Leonard Cohen's Induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 

Lou said everything: "we are so lucky to be alive at the same time Leonard Cohen is".

I saw him yesterday on stage...It was an incredible experience...He exhuded modesty and sincerity and the best of all, he seemed to genuinely enjoy himself... He endedn by saying "thank you for keeping my songs alive"... Don't worry man, we do that with a passion

Lou Reed wasn't kidding when he said that we're lucky to have been alive in the same time as Leonard Cohen. I had the privilege to see him several times in concert and it was truly life changing. There has never been and there will never again be an artist of this caliber.

"The lyric dissolves into the music, and the music dissolves into the lyric, and you're left with fresh air." God this guy rules.

Hearing Cohen reciting his poetic lyrics brings a tear to my eye. Best acceptance speech ever.

what an absolute gentleman. and such a compliment to Lou Reed!

"So, I'm reminded of the profetic statement of John Landau in the early seventies. He said: 'I've seen the future of Rock & Roll and it is not Leonard Cohen'." B r i l l i a n t ! :-) Cohen, a great artist!!

Canada made Leonard Cohen its Poet Laureate. This alone makes Canada the best country in the world.

The only singer I've ever seen to completely reduce me to tears.

One of the best inductions I have seen. What class, and such beautiful words too :)

Brilliant. Absolutely love the man. Saw him play back in the 70s and he was incredible.

Yes, Leonard and Tom Waits the best ever! I am finaly seeing Leonard! Got my tickets, my dream come true!!

How humbling, how uplifting, how good to be alive with this man

Just one of the most wonderful people on this earth. Love you Leneord. (and, outside City Hall, Newcastle. I touched your shoulder!) Take care.

I'm so sad I didn't discover Leonard Cohen until after his death. I don't know how I didn't come across his music over the last forty years. But, the last 4 years I've become obsessed with his music and life. His music, lyrics, poems, and writings I will treasure forever and will use it all as an inspiration for my new hobby of creative writing. He seemed like a truly humble, thankful, grateful man 'til the end. Thank you, Leonard Cohen, for adding to my life's joy.

he wrote that song 20 years ago and it fits perfect.

Could it get any better than Lou Reed inducting him?

Thank you Leonard for all that you have given... We are privileged to have known you and enriched by the experience.

Respect and sincere admiration from Larz Gustafsson in Sweden.

Oh God, I wish I wrote that well. What a classy gentleman :)

waht a beautifull speech goose bumps all over

I was introduced to Mr. Cohen about 7 years ago. I will be honest I did not care for it than. I have since come to realize its not the voice that mattered but the words that came out of the voice that mattered and I have since found so much respect for his words and music.

Oh what an acceptance speech...This man truly is a genius!

Is this just me or others feel that Leonard looked more handsome in his later years. I don’t know why he looks sad. I just discovered him and got hooked to his haunting golden voice.

The epitome of CLASS!

saw him in july in dublin, the best concert of my life, going again to france in september cant wait, long live leonard cohen,

No he looks like the great wonderful Leonard Cohen.

Congratulations Leonard. ...and yes, you were born with the gift of a golden voice. More important, you are a great poet. Thank you for the years.

I seen him in Vigo last summer, It was such a privelage. I read Beautiful Losers when I was a young soldier.And it stoned me, I got so high reading that book. Way back in 1973. He brought tears to me tonight listening to him. So profound !! Rock on Leonard !!

nice to see lou reed being complementary

Leonard, your songs give and give, and when we become so full of ourselves in the end, you teach us humility, and how to be humble. And only then can our attraction start to attract others. Thank you for sharing so much with us your dedicated fans. We love you.

Leonard Cohen is the epitome of cool. Respect!

The last three verses are so powerful, mindblowing and perfectly timed that you have to shed a tear.

One is ignorant in music until one hears this man. It is all in one, the sublime, that never said in words and in music, the way he delivers and his voice that comes from his soul.. This is what an artist and a gifted man is, his work and humillity to delite us with his art!

