:23,468
They really helped me out
67
00:05:24,560 --> 00:05:29,759
NANCY BACAL: That was first
what made him an outcast in Montreal
68
00:05:29,920 --> 00:05:32,718
lt was the journey into the dark
69
00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:35,952
Because nobody wanted to go there
70
00:05:36,120 --> 00:05:38,839
And l remember my mother writing me
71
00:05:39,0 --> 00:05:40,718
some horrible things about him
72
00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:45,878
He knew the dark, he knew the struggle
from moment to moment.
73
00:05:47,280 --> 00:05:54,152
You were supposed to find a mate
and get married and live in Westmount
74
00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:56,916
They all stayed in Westmount
75
00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:00,228
So, we... we left
76
00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:03,159
We had our own way of being
77
00:06:03,280 --> 00:06:08,912
We found our own lives,
but they turned out to be synchronistic
78
00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:13,320
(CHUGGING OF BOAT'S ENGINE)
79
00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,517
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORINEGIAN)
80
00:06:41,80 --> 00:06:42,229
Can I have a sip?
81
00:06:43,800 --> 00:06:45,995
LITTLE AXEL: |'|| have
to even all of them.
82
00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:51,718
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORINEGIAN)
83
00:07:35,520 --> 00:07:37,636
LEONARD:
The days were very, very ordinary.
84
00:07:37,800 --> 00:07:41,509
\Ne'd get up early and have breakfast
and l'd go to work.
85
00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,399
And a sandwich
would be brought to me
86
00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,432
I think I was on speed, too,
so I wasn't eating very much
87
00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:51,717
And, uh, that's...
The day would proceed like that
88
00:07:51,880 --> 00:07:54,474
I had a quota.
I think it was three pages a day.
89
00:07:56,80 --> 00:07:59,231
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORINEGIAN)
90
00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:11,352
JAN: She was beautiful
91
00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:15,115
but she didn't really enjoy being
beautiful before she met Leonard
92
00:09:15,280 --> 00:09:18,477
and he made her love li\/ing
93
00:09:19,800 --> 00:09:26,592
She felt that not only did Leonard
see her, but he really loved her.
94
00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,958
And...
And he really made her feel beautiful
95
00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,511
JAN: I think if you should
really understand Marianne
96
00:09:38,680 --> 00:09:43,231
you have to understand
her first husband Axel.
97
00:09:44,520 --> 00:09:46,158
Axel could get so angry.
98
00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:51,991
So he would throw out the furniture
from the window and out in the street
99
00:09:53,80 --> 00:09:57,437
I don't think he ever hit her,
but he was violent.
100
00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,515
Leonard was the one
who came into Marianne's life
101
00:10:02,680 --> 00:10:08,38
who had watched the relationship
breaking down.
102
00:10:09,680 --> 00:10:11,318
Leonard saved her life
103
00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:16,395
and he went into a kind of role
as a kind ofhelping hand.
104
00:10:16,560 --> 00:10:18,551
He helped with Little Axel
105
00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,759
and he helped her with talking
and practical things.
106
00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,795
He was the father, in a real sense
107
00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:34,795
And Little Axel still istalking about
Leonard as a very good force.
108
00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:39,710
JEFFREY BROWN: He's a very smart kid
109
00:10:39,880 --> 00:10:43,714
He was very quiet,
maybe a bit shy, even
110
00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,479
Axel and I would just...
we would roam the hills
111
00:10:47,640 --> 00:10:49,596
We would find fossils and
112
00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:55,149
HELLE GOLDMAN: I lived therefrom
the time that I was three months old.
113
00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,996
We used to run around barefoot
114
00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:02,631
The slightly powdery feeling
ofthe dried seawater on the stones
115
00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:06,752
Every part of it is beautiful
in every season.
116
00:11:07,680 --> 00:11:09,591
At any time ofthe day or night
117
00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:13,475
The freshly baked bread
and things like that.
118
00:11:13,640 --> 00:11:16,757
I mean, l've never experienced
those things anywhere else.
119
00:11:16,920 --> 00:11:18,319
Even the air has a kind of.
120
00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,675
You can feel the air,
especially in the evening
121
00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,355
It feels like silk. You're wrapped
in something silky and velvety.
122
00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:32,555
There was so much freedom there
that peoplejust went too far with it.
123
00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,678
So there was always that danger
hanging over people.
124
00:11:37,720 --> 00:11:40,393
NICK: l was mesmerised
by the island ‘s beaity
125
00:11:40,560 --> 00:11:44,678
and had never before met so many golden,
sun-kissed people of either sex,
126
00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,354
having so much fun together
127
00:11:47,520 --> 00:11:49,556
lt felt like anything was possible.
128
00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,440
Marianne gave me my Hrst acid trip,
129
00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:57,718
which she said had come from a friend
of Leonard’s in London called Malcolm,
130
00:11:57,880 --> 00:12:01,395
and she took these pictures of me
the morning after
131
00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,512
l had no intention of leaving,
bit then one of Marianne's other lovers
132
00:12:06,680 --> 00:12:08,716
unexpectedh/ showed up on the island
133
00:12:08,880 --> 00:12:13,476
and l found myself hastily boarding
the next boat back to Athens.
134
00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,716
My enthusiasm for Hydra, however
remained undiminished.
135
00:12:18,560 --> 00:12:21,472
l suggested to Rick
my best friend from school
136
00:12:21,640 --> 00:12:25,474
that he go there as a break
from a hectic career as a journalist
137
00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:30,236
Rick intended to go for two weeks
bit ended up staying for 14 years.
138
00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:33,151
I came to Hydra, which you recommended
139
00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:36,909
and suddenly,
the enormous sense of relief,
140
00:12:37,80 --> 00:12:39,719
Because it was a combination
I think, of beauty,
141
00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,952
the beauty of the place,
the simplicity of the place
142
00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:45,953
and the genuineness
of the environment there
143
00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:48,236
It was just a small group of artists
144
00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:51,437
who were either refugees
of some kind or another...
145
00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,670
You could live so cheaply, then
146
00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:56,638
Leonard didn't have much money
back then.
147
00:12:56,800 --> 00:13:00,236
There was a sort of unwritten rule,
certainly when I was first on Hydra
148
00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:02,994
that if you saw someone like Leonard
at a table,
149
00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,515
you didn't assume you could go
and sit with him.
150
00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:08,752
They were there to be alone
and remain alone.
151
00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:10,512
And they were doing their writing
152
00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:34,35
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORWEGIAN)
153
00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:52,239
A large part of my life was escaping
whatever it was.
154
00:13:52,440 --> 00:13:55,477
Even if the situation looked good
I had to escape,
155
00:13:55,640 --> 00:13:57,995
because it didn't look good to me
156
00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:00,515
So, it was a selfish life and, uh
157
00:14:01,600 --> 00:14:06,390
But it didn't seem so at the time,
it just seemed a matter of sun/ival
158
00:14:06,560 --> 00:14:08,312
I guess the kids suffered, and
159
00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:12,752
people close to me suffered,
because I was always lea\/ing
160
00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,238
I was always trying to get away.
161
00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:22,959
I was very much encouraged by a friend
ofmine by the name of In/ing Layton,
162
00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:25,395
inliuenced by his manner.
163
00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,559
After he'd ask me what l'm doing
he'd always say,
164
00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,188
Leonard, are you sure you're doing
the wrong thing?"
165
00:14:32,80 --> 00:14:35,72
And that really struck home
That really sounded right.
166
00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:38,917
LAYTON: Cohen's concern is
my renunciation ofthe Canadian public
167
00:14:39,80 --> 00:14:41,913
HOST: ls this true, or have you
some other concern, Mr Cohen
168
00:14:42,80 --> 00:14:43,593
you'd like to get off your chest?
169
00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:46,395
LEONARD: When I get up in the morning
170
00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:50,951
my real concern is to discover
whether or not l'm in a state of grace
171
00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:54,635
NICK: What do you think
Leonard loved so much about In/ing?
172
00:14:54,800 --> 00:14:57,837
AVIVA LAYTON: He loved his intellect
he loved his imagination,
173
00:14:58,0 --> 00:15:02,516
and he felt that In/ing was
the real thing, in terms of poetry.
174
00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,870
And the very first time I saw Leonard
In/ing said,
175
00:15:07,40 --> 00:15:10,476
"l'm gonna ask this man
to come around, this boy-man
176
00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:12,232
lthink he was 19, 20
177
00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,557
And I said, "Wno is he?"
And he said, "He's the real thing
178
00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:20,77
They each thought of each other
as "the real thing".
179
00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,390
They also had a very strong
Jewish connection.
180
00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:24,869
That was a very strong thing
in In/ing's life.
181
00:15:25,40 --> 00:15:27,235
Avery strong thing in Leonard's life
182
00:15:27,440 --> 00:15:29,590
Leonard was an aristocratic Jew.
183
00:15:29,760 --> 00:15:32,718
Leonard came from a wealthy family.
184
00:15:32,880 --> 00:15:35,917
Very well rooted in Canadian culture
185
00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,434
He camefrom an educated family.
Highly educated family.
186
00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,875
I never knew Leonard's father,
of course,
187
00:15:43,40 --> 00:15:44,678
who died when Leonard was young
188
00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:50,710
But his mother, Masha
was mad as a hatter.
189
00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:54,439
Really mad.
She had a thing about In/ing
190
00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:56,556
I wouldn't be at all surprised
191
00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:58,472
Leonard and I would laugh about it
192
00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,234
whether In/ing and Masha
ever went to bed together.
193
00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:02,389
He went to bed with
194
00:16:02,560 --> 00:16:05,677
In/ing went to bed with everybody,
why not Leonard's mother?
195
00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:10,550
And she was...
She was very attracted to In/ing
196
00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:13,188
And In/ing might have..
She was very beautiful
197
00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:15,157
But mad!
198
00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:22,197
I think really great writers have to
have mad, Oedipal-y mad mothers
199
00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:25,674
And if that's the case,
then that's what he had
200
00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:27,193
(LAUGI-is)
201
00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:34,154
LEONARD: lmean, I know
that a lot of my love of music
202
00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:37,716
comes from my mother
who had a lovely voice.
203
00:16:38,600 --> 00:16:41,990
She was Russian, and she sang
songs around the house.
204
00:16:42,160 --> 00:16:46,472
And I know that those, those changes,
those melodies, touched me very much
205
00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:48,437
And that's certainly an influence
206
00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:49,953
She would sing with us
207
00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:52,680
l'd take my guitar to a restaurant
with my friends,
208
00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:56,549
and my mother would come
and we'd often sing all night
209
00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:05,309
(PLAYS HARMON ICA)
210
00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,195
(HARI\llON ICA CONTINUES)
211
00:17:20,120 --> 00:17:22,76
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
212
00:17:23,840 --> 00:17:25,398
We're having fun!
213
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,313
We're winning. We're winning
214
00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,916
We're winning the eternal battle!
We're keeping the party going.
215
00:17:32,80 --> 00:17:33,957
(PLAYS SII\llPLE I\llELODY)
216
00:17:34,120 --> 00:17:36,76
# We're keeping the party goingl
217
00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:37,719
(REPEATS I\llELODY)
218
00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:43,317
NANCY:
He loved women. No question about it
219
00:17:44,0 --> 00:17:47,549
But he needed to be his own person
in his own way.
220
00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:51,435
So, he could love women from a distance
221
00:17:53,360 --> 00:17:55,999
And love them when they came through
and make them...
222
00:17:56,160 --> 00:18:00,39
He could make women feel good
about themselves.
223
00:18:00,200 --> 00:18:02,236
And that's how he loved them
224
00:18:03,280 --> 00:18:04,793
That's how he loved them
225
00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:08,672
But he couldn't give himself to them
226
00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:11,752
because he couldn't give himself away.
227
00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,38
MARIANNE: I was not satisfied
with my life at all.
228
00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,31
ldidn't know what to do
229
00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:25,876
I was the only one
who didn't paint, write, sculpt
230
00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:28,791
So, everybody was artists
231
00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,190
Lots of people
came off the boat to Hydra
232
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:37,433
Jacqueline Kennedy was there
233
00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:39,318
Princess Margret was there
234
00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,432
So, what could I say?
235
00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:47,549
So, finally, I would say,
"l am an artist.
236
00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:51,73
Life is an art. l'm living
237
00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:53,439
Not very original
238
00:18:54,280 --> 00:18:58,239
I was looking at myself and saying,
Everything is wrong with me," you know?
239
00:18:58,400 --> 00:19:00,755
So... lt's a pity.
240
00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,839
NICK: Marianne had been
the one to support Leonard
241
00:19:07,0 --> 00:19:10,231
through the nightmare of writing
his last novel "Beautiful Losers",
242
00:19:10,440 --> 00:19:11,509
on Hydra
243
00:19:13,400 --> 00:19:16,233
LEONARD: I wrote a lot ofbooks there
and a lot of songs.
244
00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:20,35
I published the novel Beautiful Losers,
but I really couldn't pay the rent.
245
00:19:21,960 --> 00:19:24,76
AVIVA: Oh, yeah, he went quite crazy.
246
00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:27,550
I mean, you'd have to be crazy
to write Beautiful Losers it's like.
247
00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:30,439
lt's like a hallucinogenic madness
248
00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:35,229
He used to stay out there
under that hot Greek sun.
249
00:19:35,400 --> 00:19:39,996
And Marianne would make him
little baskets of food and water
250
00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:42,628
and drop them over to him
251
00:19:42,800 --> 00:19:45,439
I mean, he wrote that book in a fever.
