Claim: Leonard Cohen wrote songs.

Leonard Norman Cohen -LRB- September 21 , 1934 -- November 7 , 2016 -RRB- was a Canadian singer , songwriter , musician , poet , novelist , and painter . His work explored religion , politics , isolation , sexuality , and personal relationships . Cohen was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame , the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame , and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . He was a Companion of the Order of Canada , the nation 's highest civilian honor . In 2011 , Cohen received one of the Prince of Asturias Awards for literature and the ninth Glenn Gould Prize .   Cohen pursued a career as a poet and novelist during the 1950s and early 1960s ; he did not launch a music career until 1967 , at the age of 33 . His first album , Songs of Leonard Cohen -LRB- 1967 -RRB- , was followed by three more albums of folk music : Songs from a Room -LRB- 1969 -RRB- , Songs of Love and Hate -LRB- 1971 -RRB- and New Skin for the Old Ceremony -LRB- 1974 -RRB- . His 1977 record Death of a Ladies ' Man was co-written and produced by Phil Spector , which was a move away from Cohen 's previous minimalist sound . In 1979 , Cohen returned with the more traditional Recent Songs , which blended his acoustic style with jazz and Oriental and Mediterranean influences . Perhaps Cohen 's most famous song , `` Hallelujah '' was first released on his studio album Various Positions in 1984 . I 'm Your Man in 1988 marked Cohen 's turn to synthesized productions and remains his most popular album . In 1992 , Cohen released its follow-up , The Future , which had dark lyrics and references to political and social unrest .   Cohen returned to music in 2001 with the release of Ten New Songs , which was a major hit in Canada and Europe . His eleventh album , Dear Heather , followed in 2004 . After a successful string of tours between 2008 and 2010 , Cohen released three albums in the final four years of his life : Old Ideas -LRB- 2012 -RRB- , Popular Problems -LRB- 2014 -RRB- and You Want It Darker -LRB- 2016 -RRB- , the last of which was released three weeks before his death .