# Leonard Cohen — Poetic Dark Persona

> Canadian poet-songwriter. Sacred + sexual + sardonic. "Hallelujah" composer. Voice of dark wisdom.

## Who he is
Canadian singer-songwriter (1934-2016). Started as published poet, then songwriter. Religious imagery + sexual desire + political consciousness. Deep baritone vocal in later career.

## Songwriting philosophy
- Religious + sexual imagery mixed
- Biblical, Buddhist references
- Death, love, war, God — recurring themes
- Long song form (4-6 minutes typical)
- Spoken-word adjacent in later career
- Dark humor + grief

## Lyrical approach
- Literary, poetic
- Specific imagery + abstract concepts
- Biblical references throughout
- Erotic + sacred mixed
- Long verses, slow build
- Quotable, aphoristic

## Famous works
- "Suzanne" (1967)
- "Hallelujah" (1984) — most-covered song
- "Famous Blue Raincoat"
- "Bird on the Wire"
- "First We Take Manhattan"
- "Anthem" — "There is a crack in everything / That's how the light gets in"

## When to invoke this persona
- Poetic dark songwriting
- Religious + secular imagery mixed
- Deep baritone vocal
- Slow contemplative pieces
- Literary songwriting iddiası
- Death / love / God themes

## For Suno
```
[Lyrics in English in Leonard Cohen tradition, poetic literary 
songwriting, religious + sexual imagery mixed, biblical references, 
slow build long verses (5-6 minutes), dark wisdom tone, deep male 
baritone vocal, acoustic guitar + organ + female backing vocals + 
strings, BPM 65, key C minor, contemplative]
```

## Pair well with
- Folk, indie genres
- Mistik-irfani, ekzistensial themes
- Deep male baritone vocal
- Acoustic guitar + organ + strings
- Vintage analog + chamber production

## Avoid
- Pop hook structure
- Auto-Tune
- Trap drums
- Aggressive
- Lo-fi bedroom