252
00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:51,229
So, he would never have been able to do
that anywhere else, except that island.
253
00:19:52,760 --> 00:19:57,834
Leonard had always used acid.
It just gave you that extra whoosh
254
00:19:58,0 --> 00:20:01,197
It was neverjust like taking it
to get out of oneself.
255
00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:04,838
It was very much to do with
part of the spiritual search.
256
00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,229
It allowed him
to go into his madness, I think
257
00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,755
which he probably
couldn't have done anywhere else
258
00:20:10,920 --> 00:20:15,471
It allowed him to sit on histerrace
in the sun, take acid and speed.
259
00:20:16,440 --> 00:20:18,954
Marianne, I mean, she used to say,
I mean, you know...
260
00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:21,953
She was there to sort
ofnot pick up the pieces
261
00:20:22,120 --> 00:20:23,519
but to sort of hold the man
262
00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,719
that had driven himself
to the Beaitiful Losers
263
00:20:27,880 --> 00:20:30,838
and writing those extraordinary pages
day after day,
264
00:20:31,0 --> 00:20:33,355
in the sun, lunatic, that he was
265
00:20:35,40 --> 00:20:39,192
LEONARD: To find something
that really addresses my attention
266
00:20:39,360 --> 00:20:41,999
I have to do a lot of endless versions
267
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:44,879
Anything I can bring to it
I try everything.
268
00:20:46,40 --> 00:20:48,759
Try to ignore it. Try to address it
269
00:20:48,920 --> 00:20:50,797
Try to get high
270
00:20:51,520 --> 00:20:53,78
Try to get intoxicated
271
00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:55,151
Try to get sober. You know?
272
00:20:55,280 --> 00:20:59,353
All the versions of myself that
I can summon are summoned
273
00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:02,637
to participate in this workforce
274
00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,433
So, I try everything. l'll do anything
275
00:21:25,80 --> 00:21:28,595
But listen to what some of the critics
said about his latest book.
276
00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:52,550
After I finished "Beautiful Losers",
lthought that lwould go into music
277
00:21:52,720 --> 00:21:55,518
I wasn't really making a living
as a writer.
278
00:21:55,680 --> 00:21:58,114
It was very hard to support and feed
279
00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:02,432
the hungry mouths
that I was obliged to do
280
00:22:03,40 --> 00:22:04,678
So, I came back to Am erica
281
00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:10,597
and I didn't know what had been
happening in New York in folk music
282
00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:15,311
I was completely unaware of people
like Phil Ochs or Dylan or Joan Baez
283
00:22:17,280 --> 00:22:20,955
JUDY COLLINS: Leonard found me
And he came to my apartment.
284
00:22:21,640 --> 00:22:23,517
And he came in and we had some coffee
285
00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,109
I said, "So?"And he said
'Well, I can't sing.
286
00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,670
And I can't play the guitar.
And I don't know if this is a song
287
00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:33,633
And then he played me
288
00:22:33,800 --> 00:22:38,749
# Suzanne takes you down
to her place by the river..
289
00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,71
So, I said, "Leonard, that is a song!
290
00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:44,993
That's a song, and I have to record
that immediately!"
291
00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:50,955
So, he and I...
Of course, I recorded it right away.
292
00:22:51,600 --> 00:22:53,113
We became friends
293
00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:59,671
He was quite clear that he never,
ever wanted to sing in public, so..
294
00:22:59,840 --> 00:23:03,913
about a year went by
and "Suzanne" was a big song by then
295
00:23:04,80 --> 00:23:07,516
And I was doing a big fundraiser
in NewYork
296
00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:09,910
and I said, "You have to come with me
297
00:23:10,80 --> 00:23:13,470
lwanna put you on stage,
and I want you to sing "Suzanne
298
00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,359
Everybody is dying to hear
you sing this song."
299
00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:18,795
He said, "l can't sing.
I have a horrible voice
300
00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:20,996
I said, "You don't have
a horrible voice."
301
00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,469
So, he came out
and he stood in the middle there
302
00:23:23,640 --> 00:23:26,29
and began singing the song
303
00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:29,397
And I knew that he was shaking
like a leaf because I had seen him
304
00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,596
seen his hands, on the guitar.
305
00:23:32,720 --> 00:23:36,793
In the middle of "Suzanne"
he broke down and began to sob
306
00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:38,951
and walked off the stage. (CHUCKLES)
307
00:23:39,120 --> 00:23:41,759
He was dying of fear.
308
00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:47,195
He was ha\/ing what we know as
a great, massive attack
309
00:23:47,360 --> 00:23:48,793
of stage fright
310
00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:54,399
So, he came off the stage and I said
"Leonard thisjust will not do.
311
00:23:54,560 --> 00:23:57,313
You have to go back
l'll go back with you.
312
00:23:57,480 --> 00:24:00,472
And we can do the song together.
He said, finally, he said, "OK."
313
00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,349
So, meantime, the whole audience
is continuing to clap and scream
314
00:24:04,520 --> 00:24:07,239
and carry on,
because they'd gotten a taste
315
00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,516
They could hear him sing. They knew.
316
00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,996
So, we went out together.
Hefinished the song.
317
00:24:13,160 --> 00:24:16,391
And by the time we finished
he was a convert,
318
00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:21,159
a total convert,
to his own magical impression
319
00:24:22,0 --> 00:24:25,356
I would like to introduce to you
Mr Leonard Cohen.
320
00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:27,590
(APPLAUSE)
321
00:24:28,560 --> 00:24:35,113
# Suzanne takes you down
to her place nearthe river
322
00:24:36,120 --> 00:24:39,396
# You can hear the boats go by
323
00:24:39,560 --> 00:24:42,438
# You can spend the night beside her
324
00:24:43,120 --> 00:24:46,237
# And you know she’s halfcrazy
325
00:24:46,440 --> 00:24:49,830
# But that's why you wanna be there
326
00:24:50,0 --> 00:24:53,231
#And she feeds you tea and oranges
327
00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:56,472
# That come all the way from China
328
00:24:56,640 --> 00:25:01,236
JU DY: It was one ofthe most
important moments of his life and mine
329
00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:04,516
And, of course,
then he was off to the races
330
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:07,752
Columbia signed him up,
and that was his label for ever.
331
00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:13,480
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORWEGIAN)
332
00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,314
LEONARD: I remember her
arriving at the airport.
333
00:25:56,480 --> 00:25:59,950
She had two hea\/y valises
in each hand.
334
00:26:00,120 --> 00:26:05,35
She couldn't wave to me, because
she couldn't lift the suitcases up
335
00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:07,350
and she didn't wanna drop them
She was moving.
336
00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:09,875
So, she waved to me with her foot
337
00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:12,830
I remember that very, very clearly.
(LAUGI-is)
338
00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,73
AVIVA: Yeah, boy. That was a mistake
339
00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:18,673
And said famously.
340
00:26:19,560 --> 00:26:22,996
The famous thing, "l want my woman!
That was Leonard, yeah?
341
00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,550
I want my woman and my child
to come to Montreal."
342
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:29,317
And that was this wonderful thing
343
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:32,74
And, of course, the minute he said it
he didn't...
344
00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:34,549
He, he wouldn't have...
He didn't need it any more
345
00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:36,711
He needed to say it, but
346
00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,668
And Marianne,
who was deeply in love with him
347
00:26:40,840 --> 00:26:43,308
did come and brought Little Axel
348
00:26:43,480 --> 00:26:45,391
We always used to call him Little Axel
349
00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:48,28
And, um, it was a disaster.
350
00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,111
It was very unhappy.
351
00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:54,319
Avery unhappytime.
Axel would come and stay with us
352
00:26:54,480 --> 00:26:56,198
He used to take a pencil
353
00:26:56,360 --> 00:27:02,356
and pencil his name
over every wall in our apartment
354
00:27:02,520 --> 00:27:04,909
He'd write, "Axel, Axel, Axel
355
00:27:05,80 --> 00:27:07,514
That was a very unhappy time
356
00:27:08,840 --> 00:27:12,913
Poets do not make great husbands
do they?
357
00:27:13,80 --> 00:27:18,712
Do you know of a poet who's ever made
an absolutely splendid husband?
358
00:27:18,880 --> 00:27:20,552
Or afilmmaker?
359
00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:23,75
Or an artist?
360
00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:25,515
No, you can't own them
361
00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,557
You can't even own a bit of them
362
00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:32,229
They're...
They'rejust elusive creatures
363
00:27:32,960 --> 00:27:37,590
who are married to their.
to their muse.
364
00:27:37,760 --> 00:27:40,832
That sounds so pretentious
to say that, but it's true.
365
00:27:42,520 --> 00:27:46,798
But the irony is, a man like that
366
00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:50,953
is a man that every woman wants to have
367
00:27:52,160 --> 00:27:53,878
And can't have
368
00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:03,38
Marianne came up to me and she said
'We were very happy living in Hydra,
369
00:28:03,200 --> 00:28:05,236
and we were walking on the beach
370
00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:07,630
and we were swimming in the nude
371
00:28:07,800 --> 00:28:11,190
and drinking a lot of retsina
and we were very happy.
372
00:28:11,360 --> 00:28:13,590
And then one day he came to me
and he said,
373
00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:19,198
'Marianne, l'm going to New York
to play my songs for Judy Collins.
374
00:28:19,360 --> 00:28:21,396
And you recorded all of his songs
375
00:28:21,560 --> 00:28:25,678
And I just wanted to tell you
that you ruined my life."
376
00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:31,231
Certainly, their dream life in Hydra
had a big interruption,
377
00:28:31,440 --> 00:28:35,353
which was that Leonard
discovered himself as a singer.
378
00:28:36,760 --> 00:28:39,115
(ACOUSTIC GUITAR PLAYS)
379
00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:46,232
NICK: l took this picture
of Marianne in the autumn of 1968,
380
00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:49,830
when she came to the UK
and contacted me.
381
00:28:50,0 --> 00:28:54,391
She’d come to bring Little Axel
to boarding school and needed a lift
382
00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:59,398
We drove down to Suffolk to Summerhill
383
00:28:59,560 --> 00:29:03,155
the AS Neill School where children
didn't have to attend class
384
00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:04,759
if they didn ‘t want to.
385
00:29:08,240 --> 00:29:12,518
Axel was eight, and l remember
how upset he was when we drove away
386
00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:17,348
Axel would wrte to Marianne
nearh/ every day
387
00:29:28,40 --> 00:29:30,110
Marianne was in tears tod
388
00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:34,398
but believed it was the best thing for
him because she was always travelling.
389
00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:39,471
Marianne came and stayed for a while
in my less-than-chic squat
390
00:29:39,640 --> 00:29:42,791
in Kentish Town
where she took this photo
391
00:29:44,80 --> 00:29:47,231
She introduced me to the world
of protest movements
392
00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:51,439
and artists using their art
to achieve incredible things
393
00:29:51,600 --> 00:29:53,670
She was close to Julie Felix
the singer
394
00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,755
an old friend of hers and Leonard's
and working with Julie as her muse,
395
00:29:58,920 --> 00:30:02,356
encouraging her to write her own songs
for the very Hrst time.
396
00:30:03,880 --> 00:30:06,235
Julie had originally met Leonard
on Hydra
397
00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,391
before either of them were singers
398
00:30:09,760 --> 00:30:12,479
Well, l'm very happy and proud
to have him here on the show
399
00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:14,551
and introduce him tothe English public
400
00:30:14,720 --> 00:30:16,995
Here is the writer, the poet
the songwriter.
401
00:30:17,160 --> 00:30:20,436
He's a friend, but he says
he's a stranger in this song
402
00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,558
Ladies and gentleman, Leonard Cohen
403
00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:24,869
(APPLAUSE)
404
00:30:30,80 --> 00:30:32,355
# lt's true that all the men you knew
405
00:30:33,640 --> 00:30:37,553
# Were dealers who said
they were through with dealing
406
00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,598
# Every time you gave them shelter
407
00:30:42,0 --> 00:30:43,831
# l know that kind of man
408
00:30:44,0 --> 00:30:47,390
# lt's hard to hold the hand of anyone
409
00:30:47,560 --> 00:30:49,869
# Who is reaching for the sky just to
410
00:30:50,40 --> 00:30:51,758
JU LIE: Leonard was always searching
411
00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,878
And this feeling of never belonging
anywhere.
412
00:30:55,40 --> 00:30:58,794
And even in a relationship, you know,
eventually, with Marianne,
413
00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:00,552
I think that was the longest one
414
00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:03,678
But alter that, he went
from relationship to relationship
415
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,157
And at the end ofthe song
there was a tear in his eye.
416
00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:11,477
He's an emotional man
417
00:31:13,40 --> 00:31:14,439
(APPLAUSE)
418
00:31:16,160 --> 00:31:19,550
JULIE: Yeah, well, at that timethey
were already ha\/ing a few problems
419
00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:22,234
Marianne and I hung out together
for quite a while,
420
00:31:22,400 --> 00:31:23,913
and we became very close
421
00:31:24,80 --> 00:31:27,390
And we went on a couple of trips
together,
422
00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,155
and she was the muse and said,
you know, "Wny don't you write?
423
00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:33,589
And the first song I wrote
was "Vlkndy Morning",
424
00:31:33,760 --> 00:31:38,356
which is a song
that she, kind of, guided methrough
425
00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:40,636
NICK: She was a great muse, wasn't she?
426
00:31:40,800 --> 00:31:42,518
Absolutely. Absolutely.
427
00:31:42,680 --> 00:31:46,639
And, uh...And lthink...
