By golly the latter era Cohen songs are running amok in this blog and for good reason, he wrote a crazy amount of excellent songs in his older age. I think unlike his contemporaries Leonard found a new lease on life as a Poet and singer-songwriter. I would predict that at least half of Cohen’s songs presented here from my music library are post 2000, which is remarkable considering the depth of his musical cannon.
Today’s featured song Different Sides is the second song here from his 2012 album Old ideas and it sure as hell won’t be the last from this fantastic record. The first song Come Healing which I published an article on in May this year is just a remarkable spiritual anthem and easily one of my top 5 Cohen songs. Different Sides, on the other hand is a Cohen going back to a breezier tune containing a mixture of seriousness and humour.
Leonard Cohen closes his twelfth studio album Old Ideas with an argument. The Hammond organ-fuelled soft-shoe shuffle is a witty examination of a lovers’ tiff. “C’mon baby give me a kiss, stop writing everything down,” he croons. – Songfacts
It ends the album and for good reason since it is a polar contrast to the opening track – Going Home. In Going Home we have one side of Leonard declaring he is near the finishing line, but all was worth it – they’re going home without their sorrow. In Different Sides the last song- Leonard wants to get out of town, but the other Leonard wants to stay where suffering is… The last words we hear, “stop writing everything down”. So basically we have two songs, the first and the last, about two sides of Leonard, two Leonard Cohens…and ends somewhat as a fighting album with military arrangements as opposed to the ‘Au revoir’ feel of Show Me the Place and Come Healing.
According to wikipedia: Old Ideas – the twelfth studio album..’ is Cohen’s highest-charting release in the United States, reaching number 3. 44 years after the release of his first album. The album topped the charts in 11 countries, including Finland, where Cohen became, at the age of 77, the oldest chart-topper, during the album’s debut week.’
References:
1. Symbolism of ‘Different Sides’ – Leonard Cohen Official Forum
2. Different Sides by Leonard Cohen – Songfacts
3. Wikipedia – Old Ideas
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I didn’t know this song at all – absolutely brilliant!
Se escucha muy bien. Para mi es un gusto poder saber cada día mas de este artista tan maravilloso.
So él es de otro dimensión. Me encanta mucho que te gusto.
I was just writing to the Mamá of my kids how chuffed I am to read that from you. It means so much. Thanks Bruce.