Leonard Cohen Says He's 'Ready to Die'
The singer opened up about his state of mind to The New Yorker.
— -- Leonard Cohen is at peace with his life.
The singer gave an interview to The New Yorker in which he reflected on his 82 years and his feelings on mortality.
After a decades-long career as a musician and a poet, Cohen, who is still toying with new lyrics, told the magazine that he is "ready to die."
“I don’t think I’ll be able to finish those songs. Maybe, who knows? And maybe I’ll get a second wind, I don’t know. But I don’t dare attach myself to a spiritual strategy. I don’t dare do that," he said. "I’ve got some work to do. Take care of business. I am ready to die. I hope it’s not too uncomfortable. That’s about it for me.”
Cohen, who toured for the last time in 2013, said that now, there are times when playing music is difficult and others "when I just have to lie down." Still, he feels compelled to continue working, in the best interest of his family, and because he likes the idea of finishing projects he's already started.
“The big change is the proximity to death,” he said. “I am a tidy kind of guy. I like to tie up the strings if I can. If I can’t, also, that’s OK. But my natural thrust is to finish things that I’ve begun.”
Cohen's upcoming album, "You Want It Darker," will be released on Oct. 21.