I think Leonard honoured that
428
00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:48,995
You know, he said that she was
you know?
429
00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:50,718
When... When, um
430
00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:53,191
When he was speaking of her.
431
00:31:54,160 --> 00:31:55,798
NICK: She was so encouraging
432
00:31:55,960 --> 00:32:00,476
Yeah. And she was so nurturing
you know. lt's... lt's a...
433
00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:06,829
Yeah, it's that...
You know, the... woman power.
434
00:32:07,0 --> 00:32:08,399
435
00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:10,596
The ability to nurture and love
436
00:32:10,760 --> 00:32:14,196
and, uh, encourage, you know?
437
00:32:14,360 --> 00:32:16,316
lt's something the world needs
438
00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:19,756
That's why I think it's good that
we're getting to women's time finally.
439
00:32:20,720 --> 00:32:22,711
Vlkth all the Time's Up
440
00:32:22,880 --> 00:32:26,111
And Leonard was a great
441
00:32:26,960 --> 00:32:29,918
He was a feminist, you know?
He really...
442
00:32:30,80 --> 00:32:32,878
He said to me once...
Because lwas talking about something
443
00:32:33,40 --> 00:32:35,508
He said,
I can't wait till women take over.
444
00:32:35,680 --> 00:32:38,558
So that was kind of nice
to hear from him.
445
00:32:38,720 --> 00:32:41,473
(PLAYSACOUSTIC GUITAR)
446
00:32:50,80 --> 00:32:53,868
JOHN SIMON: Leonard's imagery
came from the poets.
447
00:32:54,40 --> 00:32:56,918
From Shakespeare,
from Keats, from Marlowe
448
00:32:58,360 --> 00:33:03,957
So lfound certain lines in
his guitar playing that I could enrich
449
00:33:04,120 --> 00:33:06,998
And I decided not to do it
with instruments,
450
00:33:07,160 --> 00:33:10,197
but to do it with female voices
451
00:33:10,360 --> 00:33:14,911
since so much of his writing was about
his relationships with women.
452
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:18,997
There was a very female presence
in all ofhis songs,
453
00:33:19,160 --> 00:33:21,628
even though he was a man
454
00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:26,32
So, my girlfriend at the time
had a very nice, pure soprano voice
455
00:33:26,200 --> 00:33:31,228
So, I started, you know, fooling around
asking her, "Sing this. Sing this."
456
00:33:32,80 --> 00:33:34,435
You know, over Leonard's song
'What do you think?"
457
00:33:35,400 --> 00:33:36,833
Some of it sounded really great
458
00:33:37,0 --> 00:33:39,230
NICK: Could you imitate it slightly?
459
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:42,119
(LAUGHS) l'm not a singer,
and l'm not a girl either.
460
00:33:42,280 --> 00:33:44,430
She was singing...
# So long Maria-a-anne
461
00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:46,670
She added a little "a-a-anne
at the top.
462
00:33:46,840 --> 00:33:49,115
# lt's time that we began to laugh
463
00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:50,474
#And cry
464
00:33:50,640 --> 00:33:51,789
#And laugh
465
00:33:51,960 --> 00:33:53,29
#And cry
466
00:33:53,200 --> 00:33:54,633
# About t all again
467
00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:56,870
So she sort of aped what he was doing
468
00:33:57,40 --> 00:33:59,395
but it gave it a little harder.
(|-||ssEs)
469
00:33:59,560 --> 00:34:01,437
Put a little harder edge on it
you know?
470
00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:02,828
# So long Marianne
471
00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:07,519
# lt's time that we began
472
00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:09,33
# To laugh
473
00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:10,428
#And cry
474
00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:12,158
#And cry
475
00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,157
#And laugh
476
00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,475
# About t all again
477
00:34:16,640 --> 00:34:18,676
# So long Marianne
478
00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:09,795
The very first time I met Leonard Cohen
479
00:35:09,960 --> 00:35:13,316
he opened the door
and he's absolutely naked as a jay bird
480
00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,795
Right? So, me, coming out
of where I come out of,
481
00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:21,111
I go, "This is pretty damn weird
you know? This is...
482
00:35:22,480 --> 00:35:25,472
Later, of course, throughout the time
I spent with Leonard,
483
00:35:25,640 --> 00:35:28,598
the years that we worked together,
484
00:35:28,760 --> 00:35:31,115
when I looked back on all that
485
00:35:31,280 --> 00:35:36,149
and if l'd have been evolved enough
at that moment,
486
00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,236
it wouldn't have been weird to me
at all.
487
00:35:39,520 --> 00:35:45,72
All the time I knew Leonard, he was
very, very conscious of his body.
488
00:35:45,240 --> 00:35:48,198
Leonard used to say that
when we're on tour
489
00:35:48,360 --> 00:35:51,955
and we're at the hotel,
take all your clothes off.
490
00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:58,158
You're going to be passing by
these things called mirrors, right?
491
00:35:58,280 --> 00:36:02,990
And when you pass by a mirror,
you're gonna notice that little...
492
00:36:03,160 --> 00:36:05,515
'Hey, I need to be doing
a few more sit-ups."
493
00:36:07,560 --> 00:36:10,233
Leonard swam, like, all the time
494
00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:17,229
Any hotel we were in, you would find
if they had a pool, he was in it.
495
00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:21,149
And he would get up early in the morning
so he didn't have to run into anybody.
496
00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,475
He'd be down there at five o'clock
in the morning.
497
00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:25,39
And he'd be doing laps
498
00:36:25,200 --> 00:36:28,715
And ifthey would let him swim nude
he would swim nude.
499
00:36:29,640 --> 00:36:32,473
I don't know why. That wasjust him
500
00:36:34,120 --> 00:36:36,190
NICK: Didn't you write a song with him?
501
00:36:36,360 --> 00:36:38,828
RON: I did. Yeah.
I wrote "Chelsea Hotel" with him
502
00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:42,435
We boarded an airplane in LaGuardia
503
00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:46,229
and me and Leonard sat there
and worked on this song.
504
00:36:48,200 --> 00:36:53,399
I had no idea who he was talking to
in his writing at the time.
505
00:36:53,560 --> 00:36:57,678
It came out later
that it was to Janis Joplin
506
00:36:57,840 --> 00:37:00,434
And, you know, it's like
507
00:37:00,600 --> 00:37:02,875
"l remember you well
at the Chelsea Hotel
508
00:37:03,40 --> 00:37:05,349
talking so brave and so sweet
509
00:37:05,520 --> 00:37:07,317
gi\/ing me head on the unmade bed
510
00:37:07,480 --> 00:37:09,516
while the limousines wait
in the street."
511
00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:11,113
That's all still there
512
00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:13,236
Nobody knows that the second verse was
513
00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:16,198
"l remember you well
at the Chelsea Hotel
514
00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:18,555
in the winter of 1967
515
00:37:18,720 --> 00:37:21,996
My friends of that year,
they were all turning queer
516
00:37:22,160 --> 00:37:25,38
And me, lwas just getting even
517
00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:30,797
# l remember you well
in the Chelsea Hotel
518
00:37:32,40 --> 00:37:37,239
# You were talking so brave and so sweet
519
00:37:40,280 --> 00:37:44,512
# Giving me head on an unmade bed
520
00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:49,917
# Vllhile the limousines
wait in the street...
521
00:38:52,280 --> 00:38:57,400
JAN: At that time, Leonard
had some experiences with Janis Joplin
522
00:38:57,560 --> 00:38:59,312
all these things
523
00:38:59,480 --> 00:39:05,237
And Marianne was li\/ing separately
in her apartment with Little Axel.
524
00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:10,349
That must been .... very strange
525
00:39:11,760 --> 00:39:13,318
But she was still the muse
526
00:39:14,280 --> 00:39:19,912
And the interesting thing is that,
she has read for me the telegrams
527
00:39:21,640 --> 00:39:22,755
from Leonard
528
00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:25,630
First telegrams to
529
00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:28,952
Marianne Cohen
530
00:39:30,840 --> 00:39:33,798
It wasjust like they had been married
531
00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:38,556
Telegrams going to Hydra, and then
to London, and then to New York.
532
00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:43,116
First, it's in the period
when they are together as a couple
533
00:39:43,800 --> 00:39:48,237
But the beautiful thing is,
when they're not a couple any more
534
00:39:48,400 --> 00:39:50,356
he's still sending money.
535
00:39:50,520 --> 00:39:55,435
He's still asking how Axel is doing
536
00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:59,996
And so he continues to send his
537
00:40:01,160 --> 00:40:03,720
small, uh
538
00:40:05,120 --> 00:40:08,715
love messages,
even if they're not together.
539
00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:15,70
RON: Leonard said
he was suffering from depression
540
00:40:15,240 --> 00:40:17,515
that he fought for so many years
541
00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:24,317
So, Leonard decided, hethought
it'd be a nice thing for us to do
542
00:40:25,0 --> 00:40:30,597
is that, say, we blew into London
to play the Royal Albert Hall.
543
00:40:30,760 --> 00:40:33,797
Well, we got three or four days here
Why don'twe, one evening,
544
00:40:33,960 --> 00:40:37,953
go out and play
at a mental institution, right?
545
00:40:38,120 --> 00:40:42,875
OK, so, of course, that went over like
a fart in a diver's helmet with me,
546
00:40:43,40 --> 00:40:46,715
cause I wasn't about to go
out to any...
547
00:40:47,200 --> 00:40:49,668
lwas not going. No way.
548
00:40:51,200 --> 00:40:54,510
He said, you know, "Just go one time
549
00:40:55,440 --> 00:41:00,70
He said, "lf you go one time,
and don't wanna play any more of these
550
00:41:00,240 --> 00:41:02,708
then you don't have to do it." Right?
551
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:05,110
So, I said, "OK." So, lwent
552
00:41:05,280 --> 00:41:07,396
Well, l'm gonna tell you this
553
00:41:07,560 --> 00:41:09,630
By the time that night was over,
554
00:41:11,480 --> 00:41:13,914
you couldn't drive me away
from that idea.
555
00:41:15,80 --> 00:41:16,718
And we ended up playing a lot of 'em
556
00:41:18,440 --> 00:41:20,829
He had a grandfather
or something like that,
557
00:41:21,0 --> 00:41:24,231
that I think died
in one of those institutions
558
00:41:25,880 --> 00:41:28,599
There are a number of reasons
why I play mental hospitals.
559
00:41:29,520 --> 00:41:34,71
You know, when you play for somebody
who has really been defeated,
560
00:41:35,560 --> 00:41:38,233
and it was my feeling
that the elements of this defeat
561
00:41:38,400 --> 00:41:42,996
corresponded with certain elements
that produced my song,
562
00:41:43,160 --> 00:41:44,912
and that there would be an empathy.
563
00:41:46,0 --> 00:41:49,436
I mean, I feel that I also have
an empathy with this experience
564
00:41:57,520 --> 00:41:59,238
(LAUGI-ITER)
565
00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:42,716
(LAUGI-ITER)
566
00:42:44,80 --> 00:42:50,952
# I loved you in the morning
our kisses deep and warm
567
00:42:51,120 --> 00:42:57,992
# Your hair upon the pillow
like a sleepy golden storm
568
00:42:58,160 --> 00:43:01,72
# Yes, many loved before us.
569
00:43:02,240 --> 00:43:06,199
RON: That was a moment
in my life that I would never forget
570
00:43:07,760 --> 00:43:12,993
And this guy, he stands up
and starts screaming, you know,
571
00:43:13,160 --> 00:43:15,833
'Hey, shut it down. Stop. Shut it
572
00:43:16,0 --> 00:43:19,834
Well, we, you know, being musicians
573
00:43:20,0 --> 00:43:24,232
and having played a million shows
we steam right on, right?
574
00:43:24,440 --> 00:43:28,353
We're not gonna let that...
Well, no. This guy shut it down
575
00:43:28,520 --> 00:43:30,158
He shut it down
576
00:43:31,560 --> 00:43:35,758
And then, Leonard finally said
"OK, you talk, then." Right?
577
00:43:35,920 --> 00:43:40,550
So this guy said,
Look, you come in here
578
00:43:42,80 --> 00:43:45,390
and you got all these shiny guitars
and you got all...
579
00:43:45,560 --> 00:43:47,710
and you got the pretty girls there
580
00:43:47,880 --> 00:43:50,440
singing background stuff
and everything."
581
00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,398
He said, "l wanna know,
what do you think about me?
582
00:43:53,560 --> 00:43:55,312
That's what I wanna know about
583
00:43:56,240 --> 00:43:59,550
I wanna know what you think about me
584
00:44:02,280 --> 00:44:04,635
You could hear a pin drop in that place
585
00:44:06,0 --> 00:44:10,551
And Leonard just walked past me
and Charlie, walked down the stairs
586
00:44:10,720 --> 00:44:12,153
walked right out in the crowd
587
00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:14,953
and just hugged him like
you wouldn't have believed
588
00:44:15,120 --> 00:44:18,32
He almost broke his ribs
he hugged him that hard
589
00:44:22,280 --> 00:44:23,952
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORWEGIAN)
590
00:45:06,160 --> 00:45:08,71
Oh, you don't sing any more?
- Pardon?
591
00:45:08,240 --> 00:45:10,595
- Go somewhere.
Well, we go to Geneva
592
00:45:10,760 --> 00:45:11,715
No, I mean now.
593
00:45:11,960 --> 00:45:14,235
Now, no. Why?Are you
-Tonight.
594
00:45:14,440 --> 00:45:16,237
Would you like to listen?
