The legendary Cohen and his 9 piece band will play dates in AU+NZ early next year, 24 years since he last played these shores.  3 hour shows earlier this year in Europe received rave reviews and this could well be the last Antipodean tour for the 74 year old.

The shows are in surprisingly large venues like Vector Arena and the Syd Ent Centre.  More intimate venues would have showed more respect to the songs and the man.  Why do the promoters feel they need to play one show, pack in the punters and move onto the next town?  A couple of nights at a smaller venue would be a much more desirable event for the fans.

The last time Sydney encountered his music was at the 2005 Sydney Festival where the Came So Far For Beauty triburte show played the Opera House.  That gig featured Nick Cave, Beth Orton, Joan Wasser, Jarvis Cocker, Rufus Wainwright, Antony and others interpreting Cohen songs.  It spawned the doco film Im Your Man.

Cohen’s songs have been covered by diverse artists such as Straitjacket Fits, Jeff Buckley, REM and Bob Dylan.

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER 9:00AM
Tuesday 20 January
Wellington – TSB Arena
Ticketek 0800 842 538 or http://www.ticketek.co.nz

Thursday 22 January
Auckland – Vector Arena
Ticketmaster 09 970 9700 or http://www.ticketmaster.co.nz

Wednesday 28 January
Sydney Entertainment Centre
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Saturday 31 January
Hunter Valley – Bimbadgen Estate, a day on the green
Ticketmaster 136 100 or http://www.ticketmaster.com.au

Tuesday 03 February
Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Ticketek 132 849 or http://www.ticketek.com.au

Thursday 05 February
Melbourne – Rod Laver Arena
Ticketek 132 849 or http://www.ticketek.com.au

Here is some footage of Leonard performing Hallelujah in Dublin earlier this year:

So Long Marianne Lyrics

Come over to the window, my little darling,
Id like to try to read you palm
I used to think I was some kind of gypsy boy
Before I let you take me home.

Chorus: so long marianne, its time that we began
To laugh and cry and cry and laugh about it all again

Well, you know that I love to live with you,
But you make me forget so very much
I forget to pray for the angel
And then the angels forget to pray for us.

We met when we were almost young
Deep in the green lilac park
You held on to me like I was a crucifix
As we went kneeling through the dark.

Your letters say that you are beside me now
Then why do I feel alone?
Im standing on a ledge and your fine spider web
Is fastening my ankle to a stone.

For now I need your hidden love
Im cold as a new razor blade
You left when I told you I was curious
I never said that I was brave.

O you are really such a pretty one
I see youve gone and changed your name again
And just when I climbed this whole mountainside
To wash my eyelids in the rain.