A gift unlike any other is on its way to the world—and it arrives wrapped in mystery, memory, and music. In a poetic twist befitting the man himself, a collection of unreleased Leonard Cohen songs is being prepared for release, timed to coincide with the birthday of his firstborn son, Adam Cohen. While Cohen’s passing in 2016 marked the end of an era, it seems the iconic singer-songwriter’s voice has not had its final word. This posthumous gift is more than a gesture—it’s a continuation of a conversation between father and son, artist and audience.
For Leonard Cohen fans, news of unreleased material sparks a unique kind of excitement. His catalog is already a treasure trove of poetic musings, spiritual ruminations, and raw truths, each track a distillation of a lifetime’s worth of wisdom. To think there are still undiscovered verses, unheard melodies, and unreleased confessions waiting to be heard is akin to unearthing a hidden manuscript from a beloved philosopher. That these works are tied so personally to Adam Cohen gives them an even deeper resonance.
Adam, a singer-songwriter in his own right, has long carried the torch of his father’s artistic legacy. His involvement in curating Leonard Cohen’s archives has been instrumental in how posthumous releases have been shaped and shared. The 2019 album Thanks for the Dance—crafted from unfinished vocal takes and sketches left behind by Leonard—was a delicate and moving continuation of his work, lovingly completed by Adam and a circle of close collaborators. It was never a question of exploitation; it was an act of devotion.
This new project, however, feels even more personal. While details remain guarded, those close to the Cohen family have described the recordings as “intimate, introspective, and unmistakably Leonard.” These are not merely outtakes or studio scraps—they are songs that Leonard Cohen wrote and recorded but never chose to release during his lifetime. Their arrival now, on Adam’s birthday, suggests they were held with great care and purpose.
It’s easy to speculate what these songs might contain—Cohen was known for his exploration of mortality, love, faith, and loss. In his later years, these themes became even more pronounced, his voice deepening into something almost subterranean, his phrasing slower, more deliberate. It is in this shadowy twilight of his career that these songs were likely born, shaped by the wisdom of age and the nearness of the end.
Listeners may recall that Leonard Cohen often viewed songwriting as a sacred task, laboring over lyrics for years and treating each line with the reverence of scripture. He once described the process as “grotesquely serious,” often spending countless hours perfecting a single verse. That he left behind songs he never released could mean they were incomplete in his mind—or perhaps too personal, too raw, to share at the time. The decision to release them now implies that Adam Cohen sees something finished, or at least worthy, in them.
In this light, the songs become not only a gift to Adam, but to all of us. Leonard Cohen’s work has always blurred the line between the personal and the universal. His struggles with longing, meaning, and surrender felt like our own. If these unreleased tracks bear the same mark, they will undoubtedly resonate in a world still hungry for truth and beauty. The release will be an event, yes, but more than that, it will be a spiritual encounter.
One can’t help but wonder what emotions Adam must have felt in uncovering these recordings. There is an unmistakable intimacy in hearing a loved one’s voice from beyond the grave—especially when that voice was already a balm for millions. For Adam, this is both a deeply personal inheritance and a profound responsibility. To steward his father’s final expressions into the world is a sacred duty, one that carries both joy and weight.
There is also something poetic in the idea that Leonard Cohen, who wrote so often about legacy and impermanence, left behind music meant to be heard after he was gone. He seemed to understand time differently—often treating his songs as messages in bottles cast out into the unknown. In that sense, these unreleased tracks may not be surprises to him at all, but rather, gifts he intended to give when the time was right.
For fans, the upcoming release is not just another entry in his discography—it’s a continuation of a lifelong relationship with an artist who never stopped exploring what it means to be human. Every song Leonard Cohen shared was a map of his inner landscape. These new songs promise to reveal more of the terrain we thought we already knew. They might answer old questions—or ask new ones.
As with all things Cohen, the release will likely be understated, elegant, and rich with meaning. The date of Adam’s birthday adds a layer of significance that no marketing campaign could manufacture. It is an act of remembrance disguised as a celebration, or perhaps the other way around. A father reaching out to his son, and through him, to the world.
In the end, “A Gift from the King” feels like a fitting title for what is to come. Leonard Cohen, the self-described “lazy bastard living in a suit,” was also a poet-sage, a lyrical monarch of the melancholy and the divine. His parting gift to Adam—and to us—is more than just music. It’s a reminder that art endures, that love speaks even from silence, and that some songs are only meant to be heard when the heart is ready.