-Yes!
595
00:45:18,440 --> 00:45:21,432
I don't have any plans, but..
- You don't have any place?
596
00:45:21,600 --> 00:45:24,239
No, I don't have any place.
Do you have somewhere for me?
597
00:45:24,400 --> 00:45:26,868
Yes I (LAUGHS)A lot!
598
00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:28,435
599
00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:33,599
lt's hard to come on to a girl
in front of the camera.
600
00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:34,875
What?
601
00:45:36,400 --> 00:45:40,234
LEONARD: I was obsessed
by gaining women's favours
602
00:45:40,440 --> 00:45:43,432
at a certain point in my life, and um
603
00:45:44,280 --> 00:45:46,840
Way beyond any reasonable
604
00:45:48,720 --> 00:45:49,994
activity.
605
00:45:50,160 --> 00:45:52,151
It became the most important thing
in my life
606
00:45:52,280 --> 00:45:55,238
and it led me
into very obsessive beha\/iour
607
00:45:55,400 --> 00:45:57,197
and some very interesting things
608
00:45:57,360 --> 00:46:00,238
And probably most ofthe things
I learned about myself
609
00:46:00,440 --> 00:46:05,468
and about other people, were gained
from this period of obsessive...
610
00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:08,837
this blue mo\/ie,
that I threw myself into
611
00:46:09,0 --> 00:46:11,195
But we know that blue mo\/ies
are not romantic.
612
00:46:17,120 --> 00:46:20,829
BILLY DONOVAN: It was a show.
It was more women than men.
613
00:46:21,0 --> 00:46:23,958
It was like, you'd look out there
and there was some couples,
614
00:46:24,120 --> 00:46:26,873
and it was mostlyjust women
615
00:46:27,40 --> 00:46:28,951
They'd read his poetry, right?
616
00:46:29,120 --> 00:46:31,236
And then they see him sing these songs
617
00:46:31,400 --> 00:46:36,952
and they're all just down there crying
and all that, watching him.
618
00:46:38,360 --> 00:46:40,999
There was no problem with women!
619
00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:42,912
You know, l'll tell you a funny story.
620
00:46:43,80 --> 00:46:47,517
One day, l'm down in the lobby
ofthe Mayfair Hotel,
621
00:46:47,680 --> 00:46:54,28
and he comes walking in from a cab
with this really nice-looking woman.
622
00:46:54,200 --> 00:46:57,954
And they disappear,
come down a couple hours later
623
00:46:58,120 --> 00:47:03,797
and they're ha\/ing drinks
in the lobby. There's a bar there
624
00:47:03,960 --> 00:47:05,552
And she leaves
625
00:47:06,200 --> 00:47:08,77
And then he makes a phone call
626
00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:11,359
About a half-hour later,
he comes back with a different woman
627
00:47:11,520 --> 00:47:15,35
(LAUGHS) And they go up. They're gone
This is in one afternoon!
628
00:47:18,360 --> 00:47:20,954
LEONARD: Hello. How are you?
629
00:47:21,120 --> 00:47:23,554
BILLY: He had to have a woman
all the time.
630
00:47:23,720 --> 00:47:25,73
This guy travelled the world
631
00:47:25,240 --> 00:47:30,792
He knew women and people
in Paris, in London, in...
632
00:47:31,480 --> 00:47:35,632
All those places, right?
He'd go, "Let me just call so-and-so
633
00:47:36,640 --> 00:47:40,394
Uh...
Yeah, there was no problem there
634
00:47:40,560 --> 00:47:43,916
In fact, everybody
was doing pretty good. Even me
635
00:47:44,880 --> 00:47:46,677
Oh, yeah!
636
00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:51,192
(ci-IEERING)
637
00:48:02,80 --> 00:48:06,312
I had a great appetite
for the company of women
638
00:48:10,840 --> 00:48:14,992
And I was very fortunate
because it was the '60s.
639
00:48:15,160 --> 00:48:20,314
And that possibility
was very, very present
640
00:48:20,480 --> 00:48:23,233
And for a tiny moment in social history,
641
00:48:24,280 --> 00:48:27,750
there was a tremendous cooperation
between men and women
642
00:48:27,920 --> 00:48:30,309
about that particular item
643
00:48:31,200 --> 00:48:34,909
And so I was very lucky that my appetite
644
00:48:35,80 --> 00:48:37,548
coincided with this very rare
645
00:48:39,0 --> 00:48:41,878
what, religious, social,
I don't know what you'd call it
646
00:48:42,40 --> 00:48:44,429
some kind of phenomenon
647
00:48:44,600 --> 00:48:49,71
you know, that allowed men and women
boys and girls we were,
648
00:48:49,240 --> 00:48:53,870
to come together in that kind of union
that satisfied both the appetites.
649
00:48:58,120 --> 00:49:00,429
(LOUD CHEERING)
650
00:49:01,40 --> 00:49:02,234
(TUNES GUITAR)
651
00:49:03,800 --> 00:49:09,716
#Like a bird on the wire
652
00:49:11,800 --> 00:49:16,999
# Like a drunk
in some old midnight choir
653
00:49:17,960 --> 00:49:22,590
# I have tried in my way
654
00:49:23,880 --> 00:49:27,668
# To be free
655
00:49:28,680 --> 00:49:32,229
I felt much more that "Bird on a \lIkre'
had something to do with me,
656
00:49:32,440 --> 00:49:34,32
because I was there
657
00:49:35,360 --> 00:49:39,638
When you see it in the light
ofhow it began,
658
00:49:39,800 --> 00:49:43,554
it was when the new electricity
came to Hydra.
659
00:49:44,440 --> 00:49:45,714
I gave him the guitar.
660
00:49:45,880 --> 00:49:49,759
We looked out ofthe window, we saw
the birds landing on the wires,
661
00:49:49,920 --> 00:49:52,878
and he had not been able to create
or write or sing
662
00:49:53,40 --> 00:49:54,234
or do anything for weeks
663
00:49:54,440 --> 00:49:57,876
And he was in a very, very
deep, deep depression.
664
00:50:01,520 --> 00:50:04,796
And it also was a period in my life
where I had to...
665
00:50:07,120 --> 00:50:09,475
make a decision that was pretty hard
666
00:50:11,960 --> 00:50:15,919
and that was following my intuition
667
00:50:17,360 --> 00:50:23,356
and decide that Leonard and I was
not going to have any children together.
668
00:50:26,640 --> 00:50:27,595
Yea
669
00:50:37,40 --> 00:50:39,873
NICK: Marianne
came and visited me in Cardiff
670
00:50:40,40 --> 00:50:42,793
where I was a student
living down by the docks
671
00:50:42,960 --> 00:50:45,315
I was concerned she might get bored
672
00:50:45,480 --> 00:50:48,870
but Marianne was naturally interested
in everyone.
673
00:50:49,40 --> 00:50:52,953
She regarded being receptive and open
as the highest of qualities.
674
00:50:53,920 --> 00:50:56,309
Marianne made friends
with all the kids in the street
675
00:50:56,480 --> 00:50:58,630
who followed her around all day
676
00:50:58,800 --> 00:51:02,475
And she encouraged me to make
my very Hrst Him on slum clearance
677
00:51:03,120 --> 00:51:05,554
as the whole communty
was being torn down.
678
00:51:06,920 --> 00:51:10,230
Marianne liked to throw the I Ching
every day and get stoned.
679
00:51:11,400 --> 00:51:13,72
She talked abort Leonard a lot,
680
00:51:13,960 --> 00:51:17,396
his favourte salt beef sandwich shop
in Piccadilhr
681
00:51:17,560 --> 00:51:21,712
his spiritual search,
even dabbling in Scientology and EST
682
00:51:22,520 --> 00:51:25,478
Marianne, too,
was on her own spiritual search.
683
00:51:25,640 --> 00:51:27,915
And Leonard was in many ways
her teacher
684
00:51:29,160 --> 00:51:31,879
One day she asked me
to drive her to Bath.
685
00:51:32,720 --> 00:51:35,154
She said she was pregnant
wth Leonard's child.
686
00:51:36,760 --> 00:51:39,320
I think she was pregnant...
She was pregnant to Cohen
687
00:51:39,480 --> 00:51:41,436
but she knew that Leonard
didn't want children
688
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:43,830
and she had abortions
even though she would've
689
00:51:44,0 --> 00:51:47,390
She... If anyone
should've had Leonard's children
690
00:51:48,280 --> 00:51:49,633
she desen/ed to have them
691
00:51:49,800 --> 00:51:51,836
But she didn't, for Leonard's sake
692
00:51:52,800 --> 00:51:56,190
But, you know,
she wanted what I wanted
693
00:51:57,0 --> 00:51:59,150
She wanted to
694
00:52:00,160 --> 00:52:02,390
She wanted to be with him
695
00:52:02,560 --> 00:52:05,677
And you cannot be with Leonard
696
00:52:07,360 --> 00:52:08,918
In that sense
697
00:52:10,280 --> 00:52:13,158
Although you could say
that l'd rather have one day
698
00:52:13,280 --> 00:52:16,238
or one night with Leonard
than a lifetime with somebody else
699
00:52:16,400 --> 00:52:18,834
That would be easy to say,
but it's not...
700
00:52:19,0 --> 00:52:20,718
lt's not so easy, you know?
701
00:52:20,880 --> 00:52:23,440
I could've said that with In/ing
just to be...
702
00:52:23,600 --> 00:52:26,558
I was with In/ing for over 20 years
703
00:52:26,720 --> 00:52:30,190
Whatever the ups and downs,
how wonderful it was, and it was
704
00:52:30,360 --> 00:52:33,875
but most of that time was anguish
705
00:52:34,800 --> 00:52:35,915
NICK: Anguish?
- Well...
706
00:52:37,0 --> 00:52:39,309
You know, it was the days
of open marriage,
707
00:52:39,480 --> 00:52:41,152
whatever the hell that was!
708
00:52:41,280 --> 00:52:45,512
And I don't think it ever was
successful with anybody.
709
00:52:45,680 --> 00:52:51,710
One of the partners was always jealous
and angry and hurt and confused.
710
00:52:52,600 --> 00:52:55,990
I don't know any child who came out
not damaged by that period.
711
00:52:56,160 --> 00:52:57,673
We just wanted to do it all
712
00:52:57,840 --> 00:53:00,912
Take drugs and fuck around
and do whatever we...
713
00:53:01,80 --> 00:53:04,390
And the children werejust...
They came along on the ride
714
00:53:05,0 --> 00:53:07,389
They didn't wanna come along
on that ride.
715
00:53:08,440 --> 00:53:12,353
There are a lot of us who grew up
very quickly on the island.
716
00:53:13,400 --> 00:53:15,516
There was also a lot of acid
on the island.
717
00:53:15,680 --> 00:53:19,116
People were actually dropping acid
into people's drinks.
718
00:53:19,280 --> 00:53:24,479
And I remember hearing reports
of people having donkeys ....
719
00:53:24,640 --> 00:53:27,791
They were riding donkeys
that, like, started tripping,
720
00:53:27,960 --> 00:53:31,236
and getting into all kinds of trouble
you know, and accidents.
721
00:53:31,440 --> 00:53:33,317
NICK: They gave acid to the donkeys?
722
00:53:33,480 --> 00:53:35,232
JEFFREY: Yeah. As well as to people
723
00:53:35,440 --> 00:53:40,195
I got... Someone put acid
in one of my drinks when lwas about 13
724
00:53:40,840 --> 00:53:43,149
And I had no idea what was happening
725
00:53:45,0 --> 00:53:47,36
Also a lot of casualties happened
726
00:53:47,200 --> 00:53:51,34
lthink Marianne
and a lot of other women
727
00:53:51,200 --> 00:53:54,875
were not as nurturing
to their children, perhaps
728
00:53:55,40 --> 00:53:58,396
or as present with them
as they could have been
729
00:53:58,560 --> 00:54:01,438
Axel was really a casualty of that
730
00:54:02,640 --> 00:54:06,474
Marianne was going from one love
to another, to another,
731
00:54:06,640 --> 00:54:09,200
and often he wasn't with her.
732
00:54:09,360 --> 00:54:11,32
You know, so who was he with?
733
00:54:11,200 --> 00:54:14,192
And Leonard...
You know, he wasn't Leonard's kid
734
00:54:15,280 --> 00:54:20,593
He started wearing long, you know,
flowing Moroccan robes.
735
00:54:20,760 --> 00:54:22,876
And he was silent for years
736
00:54:23,40 --> 00:54:27,238
And then later
he became institutionalised
737
00:54:27,400 --> 00:54:31,234
But l've always felt very sad
that he's been institutionalised
738
00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:33,755
for most of his adult life
739
00:54:36,360 --> 00:54:39,796
Those who could work with Hydra
did really well.
740
00:54:40,160 --> 00:54:41,957
And there weren't many, quite frankly.
741
00:54:42,120 --> 00:54:44,156
I saw so many artists who came
742
00:54:44,280 --> 00:54:50,469
and either just found their creativity
wasn't strong enough to sustain them
743
00:54:50,640 --> 00:54:53,234
or the booze, the sex
744
00:54:53,440 --> 00:54:57,399
the beauty of the landscape
was all too much, and theyjust gave up
745
00:54:57,560 --> 00:55:00,28
But Leonard was one of those
who somehow...
746
00:55:00,200 --> 00:55:04,990
The whole en\/ironment, I think,
sort of coalesced and worked for him
747
00:55:05,160 --> 00:55:06,309
And he worked with it
748
00:55:08,480 --> 00:55:12,314
LEONARD: ff I got a home in glory land
749
00:55:12,480 --> 00:55:17,190
LEONARD AND WOMEN
#That outshines the sun
750
00:55:18,200 --> 00:55:22,671
ff I got a home in glory land
751
00:55:22,840 --> 00:55:26,879
ff That outshines the sun
752
00:55:28,600 --> 00:55:32,593
ff I got a home in glory land
753
00:55:32,760 --> 00:55:36,230
ff That outshines the sun
754
00:55:37,640 --> 00:55:38,914
ff Way
755
00:55:39,80 --> 00:55:44,234
ff Must be the hand of the Lord
756
00:55:45,640 --> 00:55:48,916
ff Do, Lord oh, do, Lord.
757
00:55:49,80 --> 00:55:52,470
HELLE: He was a real success story.
He really was.
758
00:55:52,640 --> 00:55:55,916
He wasn't damaged by that place
I think, at all.
759
00:55:56,960 --> 00:56:01,158
Many other people
seemed to come away from that place
760
00:56:01,280 --> 00:56:05,398
sort of, irreparably... damaged
761
00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:07,915
And it was terrible on marriages
762
00:56:08,80 --> 00:56:13,234
Very few marriages outlasted that place
including my parents'.
763
00:56:19,240 --> 00:56:23,472
NICK: I remember Marianne telling me
of the tragedy of the Johnstons
764
00:56:23,640 --> 00:56:27,349
the family that Leonard
had originally stayed wth in 1960,
765
00:56:27,520 --> 00:56:29,954
who left the island after nine years
766
00:56:31,520 --> 00:56:34,910
HELLE: This family
of such amazing talent and promise
767
00:56:35,80 --> 00:56:39,358
and they just kind of all fell to bits
shortly after leaving the island.
768
00:56:39,520 --> 00:56:42,478
lt's my birthday today
and this is a wonderful homecoming
769
00:56:42,640 --> 00:56:44,437
And that was a photograph, a family one
770
00:56:44,600 --> 00:56:46,875
taken on my birthday last year
on the island.
771
00:56:47,40 --> 00:56:49,235
(CHILDREN SPEAK IN GREEK)
772
00:56:52,760 --> 00:56:55,433
They always speak Greek
among themselves.
773
00:56:55,600 --> 00:56:57,477
I think it comes more naturally to them
774
00:56:57,640 --> 00:57:00,791
They've done all their schooling
in Greek, ten years...
775
00:57:00,960 --> 00:57:04,430
HELLE: When they left, almost penniless
776
00:57:04,600 --> 00:57:08,673
she killed herself, like
a couple years later.
777
00:57:08,840 --> 00:57:12,913
He died a year after that
of tuberculosis, probably,
778
00:57:13,80 --> 00:57:17,437
greatly compounded
by cigarettes and alcohol
779
00:57:18,160 --> 00:57:22,199
And then the children
that had seemed so, you know,
780
00:57:22,360 --> 00:57:25,636
glorious and beautiful and bright
and wonderful on the island,
781
00:57:25,800 --> 00:57:29,839
they, one by one, died early
of alcoholism, suicide, drugs.
782
00:57:30,0 --> 00:57:31,558
There's only one that's alive
783
00:57:35,480 --> 00:57:40,76
Numerous other children
from families that had lived on Hydra
784
00:57:40,240 --> 00:57:44,233
have had a hard time
re-entering the real world
785
00:57:45,40 --> 00:57:49,750
I think there is a depression that
sets in if you've spent any time there
786
00:57:49,920 --> 00:57:51,478
l've certainly felt it
787
00:57:51,640 --> 00:57:54,234
There's not a day that goes by
that I don't wake up
788
00:57:54,400 --> 00:57:58,598
and wish that I were there. Literally.
789
00:57:58,760 --> 00:58:01,832
I never wanted to be any other place
inthe world, you know?
790
00:58:04,40 --> 00:58:06,190
lt's just the place
791
00:58:06,360 --> 00:58:09,670
lt'sjust the place, you know? You
792
00:58:10,520 --> 00:58:12,192
It gets in your bones
793
00:58:13,360 --> 00:58:17,831
I don't know how to describe it
but it's just the place.
794
00:58:18,0 --> 00:58:23,632
Just stepping off the boat every time
it's... coming home.
795
00:58:27,120 --> 00:58:29,350
(ci-IEERING)
796
00:58:35,640 --> 00:58:38,359
(ELECTRICALCRACKLING)
797
00:58:42,920 --> 00:58:48,74
That was a very weird, weird night.
There were 660,000 people out there
798
00:58:49,840 --> 00:58:51,671
It was a disturbing night
799
00:58:55,920 --> 00:58:58,593
They even caught the stage on fire
800
00:58:58,760 --> 00:59:01,194
Had to put the stage out
before we went on.
801
00:59:02,480 --> 00:59:05,472
Maybe we ought to get outta here
someone's gonna get hurt.
802
00:59:07,480 --> 00:59:10,711
Leonard embraced it. He got into it
803
00:59:11,560 --> 00:59:14,996
Like I was saying before,
you either get 'em or you don't
804
00:59:15,760 --> 00:59:17,159
Hegotit
805
00:59:22,280 --> 00:59:24,714
Well, I was on Mandrax at the time
806
00:59:24,880 --> 00:59:27,394
They used to call me Captain Mandrax
807
00:59:28,280 --> 00:59:31,158
I think it had...
It was like a Quaalude, right?
808
00:59:31,280 --> 00:59:35,398
I was relaxed beyond
any reasonable state.
809
00:59:36,400 --> 00:59:38,356
I hope she's here, Marianne
810
00:59:39,120 --> 00:59:41,236
I hope she's here. Maybe she's here
811
00:59:43,880 --> 00:59:45,359
I hope she's here
812
00:59:46,240 --> 00:59:47,355
Marianne
813
00:59:53,560 --> 00:59:56,916
#An old woman gave us sheter
814
00:59:57,80 --> 01:00:00,390
ff Kept us hidden in the garret
815
01:00:00,560 --> 01:00:03,233
ff Then the soldiers came
816
01:00:04,360 --> 01:00:09,36
I\llARIANNE: (IN NORWEGIAN)
817
01:00:39,560 --> 01:00:42,870
RON: Marianne was one woman
818
01:00:43,680 --> 01:00:47,832
that didn't seem to me
all starstruck over Leonard
819
01:00:49,960 --> 01:00:52,793
Kind of held her own,
put it that way, you know?
820
01:00:54,920 --> 01:00:58,230
She would join us sometimes
for a week at a time,
821
01:00:58,400 --> 01:01:01,119
or maybeten days at a time
and be gone.
822
01:01:01,760 --> 01:01:05,230
There was other ladies
that Leonard had on tour.
823
01:01:05,440 --> 01:01:09,558
But when Marianne was in town
he was out of the picture.
824
01:01:10,360 --> 01:01:12,112
She carried with her a different feel
825
01:01:12,280 --> 01:01:16,68
than any woman
that I ever saw around Leonard
826
01:01:17,680 --> 01:01:21,389
(ci-IEERING)
827
01:01:25,400 --> 01:01:29,757
RON: There was a...
a need for such a connection
828
01:01:29,920 --> 01:01:32,195
between Leonard and his audience
829
01:01:32,360 --> 01:01:35,352
that would actually
have blown your mind
830
01:01:35,520 --> 01:01:40,196
One night he had so many people
come up on stage with him
831
01:01:41,40 --> 01:01:46,114
that it was like this big love-in,
right in the middle of our concert!
832
01:01:51,600 --> 01:01:56,993
Like a pile of people, making love
without taking their clothes off.
833
01:01:57,160 --> 01:01:59,628
But if we could have stuck around
a while longer,
834
01:01:59,800 --> 01:02:01,597
who knows what would have happened?
835
01:02:09,400 --> 01:02:11,994
Can you imagine, we're playing Amsterdam
836
01:02:12,160 --> 01:02:18,508
and he in\/ites the entire audience
to come home with us to his hotel.
837
01:02:19,840 --> 01:02:21,353
And they did it
838
01:02:25,800 --> 01:02:29,236
We took a lot of acid on those trips
A lot.
839
01:02:30,80 --> 01:02:34,198
Leonard had a buddy in London
and he had athing called Desert Dust
840
01:02:35,400 --> 01:02:38,392
And if you took a needle
841
01:02:39,480 --> 01:02:41,198
and touched it to your tongue
842
01:02:41,360 --> 01:02:46,150
and the tiniest little speck
that you could pick up with that needle
843
01:02:46,280 --> 01:02:49,113
on yourtongue... Gone!
844
01:02:49,280 --> 01:02:55,71
I mean, gone for 14 hours
with no reentry. None.
845
01:02:55,240 --> 01:03:00,30
One time we took that damn Desert Dust
23 nights in a row,
846
01:03:00,200 --> 01:03:03,909
playing the Royal Albert Hall
and the Vienna Opera House
847
01:03:04,80 --> 01:03:08,392
and all the line places onthe...
We were... I mean, I gotta tell you
848
01:03:08,560 --> 01:03:13,998
there's no way I could ever even sun/ive
one of those nights, at this point.
849
01:03:14,760 --> 01:03:16,239
Gotta see my text here
850
01:03:17,520 --> 01:03:20,34
ONLOOKERS: He-eey!
851
01:03:20,200 --> 01:03:22,589
MAN 1: I love to count on you, baby!
852
01:03:25,120 --> 01:03:26,678
MAN 2:
This is the way it's gotta be done
853
01:03:26,840 --> 01:03:29,229
LEONARD: Think that stuff still works?
- MAN 2: I don't know.
854
01:03:29,400 --> 01:03:32,517
We'll bein serious trouble
if it works or if it doesn't work!
855
01:03:33,800 --> 01:03:37,315
RON: Leonard used to say
you have to be in the zone.
856
01:03:38,0 --> 01:03:40,70
Well, we stayed in the zone
857
01:03:40,240 --> 01:03:43,915
A lot of people would think, well,
if you burn it down strong tonight
858
01:03:44,80 --> 01:03:46,992
tomorrow morning, you got that hangover
and all that...
859
01:03:47,160 --> 01:03:48,991
Nuh-uh. We stayed in the zone
860
01:03:49,920 --> 01:03:51,433
Day after day after day.
861
01:03:52,520 --> 01:03:56,433
There was only one night,
we were playing in Jerusalem
862
01:03:56,600 --> 01:03:58,397
when he wasn't gettin' them
863
01:04:00,200 --> 01:04:03,715
Now, look, if it doesn't get
any better, uh...
864
01:04:03,880 --> 01:04:06,633
we'll just end the concert
and l'll refund yourmoney.
865
01:04:06,800 --> 01:04:07,994
Some nights
866
01:04:09,280 --> 01:04:11,635
one is raised off the ground
867
01:04:12,440 --> 01:04:15,830
And some nights,
you just can't get off the ground
868
01:04:16,0 --> 01:04:17,991
And there's no point in lying about it
869
01:04:18,160 --> 01:04:20,913
And tonight we just haven't been
getting offthe ground.
870
01:04:21,80 --> 01:04:23,992
BILLY: So, anyway,
we're backstage and we're going
871
01:04:24,160 --> 01:04:26,674
'What's gonna happen?"
And Marty Machat, his manager,
872
01:04:26,840 --> 01:04:28,398
is trying to talk to him
873
01:04:28,560 --> 01:04:32,872
And Leonard'sjust zinging, right?
I knew that and...
874
01:04:33,40 --> 01:04:36,476
NICK: How do you mean "zinging"?
- I mean, like, on LSD.
875
01:04:36,640 --> 01:04:39,916
Like his eyes are blacked out
like they get, right?
876
01:04:40,640 --> 01:04:41,789
And, uh
877
01:04:42,880 --> 01:04:47,396
He'sjust feeling...
And so, all of a sudden, he says to me
878
01:04:47,560 --> 01:04:50,711
he goes, "Billy, can you
get me a razor?"
879
01:04:51,480 --> 01:04:53,994
I said, "Leonard, what are you gonna do
cut your throat?"
880
01:04:54,160 --> 01:04:58,836
And he says, "No. I think ifl shave
I might be able to go back out."
881
01:04:59,0 --> 01:05:01,355
You got... This is the last concert
882
01:05:01,520 --> 01:05:04,478
This is something you have to do,
then, bang, I know, I have to shave
883
01:05:05,720 --> 01:05:07,119
What a life!
884
01:05:08,360 --> 01:05:09,759
What a life
885
01:05:11,760 --> 01:05:15,799
Oh, this is wonderful.
Why didn't you tell me about this?
886
01:05:21,920 --> 01:05:24,150
BILLY: So that's what he did. He shaved
887
01:05:24,760 --> 01:05:26,591
Dry-shaved almost
888
01:05:27,800 --> 01:05:29,119
\Mth just some water.
889
01:05:29,280 --> 01:05:32,955
And then he went back out there
with a big rash on his face
890
01:05:33,120 --> 01:05:34,678
and finished the show.
891
01:05:34,840 --> 01:05:36,751
You gotta try it, man. lt's wonderful
892
01:05:39,200 --> 01:05:41,998
Oh, yeah.Amazing
893
01:05:42,160 --> 01:05:43,388
Oh, this is really great
894
01:05:44,200 --> 01:05:47,715
ff And I saw Jesus on the cross
895
01:05:48,480 --> 01:05:51,233
ff On a hill called Calvary
896
01:05:52,280 --> 01:05:57,149
ff "Do you hate mankind
for what they done to you?
897
01:05:59,520 --> 01:06:02,398
ff He said "Talk of love, not hate
898
01:06:04,520 --> 01:06:10,231
Everybody was shooting from the hip
right? Not welded to anything.
899
01:06:11,280 --> 01:06:16,229
The idea was that tonight
we will play this song
900
01:06:16,400 --> 01:06:18,356
better than we did last night
901
01:06:19,40 --> 01:06:22,715
And tomorrow night we're gonna
play it better than we did tonight.
902
01:06:22,880 --> 01:06:26,589
ff Sometimes happy sometimes blue
903
01:06:26,760 --> 01:06:28,830
ff Glad that I ran into you
904
01:06:29,0 --> 01:06:31,230
RON: There was only one night
one night,
905
01:06:31,440 --> 01:06:36,230
that I felt that
I let things get away from me
906
01:06:37,280 --> 01:06:41,831
And I actually went for this
beautiful chord...
907
01:06:42,0 --> 01:06:47,120
It was an F-sharp minor seventh,
in, I think the song called "Suzanne
908
01:06:47,800 --> 01:06:49,597
And as I went for that chord
909
01:06:50,640 --> 01:06:55,668
I actually landed on my face,
on the ground on stage, right there
910
01:06:55,840 --> 01:06:59,674
And Leonard turned around
and looked at me, like, "OK.All right
911
01:06:59,840 --> 01:07:02,912
We need to now start backing off
the Mandrax, right?"
912
01:07:06,560 --> 01:07:10,348
N IC K: Marianne andl kept in touch
during the '70s and '80s
913
01:07:10,520 --> 01:07:12,875
with the occasional postcard and letter
914
01:07:13,800 --> 01:07:17,31
I was delighted when she suggested
we might work together
915
01:07:17,200 --> 01:07:19,430
And we talked about various ideas.
916
01:07:20,280 --> 01:07:23,556
Marianne was increasingly concerned
about Axel.
917
01:07:23,720 --> 01:07:26,632
He'd been on a trip to India
and taken too many drugs.
918
01:07:27,280 --> 01:07:31,114
She was upset wth Lttle Axel"s father
who"d encouraged him.
919
01:07:31,280 --> 01:07:34,750
Axel was no living in an institution
in Oslo
920
01:07:34,920 --> 01:07:37,673
and Marianne was spending
more and more time with him
921
01:07:38,360 --> 01:07:41,238
Marianne had still been following
Leonard on his travels
922
01:07:41,400 --> 01:07:45,109
and very infrequently they still shared
the house together on Hydra.
923
01:07:46,560 --> 01:07:49,632
Apparertly Leonard was now living
part of the year in Montreal
924
01:07:49,800 --> 01:07:51,472
with a woman called Suzanne
925
01:07:53,200 --> 01:07:55,191
l've read three of his biographies
926
01:07:55,360 --> 01:07:58,238
and l've always been surprised
that they sort of partition it
927
01:07:58,440 --> 01:08:02,194
as, like, "O K, here was Marianne
And then that was over.
928
01:08:02,360 --> 01:08:04,78
And then we took up with Suzanne
929
01:08:04,240 --> 01:08:07,676
But, in fact, there was a considerable
overlap of time
930
01:08:07,840 --> 01:08:10,513
where he supported both families
931
01:08:11,760 --> 01:08:14,877
He said that when he was
with her and Axel
932
01:08:15,40 --> 01:08:18,316
in that house on Hydra,
he felt that's where he belonged
933
01:08:18,480 --> 01:08:22,29
But when he was with Suzanne
and the baby in Montreal,
934
01:08:22,200 --> 01:08:24,236
he felt that's where he belonged
935
01:08:24,400 --> 01:08:26,311
And so, he was confused
936
01:08:27,800 --> 01:08:30,951
Suzanne, she was much more \/isceral
in a way.
937
01:08:32,40 --> 01:08:34,235
And 14 years younger than him
938
01:08:35,280 --> 01:08:37,999
So I guess there was
a whole bunch of different things
939
01:08:38,160 --> 01:08:43,393
that conspired
to make it come to an end
940
01:08:45,480 --> 01:08:48,313
You needed somebody like Suzanne
who was...
941
01:08:49,160 --> 01:08:54,154
Well, the word "ruthless" isjust
the word that com es to mind.
942
01:08:54,280 --> 01:08:57,33
And she did what she wanted to do
943
01:08:57,200 --> 01:09:01,716
to bind Leonard to her by any means
944
01:09:01,880 --> 01:09:05,668
To use the Black Panther theme
by any means necessary.
945
01:09:05,840 --> 01:09:07,990
And, boy, did she do
946
01:09:08,160 --> 01:09:11,789
She knew exactly what to do
and when to do it.
947
01:09:12,840 --> 01:09:17,152
It was like falling into a spider's web
And there was something...
948
01:09:17,280 --> 01:09:21,159
There's always something terribly
fascinating about the spider.
949
01:09:21,280 --> 01:09:23,748
Very fascinating
950
01:09:23,920 --> 01:09:29,756
And I think Leonard just fell into that
because it was so fascinating.
951
01:09:31,160 --> 01:09:34,152
I don't even know what drove
that whole thing, but he knew..
952
01:09:34,280 --> 01:09:36,794
He knew he was...
As In/ing would say,
953
01:09:36,960 --> 01:09:38,871
Make sure you're doing
the wrong thing."
954
01:09:39,40 --> 01:09:42,191
Boy, did he make sure
he did the wrong thing with Suzanne
955
01:10:13,160 --> 01:10:16,470
I think Leonard's quest in life
956
01:10:16,640 --> 01:10:20,872
overrode the normal, you know,
settling down and ha\/ing a home
957
01:10:21,40 --> 01:10:24,476
and a family and all that stuff.
958
01:10:24,640 --> 01:10:28,155
Leonard always had that feeling
that he was after something
959
01:10:28,280 --> 01:10:31,33
that he couldn't get his hands around
960
01:10:32,520 --> 01:10:34,431
The onlything about it is
I don't know...
961
01:10:34,600 --> 01:10:37,751
I don't think he knew
what he was chasing, you know?
962
01:10:37,920 --> 01:10:40,798
I don't think he...
I don't think he really knew.
963
01:10:40,960 --> 01:10:43,190
And that made it be probably a darker.
964
01:10:44,400 --> 01:10:48,598
You know, he lived in a
He lived in darkness.
965
01:10:48,760 --> 01:10:51,35
He'd disappear for six weeks sometimes
966
01:10:51,200 --> 01:10:54,317
I wouldn't know how to find him
or nothing. Nobody would, you know?
967
01:10:54,960 --> 01:10:58,714
And I was all a deep, deep depression
968
01:10:59,960 --> 01:11:03,111
(ci-IEERING)
969
01:11:07,800 --> 01:11:10,473
When we toured Europe,
and when we toured Germany,
970
01:11:10,640 --> 01:11:13,871
l've never seen so many blondes
in one audience.
971
01:11:14,40 --> 01:11:18,33
He was the poet for
the quasi-depressed women of his era
972
01:11:18,200 --> 01:11:20,794
People who were going through issues
they'd come up sobbing,
973
01:11:20,960 --> 01:11:23,349
"You saved my life.
I was in such a dark place
974
01:11:23,520 --> 01:11:25,431
And your darkness led me out of it
975
01:11:25,600 --> 01:11:27,875
- (CHEERING)
LEONARD: Thank you so much
976
01:11:28,640 --> 01:11:31,632
JOHN: He had his thing
that he projected.
977
01:11:31,800 --> 01:11:33,995
He had his black suit
978
01:11:34,160 --> 01:11:36,196
He had his look of seriousness
979
01:11:36,360 --> 01:11:40,399
And you never saw his humour.
He was a really funny guy.
980
01:11:40,560 --> 01:11:42,516
But when he was on stage, it was dark
981
01:11:43,280 --> 01:11:47,398
and it was lonely
and it was desperate
982
01:11:47,560 --> 01:11:52,873
Those who would sacrifice
one generation on behalf of another.
983
01:11:58,600 --> 01:12:01,433
ff Well the door it opened slowly
984
01:12:02,200 --> 01:12:04,589
ff My father he came in
985
01:12:04,760 --> 01:12:07,479
ff I was nine years old
986
01:12:09,480 --> 01:12:12,233
ff And he stood so tall above me
987
01:12:12,880 --> 01:12:15,633
#And his blue eyes they were shining
988
01:12:15,800 --> 01:12:18,439
#And his voice was very cold.
989
01:12:20,160 --> 01:12:24,676
I wanted to frame each of the songs
990
01:12:24,840 --> 01:12:28,799
like a little \/ignette
991
01:12:28,960 --> 01:12:30,678
They all had these places of mind
992
01:12:30,840 --> 01:12:34,37
So I was gi\/ing them... At the college
we were using unusual instruments.
993
01:12:34,200 --> 01:12:36,873
A couple of muted trombones
to take it somewhere,
994
01:12:37,40 --> 01:12:42,751
or very icy strings
and dark shimmering things
995
01:12:42,920 --> 01:12:45,992
to make it... these little movies
996
01:12:46,160 --> 01:12:49,994
And we came back and we were ready to do
another couple of weeks in the studio
997
01:12:50,160 --> 01:12:52,833
and he said,
l'm gonna go to Hydra for I little bit
998
01:12:53,0 --> 01:12:55,594
but as soon as I get back
we'll finish it."
999
01:12:56,400 --> 01:12:59,39
And I didn't hear from him for.
1000
01:13:00,400 --> 01:13:01,674
SSVSII y93I'S
1001
01:13:09,920 --> 01:13:13,549
JOHN: It turns out, Marty Machat
who was Leonard's manager
1002
01:13:13,720 --> 01:13:15,915
also managed Phil Spector.
1003
01:13:16,80 --> 01:13:19,675
And he'd made a deal for Phil
with Warner Brothers
1004
01:13:19,840 --> 01:13:23,230
that got them both a huge advance
1005
01:13:23,440 --> 01:13:26,352
A really huge advance.
For the '70s, it was unheard of.
1006
01:13:26,520 --> 01:13:29,193
So what had happened, Marty
had called up Leonard and just said
1007
01:13:29,360 --> 01:13:32,79
"Forget the record with John.
We'll put that on the back burner.
1008
01:13:32,240 --> 01:13:34,310
I want you to do a record
with Phil Spector.
1009
01:13:34,480 --> 01:13:36,436
He's really famous
lt'll make you a hit.
1010
01:13:36,600 --> 01:13:39,239
And, of course,
he made "Death ofA Ladies Man
1011
01:13:41,120 --> 01:13:44,874
which, you know... is not his best work
1012
01:13:45,40 --> 01:13:47,600
(UPTEI\llPO BRASS INSTRUMENTAL)
1013
01:13:47,760 --> 01:13:49,955
That happened at a curious time
in my life,
1014
01:13:50,120 --> 01:13:52,634
because I was at a very low point
1015
01:13:52,800 --> 01:13:54,392
My family was breaking up
1016
01:13:54,560 --> 01:13:57,950
lwas living in Los Angeles,
which was a foreign city to me
1017
01:13:59,80 --> 01:14:01,958
And l'd lost control of,
as I say, of my family,
1018
01:14:02,960 --> 01:14:05,554
and my work and my life
1019
01:14:05,720 --> 01:14:08,359
And it was a very, very dark period
1020
01:14:08,520 --> 01:14:11,398
And when he got into the studio
1021
01:14:11,560 --> 01:14:13,676
it was clear that he was eccentric
1022
01:14:13,840 --> 01:14:15,671
but I didn't know that he was mad
1023
01:14:16,480 --> 01:14:18,391
The atmosphere was one of guns
1024
01:14:18,560 --> 01:14:22,109
I mean, that's really what was going on
was guns.
1025
01:14:22,280 --> 01:14:25,716
The music was a subsidiary.
They were armed to the teeth
1026
01:14:25,880 --> 01:14:28,235
All ofhis friends, his bodyguards
you know?
1027
01:14:28,400 --> 01:14:30,38
And everybody was drunk
1028
01:14:30,200 --> 01:14:32,668
So, you know, I mean,
you were slipping over bullets!
1029
01:14:32,840 --> 01:14:35,912
You know, you were biting into
revolvers in your hamburger.
1030
01:14:36,80 --> 01:14:38,230
I mean, Phil was beyond control
1031
01:14:38,440 --> 01:14:43,719
I remember, Phil, you know,
shoved a revolver into my neck
1032
01:14:43,880 --> 01:14:46,872
and said, you know,
Leonard, I love you.
1033
01:14:47,40 --> 01:14:48,871
I said, "l hope you do, Phil!
1034
01:14:56,280 --> 01:15:01,229
I think that if anybody, you know,
disappointed the project, it was me
1035
01:15:01,400 --> 01:15:04,39
I didn't have the chops
to sing those songs.
1036
01:15:04,920 --> 01:15:08,515
I think a song like "Memories'
is a really dynamite tune.
1037
01:15:08,680 --> 01:15:11,69
lthinkthetune is great
the lyric is touching.
1038
01:15:11,240 --> 01:15:15,472
I think it really does come
out of that high school gymnasium
1039
01:15:16,440 --> 01:15:19,79
ff So won"t you let me see
1040
01:15:19,720 --> 01:15:22,29
ff Wont you let me see
1041
01:15:22,760 --> 01:15:29,518
ff I said won"t you let me see
1042
01:15:31,640 --> 01:15:34,234
ff Your naked body?
1043
01:15:35,600 --> 01:15:38,68
(SINGING AND HANDCLAPS FROI\ll BUS)
1044
01:15:46,720 --> 01:15:50,508
MARIANNE: One day, Suzanne
with Little Adam,
1045
01:15:50,680 --> 01:15:55,71
the same age as my son when I came back
to Hydra, was standing on the dooiway
1046
01:15:58,160 --> 01:16:01,516
wondering when I was moving out
so she could move in.
1047
01:16:04,280 --> 01:16:06,635
I remember that
1048
01:16:07,480 --> 01:16:10,677
seeing her, I somehow felt
1049
01:16:10,840 --> 01:16:13,957
a little bit taller,
a little bit stronger,
1050
01:16:14,120 --> 01:16:18,238
a little bit older,
and a little bit wiser. (CHUCKLES)
1051
01:16:18,400 --> 01:16:22,29
I got hold of something
when I saw her there with the baby.
1052
01:16:22,200 --> 01:16:28,594
And then I very calmly packed up
tookAxel, and moved out.
1053
01:16:34,160 --> 01:16:36,913
Yeah, so Marianne finally decided
that enough was enough
1054
01:16:37,80 --> 01:16:39,71
and she did have to go back to Oslo
1055
01:16:39,240 --> 01:16:43,313
And her mother had always wanted her
to come here and have a normal life.
1056
01:16:44,600 --> 01:16:48,354
Become a secretary, receptionist
or something like that,
1057
01:16:48,520 --> 01:16:49,714
and be normal
1058
01:16:49,880 --> 01:16:52,872
So Marianne finally decided,
'Yeah, that's what l'm gonna do
1059
01:16:53,40 --> 01:16:57,909
So she came back up here, became
a secretary, married a Noiwegian man
1060
01:16:58,80 --> 01:17:02,312
and became the stepmother
to his children,
1061
01:17:02,480 --> 01:17:05,438
had a very average, ordinary life
1062
01:17:05,600 --> 01:17:09,36
And every once in a while she would
go back to Hydra, visit her friends.
1063
01:17:18,440 --> 01:17:20,32
JOHN: Out ofthe blue
1064
01:17:20,200 --> 01:17:24,512
Now, ltold you that l'd done Rebecca
and never heard from Leonard again.
1065
01:17:24,680 --> 01:17:27,956
I thought, "Well, I did something
What did l...? I did something."
1066
01:17:28,120 --> 01:17:30,475
He calls up and,
Hey, man. How you doing?
1067
01:17:31,240 --> 01:17:32,753
1068
01:17:32,920 --> 01:17:34,797
Wanna make a record?
1069
01:17:34,960 --> 01:17:39,397
l'm saying, "Yeah, l've been...
l've been waitin' for this phone call!
1070
01:17:39,560 --> 01:17:44,76
So we went inthe studio
and we did "Hallelujah" fairly early.
1071
01:17:44,240 --> 01:17:46,151
And he played it for me and it went
1072
01:17:46,280 --> 01:17:48,316
(PLAYS ON SII\llPLE KEYBOARD)
1073
01:17:48,480 --> 01:17:52,598
He had just bought
a little Casio synthesiser
1074
01:17:52,760 --> 01:17:54,478
on Tth Avenue and 49th Street
1075
01:17:54,640 --> 01:17:57,950
One ofthese... dinky, dinky, dinky,
dink... One-linger things.
1076
01:17:58,120 --> 01:17:59,473
And hefell in love with it
1077
01:17:59,640 --> 01:18:02,438
He said, "l wanna record this
Use it for the track."
1078
01:18:02,600 --> 01:18:04,238
So we put it down that way.
1079
01:18:05,440 --> 01:18:07,954
We're saying, "Holy crap, man
This is really good.
1080
01:18:08,120 --> 01:18:09,872
We... We've done something here
1081
01:18:10,40 --> 01:18:12,235
Leonard wasjust grinning
1082
01:18:12,440 --> 01:18:15,477
Even Marty, who was reluctant
to like anything I was involved in
1083
01:18:15,640 --> 01:18:18,29
just said, "This is... This is it
1084
01:18:20,80 --> 01:18:21,479
We bring him up to Columbia
1085
01:18:21,640 --> 01:18:24,473
There's a new guy named
Walter Yetnikoff.
1086
01:18:24,640 --> 01:18:26,153
This was his first big thing
1087
01:18:26,280 --> 01:18:29,113
He hears it, and he says
'No, I don't like this at all.
1088
01:18:29,280 --> 01:18:30,713
And there's a famous quote
1089
01:18:30,880 --> 01:18:33,792
"Leonard, I know you're great,
but I don't know if you're any good
1090
01:18:33,960 --> 01:18:38,351
Something like that. And he says
'We're not gonna release it."
1091
01:18:38,520 --> 01:18:40,954
And Marty then later says
1092
01:18:41,120 --> 01:18:44,32
"John, I knew it!
You've ruined Leonard's career.
1093
01:18:44,200 --> 01:18:46,316
You have ruined...
lt's an unreleasable record
1094
01:18:46,480 --> 01:18:48,436
lt's the biggest disappointment
in our lives.
1095
01:18:48,600 --> 01:18:50,511
I can't believe you did this
to Leonard."
1096
01:18:50,680 --> 01:18:52,830
And he had loved it earlier in the day.
1097
01:18:53,0 --> 01:18:55,434
And l'm saying,
W-Well, what do you mean? lt's a
1098
01:18:55,600 --> 01:18:59,36
He said, "No, they hate it.
They're not gonna release it
1099
01:18:59,880 --> 01:19:03,953
At which point he ceremoniously
threw my contract in the garbage
1100
01:19:04,120 --> 01:19:05,519
lnever got to sign it
1101
01:19:05,680 --> 01:19:09,389
And he said, "And you're not gonna be
working for Columbia any more."
1102
01:19:09,560 --> 01:19:12,472
There was a couple of other artists
I was supposed to work with.
1103
01:19:12,640 --> 01:19:14,915
That was... That was it. I was done
1104
01:19:15,840 --> 01:19:19,549
In the morning we thought we had this
greatest of all Leonard Cohen records,
1105
01:19:19,720 --> 01:19:21,915
and bythe afternoon
lwas out ofthe business
1106
01:19:24,400 --> 01:19:26,197
It was the end of the world
1107
01:19:27,400 --> 01:19:30,358
That's when the whole Mt Baldy thing
happened.
1108
01:19:31,160 --> 01:19:33,879
That's a huge phase in Leonard's life
1109
01:19:34,960 --> 01:19:37,793
I didn't see him. I got out of
the record business, essentially,
1110
01:19:37,960 --> 01:19:40,918
because of how this record
went down.
1111
01:19:43,840 --> 01:19:50,473
ff Yes, and I 'll see your Hag
on the marble arch
1112
01:19:50,640 --> 01:19:55,316
ff Bit love is not a victory march
1113
01:19:55,480 --> 01:20:01,669
ff lt's a cold and it's a broken
Hallelujah...
1114
01:20:01,840 --> 01:20:04,798
JOHN: This record was monumentally
important.
1115
01:20:04,960 --> 01:20:06,552
It was the anthem of anthems
1116
01:20:08,40 --> 01:20:11,77
But to this day,
l've yet to see any royalties
1117
01:20:19,400 --> 01:20:23,871
I think that through all of this
searching and searching for herself
1118
01:20:24,40 --> 01:20:29,114
and for her identity, through all those
years on Hydra and other places,
1119
01:20:29,560 --> 01:20:32,711
and having had, you know,
the first husband who was the writer
1120
01:20:32,880 --> 01:20:35,633
and the second husband
who was the writer and singer,
1121
01:20:36,560 --> 01:20:39,791
and never really knowing who she was
except in comparison to them,
1122
01:20:39,960 --> 01:20:41,871
somehow in relation to them
1123
01:20:42,40 --> 01:20:45,715
I think it took coming back here
for her to really find herself.
1124
01:20:47,120 --> 01:20:48,519
She was a really nice person
1125
01:20:48,680 --> 01:20:51,69
Very kind and very generous
1126
01:20:52,160 --> 01:20:54,469
She really listened to you
when you talked.
1127
01:20:54,640 --> 01:20:56,198
Not a lot of people dothat
1128
01:20:56,360 --> 01:20:58,316
Most people when they're talking to you
1129
01:20:58,480 --> 01:21:01,790
arejust kind of waiting until they can
say their next line, you know?
1130
01:21:01,960 --> 01:21:03,359
But she was really interested
1131
01:21:03,520 --> 01:21:05,829
and she really listened
and really thought about it
1132
01:21:06,0 --> 01:21:08,468
She was a very generous and kind person
1133
01:21:13,0 --> 01:21:16,231
NICK: I hadn't visted Hydra
for 40 years.
1134
01:21:16,400 --> 01:21:20,313
It had changed from the wondrous place
you could live on $ 1,000 a year
1135
01:21:20,480 --> 01:21:22,948
to the playground ofthe very rich
1136
01:21:26,800 --> 01:21:30,190
One of the OHW sun/ivors
of the old Hydra is Don Lowe,
1137
01:21:30,360 --> 01:21:34,911
who lives up this path in this house
without electricity or running water
1138
01:21:35,760 --> 01:21:38,149
Don prefers candles and has a well.
1139
01:21:39,400 --> 01:21:42,915
Marianne introduced me to Don in 1968
1140
01:21:43,80 --> 01:21:45,913
He has since self-published
over 30 books.
1141
01:21:47,400 --> 01:21:48,549
Oh, there you are!
1142
01:21:49,280 --> 01:21:50,759
DON: Better come out
1143
01:21:53,240 --> 01:21:56,312
NICK:
Don has lived on Hydra for 60 years
1144
01:21:56,480 --> 01:21:59,916
The last time he left the island
was 25 years ago.
1145
01:22:00,80 --> 01:22:01,433
DON: I made thisfor my.
1146
01:22:02,120 --> 01:22:05,237
Anyone that gets stuck
and ain't got nowhere to live, you see
1147
01:22:06,240 --> 01:22:09,755
- NICK: Wow, it's beautiful.
lt's nice, you see? Dug it out
1148
01:22:09,920 --> 01:22:11,717
NICK: Did one of your children do that?
1149
01:22:11,880 --> 01:22:14,838
- DON: No, I did that.
NICK: You did that? lt's beautiful!
1150
01:22:15,0 --> 01:22:16,911
DON: That's my idea of paradise
1151
01:22:17,80 --> 01:22:19,548
You can cook here,
and you can write a book here
1152
01:22:19,720 --> 01:22:21,676
if you're that way inclined
1153
01:22:21,840 --> 01:22:26,356
lt's got a \/iew
of the sea and next door.
1154
01:22:26,520 --> 01:22:30,593
This is where Marianne
was gonna stay, in the house there
1155
01:22:30,760 --> 01:22:32,478
NICK: Marianne was gonna stay where?
1156
01:22:32,640 --> 01:22:35,518
DON: Just there. You can see it
Through there.
1157
01:22:36,880 --> 01:22:39,394
She was very nice at the end, Marianne
1158
01:22:39,560 --> 01:22:41,835
She mellowed and you know.
1159
01:22:42,0 --> 01:22:44,798
Because it was never easy after Leonard
1160
01:22:44,960 --> 01:22:48,794
Every time he gave a concert
or something, she'd get caught up in it
1161
01:22:49,840 --> 01:22:51,398
NICK: Everytime he gave...?
1162
01:22:51,560 --> 01:22:54,233
Every time he gave a concert
she had an invitation.
1163
01:22:54,400 --> 01:22:58,109
And she was inten/iewed in Noiway,
and the things like that.
1164
01:22:58,280 --> 01:23:01,670
So she couldn't really...
She married a lovely guy afteiwards
1165
01:23:01,840 --> 01:23:03,751
Divorced him, and married him again
1166
01:23:04,480 --> 01:23:07,677
And... Jan.Avery sweet man. Norwegian
1167
01:23:09,400 --> 01:23:10,799
Uh, but
1168
01:23:10,960 --> 01:23:13,872
Yeah, I got quite fond of her
at the end, Marianne.
1169
01:23:14,40 --> 01:23:18,875
Never had... When we were younger,
we lived our own way.
1170
01:23:19,40 --> 01:23:21,713
But at the end, she...
She became very close
1171
01:23:22,760 --> 01:23:23,988
mm
1172
01:23:28,600 --> 01:23:30,352
(Rwcs BELL)
1173
01:23:39,920 --> 01:23:43,151
(ci-|r\NTwc)
1174
01:23:48,240 --> 01:23:51,232
LEONARD: I had some wonderful moments
on the road, you know,
1175
01:23:51,400 --> 01:23:53,789
travelling with musicians
and playing with musicians
1176
01:23:53,960 --> 01:23:58,795
But, by and large, I didn't have
what it took to really enjoy
1177
01:23:58,960 --> 01:24:03,636
my success or my celebrity.
I was never able to locate it
1178
01:24:03,800 --> 01:24:05,950
lwas never ableto use it
1179
01:24:09,400 --> 01:24:10,913
Well, that's beautiful, hm?
1180
01:24:11,80 --> 01:24:13,833
Doing what he did up
there came natural to him
1181
01:24:14,0 --> 01:24:15,956
because ofhis discipline
1182
01:24:16,120 --> 01:24:19,829
He became a sen/ant
for years and years there
1183
01:24:20,0 --> 01:24:22,514
He had to get up at three
inthe morning.
1184
01:24:22,680 --> 01:24:25,240
Some ofthe things he told me
that they did up there,
1185
01:24:25,440 --> 01:24:28,113
I don't know
ifl could have hung with that
1186
01:24:28,280 --> 01:24:29,599
Your small...?
-Yeah.
1187
01:24:29,760 --> 01:24:31,398
Your black bag?
- Yeah.
1188
01:24:31,560 --> 01:24:36,350
Brown bag. What did I do with it?
Oh, in here, Roshi. In here. In here
1189
01:24:39,200 --> 01:24:40,553
ROSHI: My handbag
1190
01:24:40,720 --> 01:24:41,994
Your handbag?
- Yeah.
1191
01:24:42,160 --> 01:24:43,593
lt's still inthe car?
- Yeah.
1192
01:24:43,760 --> 01:24:44,715
1193
01:24:46,200 --> 01:24:47,952
LEONARD: Do you want to eat something?
- Eh?
1194
01:24:48,120 --> 01:24:49,633
LEONARD: You want to eat something?
1195
01:24:49,800 --> 01:24:52,837
Yeah, no. Wait. Walk
LEONARD: OK. OK.
1196
01:24:53,760 --> 01:24:58,788
Roshi was his spiritual advisory,
his Buddhist monk leader.
1197
01:24:59,560 --> 01:25:00,788
He centred him
1198
01:25:00,960 --> 01:25:04,350
It was like ha\/ing Mom and Dad
watching you,
1199
01:25:04,520 --> 01:25:08,718
if you think that you're likely
to be tempted to stray.
1200
01:25:09,160 --> 01:25:11,355
I think it was his crutch
1201
01:25:11,520 --> 01:25:14,717
And it also probably increased
his focus and concentration.
1202
01:25:15,640 --> 01:25:18,757
LEONARD: l'm trying
to learn some things about love
1203
01:25:22,240 --> 01:25:29,191
Well, love is that activity that makes
the power of man and woman...
1204
01:25:30,440 --> 01:25:33,557
that incorporates it
into your own heart
1205
01:25:34,400 --> 01:25:36,709
Where you can embody man and woman
1206
01:25:36,880 --> 01:25:39,678
When you can embody Hell and Heaven
1207
01:25:39,840 --> 01:25:42,115
Wnen you can reconcile and contain
1208
01:25:42,280 --> 01:25:45,78
when man and woman
becomes your content.
1209
01:25:46,120 --> 01:25:50,477
In other words, when yourwoman
becomes your own content.
1210
01:25:50,640 --> 01:25:54,76
And you become her content
that's love.
1211
01:25:55,640 --> 01:26:00,31
And... And you recognise
the full equality of that exchange
1212
01:26:00,200 --> 01:26:03,670
because if she's smaller than you
she can't fill you.
1213
01:26:03,840 --> 01:26:07,549
And if you're larger than her,
you can't fill her.
1214
01:26:07,720 --> 01:26:09,472
So there has to be an understanding
1215
01:26:09,640 --> 01:26:12,916
that there really is
an absolute equality of power.
1216
01:26:13,80 --> 01:26:16,789
Different kinds of power,
obviously, different kinds of magic
1217
01:26:16,960 --> 01:26:21,112
Different kinds of strength,
different kinds of... of movement
1218
01:26:21,280 --> 01:26:23,669
that's as different as night and day.
1219
01:26:23,840 --> 01:26:27,230
And it is night and day.
And it is the moon and the sun
1220
01:26:27,440 --> 01:26:29,32
And it is the land and the sea
1221
01:26:29,200 --> 01:26:30,519
And it is the plus and minus
1222
01:26:30,680 --> 01:26:31,715
It is Heaven and Hell
1223
01:26:31,880 --> 01:26:33,233
It is all those antinomies
1224
01:26:33,440 --> 01:26:35,317
But they're all equal
1225
01:26:36,760 --> 01:26:39,320
I have experienced it
I have experienced it
1226
01:26:39,480 --> 01:26:41,232
You don't have to change the world
1227
01:26:41,440 --> 01:26:43,556
There's not gonna be any revolutions
1228
01:26:55,0 --> 01:26:56,877
RON: l'm sure
that everybody already knows
1229
01:26:57,40 --> 01:27:01,830
about all that transpired along the way
when he came back down off the mountain
1230
01:27:02,0 --> 01:27:03,911
He had no money. You know?
1231
01:27:04,80 --> 01:27:07,72
Because this person that he had
trusted...
1232
01:27:07,840 --> 01:27:12,152
A person that he would have
taken a bullet for, so to speak.
1233
01:27:12,280 --> 01:27:13,554
That's what he told me
1234
01:27:14,400 --> 01:27:18,598
That he spent holidays with,
with her children and his children
1235
01:27:18,760 --> 01:27:22,673
had absolutely sold him out
1236
01:27:22,840 --> 01:27:29,109
And it turned out that a friendship
that he thought was the real deal
1237
01:27:29,280 --> 01:27:32,477
ended up being a really bad thing
1238
01:27:33,960 --> 01:27:36,349
LEONARD: Well, the money
seems to be gone.
1239
01:27:37,280 --> 01:27:41,831
As far as the manager, you know,
who was my dear friend...
1240
01:27:44,480 --> 01:27:46,311
l'm still rather fond of her.
1241
01:27:46,480 --> 01:27:48,948
But, uh... she, um
1242
01:27:49,120 --> 01:27:54,956
There's been a judgement of...
of several million dollars against her.
1243
01:27:55,120 --> 01:28:00,240
But, uh, you know, it's...
She doesn't seem to have any money to
1244
01:28:00,440 --> 01:28:01,953
lt's impossible to collect it
1245
01:28:02,120 --> 01:28:05,476
I don't know. I guess I should be more
worried than I am, but l'm not.
1246
01:28:05,640 --> 01:28:08,438
So, what can I say? (LAUGHS) You know?
1247
01:28:08,600 --> 01:28:11,990
(CHEERINGANDAPPLAUSE)
1248
01:28:17,360 --> 01:28:20,158
All ofa sudden, here he is
1249
01:28:20,280 --> 01:28:22,714
he's now in his 70s
1250
01:28:23,280 --> 01:28:24,952
but he has no money now.
1251
01:28:25,800 --> 01:28:29,395
He said to me, "All I can do
is get out there and tour,
1252
01:28:29,560 --> 01:28:30,834
and try to make some money.
1253
01:28:31,800 --> 01:28:34,109
He said, "l don't know
ifl can do it or not."
1254
01:28:34,280 --> 01:28:39,798
lt's, uh... lt's been a long time
since I stood on the stage in London
1255
01:28:40,720 --> 01:28:43,757
(ci-IEERING)
1256
01:28:43,920 --> 01:28:48,311
It was about, uh...
About 14 or 15 years ago
1257
01:28:48,480 --> 01:28:53,31
I was... 60 years old,
just a kid with a crazy dream
1258
01:28:53,200 --> 01:28:54,315
(LAUGI-ITER)
1259
01:28:56,400 --> 01:28:58,595
Suddenly, Leonard
was the hottest ticket in town
1260
01:28:58,760 --> 01:29:00,557
and he went from our little tour bus
1261
01:29:00,720 --> 01:29:03,632
with two sound engineers
and three roadies,
1262
01:29:03,800 --> 01:29:06,917
to an entourage of 59 people
on his own jet.
1263
01:29:07,400 --> 01:29:12,793
ff Show me slowly what I only
know the limits of
1264
01:29:13,840 --> 01:29:18,516
#And dance me to the end of love
1265
01:29:19,440 --> 01:29:22,989
JOHN: And he was making
upwards of $15 million every year.
1266
01:29:23,920 --> 01:29:25,956
One ofthe top ten grossing acts
1267
01:29:26,120 --> 01:29:31,353
He went from literally being wiped out
to incredible stardom.
1268
01:29:32,680 --> 01:29:34,955
(ci-IEERING)
1269
01:29:37,80 --> 01:29:40,436
(INTRO TO "SO LONG, I\llARIANNE")
1270
01:30:00,800 --> 01:30:02,438
ff So long.
1271
01:30:02,600 --> 01:30:05,239
BACKING SINGERS: # Marianne
1272
01:30:05,440 --> 01:30:07,908
LEONARD: ff lt's time that we began
1273
01:30:08,480 --> 01:30:09,469
ff To laugh
1274
01:30:10,280 --> 01:30:11,235
#And cry
1275
01:30:12,240 --> 01:30:13,195
#And cry
1276
01:30:14,40 --> 01:30:15,234
#And laugh
1277
01:30:15,400 --> 01:30:17,231
ff About it all again
1278
01:30:18,0 --> 01:30:22,357
JAN: It was a love story,
which had 50 chapters
1279
01:30:22,520 --> 01:30:26,354
without being together. (LAUGHS)
1280
01:30:26,520 --> 01:30:29,512
She had a compartment of her heart
1281
01:30:29,680 --> 01:30:32,240
which was always married to Leonard
1282
01:30:32,440 --> 01:30:34,192
(ci-IEERING)
1283
01:30:38,880 --> 01:30:44,113
That's the beauty
of Marianne's and Leonard's history,
1284
01:30:44,280 --> 01:30:47,556
that they had this place for each other
1285
01:30:48,800 --> 01:30:50,358
till the very end
1286
01:30:50,520 --> 01:30:54,149
And it's not the bitter end
it was a lovely end.
1287
01:30:54,280 --> 01:30:56,714
lt's a very beautiful end
1288
01:30:56,880 --> 01:31:00,919
Suddenly, one evening
I got an SMS saying,
1289
01:31:01,80 --> 01:31:04,789
l'm at hospital. l'm going to die
1290
01:31:04,960 --> 01:31:09,431
Please take care of Little Axel
and Jan, my husband."
1291
01:31:10,280 --> 01:31:14,353
She asked me, "Could you
Could you tell Leonard?"
1292
01:31:17,280 --> 01:31:21,193
And another thing she said was
"Could you bring a camera?
1293
01:31:21,360 --> 01:31:23,635
Because I still feel
I have something to say.
1294
01:31:28,760 --> 01:31:33,550
And in the morning, there was this
lovely letter from Leonard to Marianne
1295
01:31:37,720 --> 01:31:39,438
JAN: "Dearest Marianne
1296
01:31:41,480 --> 01:31:43,948
l'm just a little behind you
1297
01:31:45,280 --> 01:31:47,919
Close enough to take your hand
1298
01:31:49,800 --> 01:31:54,396
This old body ofmine has given up
as yours has, too.
1299
01:31:55,920 --> 01:32:01,631
l've never forgotten your love
and your beauty, but you know that
1300
01:32:02,840 --> 01:32:08,73
I don't have to say more
Safe travels, old friend.
1301
01:32:09,400 --> 01:32:10,719
See you down the road
1302
01:32:11,920 --> 01:32:14,480
Endless love and gratitude
1303
01:32:15,480 --> 01:32:17,152
Your Leonard
1304
01:32:32,200 --> 01:32:36,34
(SPEAKS NORWEGIAN)
1305
01:32:36,600 --> 01:32:38,955
(SU E AND JAN LAUGH)
1306
01:32:39,680 --> 01:32:42,911
(I\llARIANNE SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY)
1307
01:32:53,200 --> 01:32:58,479
And the beautiful thing was
that this old, sick man
1308
01:33:00,80 --> 01:33:05,837
reached his old, sick lover.
1309
01:33:08,440 --> 01:33:10,715
with a message that
1310
01:33:12,640 --> 01:33:14,915
she had always wanted to hear.
1311
01:33:17,120 --> 01:33:18,348
1312
01:33:19,960 --> 01:33:24,238
I think that, uh... for Marianne
1313
01:33:24,400 --> 01:33:29,428
this was a ring
that started with leaving Oslo
1314
01:33:29,600 --> 01:33:33,593
and going into the adventure with Axel
1315
01:33:33,760 --> 01:33:36,797
and meeting Leonard
losing Leonard...
1316
01:33:38,200 --> 01:33:39,918
meeting Jan
1317
01:33:41,680 --> 01:33:44,69
having problems, of course
with her son...
1318
01:33:46,840 --> 01:33:50,150
And then when this love letter
came from Leonard,
1319
01:33:51,600 --> 01:33:55,195
I think she felt that
it was all completed
1320
01:33:57,120 --> 01:33:58,758
So, uh
1321
01:34:01,920 --> 01:34:05,230
that's what words of love can do
1322
01:34:12,840 --> 01:34:16,230
LEONARD: "Greece is a good place
to look at the moon, isn't it?
1323
01:34:17,80 --> 01:34:18,911
You can read by moonlight
1324
01:34:19,680 --> 01:34:21,159
You can read on the terrace
1325
01:34:21,280 --> 01:34:24,590
You can see a face
as you saw it when you were young
1326
01:34:25,640 --> 01:34:29,235
There was good light then
oil lamps and candles
1327
01:34:30,160 --> 01:34:33,914
and those little flames
that floated on a cork in olive oil
1328
01:34:35,440 --> 01:34:38,989
What I loved in my old life
I haven't forgotten.
1329
01:34:40,120 --> 01:34:42,429
It lives in my spine
1330
01:34:42,600 --> 01:34:44,830
Marianne and the child
1331
01:34:45,0 --> 01:34:46,718
The days of kindness
1332
01:34:47,800 --> 01:34:51,759
It rises in my spine
and it manifests as tears
1333
01:34:53,80 --> 01:34:58,234
I pray that a loving memory
exists for them, too,
1334
01:34:59,360 --> 01:35:02,796
the precious ones I overthrew
1335
01:35:02,960 --> 01:35:05,474
for an education in the world
106979
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