This man is a treasure and it is wonderful to see him getting the recognition and praise he has long deserved. How true that we are blessed to be around the same time as him. Thanks and long live Leonard Cohen, an incredibly talented, wise and humble man!

Lou is so right, we are so lucky to be living in the time of Mr. Cohen.

Greatest songwriter ever.

i Love Leonard Cohen so much. he came to austin last year and played a 2 hour long concert with such energy i couldn't believe it. the tickets were really expensive even for the nosebleeds so my mom told me we couldn't go but i saved up and offered to pay myself for both of us to go. she said it was the best concert she had ever seen.

Finally!!! Cohen deserved it so much. Thanks for sharing!

Really nice tribute, and who better to present the award than Lou. Cohen has been like an invisible friend all my life. I've drawn strength and succour from him so many times...And now I've got my ticket! Oh yeah, going to see Mr C in Dublin in June!...Now I'm a happy bunny...

That was touching, my eyes are wet, Leonard , you never cease to amaze me!

'Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld, So I can sigh eternally' ---Kurt Cobain

i just discovered Leonard Cohen and will continue to discover Him til i breathe my last breath. this song is a sorta 'template' for me when i have a lot to say and can't find words. so unselfish, this song, interpretable by everyone... to fit my or their agenda. so many artists have covered "Hallelujah" and not one has sang the song, the song sings itself. it's channelled thru their position in this life. ... even thru L. Cohen, himself. disclaimer: my opinion, of course. ~tanya

Rock and roll belongs in the Tower of song . So does Hank Williams and all the other greats of music. Thanks for posting that memorable speech. He really is the coolest guy on earth

i don't think i've ever heard of anyone who is so good with words. And it's not just his words but his charm. jeez! "talented" doesn't even begin to describe the guy.

As Lou Reed said: We are lucky we are alive at the same time Leonard Cohen is!!! Thank you Leonard!!

Thank you for uploading this video!5*

The man that has stayed up there by staying true, almost by default, just plying his craft. But mostly by his wisdom, insight and superb craftsmanship and eloquence! Love his spoken version of Tower of Song, it more or less says it all about the industry! I salute you Mr Cohen!

Leonard, you're the BEST! No doubt about it, I'm so happy I discovered you back in "the day" Love, joanie

Mr. Leonard Cohen thank you for your mesmerizing writing and singing. For your sharp sense of humor and humble personality. Yes, you have a golden voice!!!

He was BRILLIANT in Rainman.

Went to see you in Edinburgh Lenny, and much to my absolute delight, I will see you in Glasgow in November, G-d willing. I do not have the ability to express how much your words and music mean to me, but my life has been richer for them. G-d bless you Lenny.

A living legend! We love him in Ireland.

Leonard IS the "message".

my biggest dream is to see it live once, Please come to Colombia. You are the best artist in all the world

What a beautiful bastard... I mean, I cannot even begin to fathom the depth of the man's muse. Goddammit, I gush for the legend of leonard cohen.

,IWhen we have finished destroying each other, and there is nothing left of man, Leonard Cohen's music will remain. so here is a toast from the man who saw clear, the great Leonard Cohen once sang here,

All poets are put to shame by this mans beautiful words... Leonard Cohen what an amazing poet... I'm depressed that I couldn't appreciate his music and poems earlier... I found out about him just a few weeks before this... I believe through his song Hallelujah sung by Rufus Wainwright I needed to find out who wrote it and finally found it was him.. Thank God I found him after so long! Now I'll listen to him in the tower of song! :]

Great words are put together by this man.

thank you Leonard.

He totally rocked in San Jose, CA a few months ago. Such generosity and kindness. I felt like it was watching him from across a small living room. Such artists do not grow on every bush.

fabulous! thank you!

One of the nicest people I have ever met

Lou said everything...we are pleased to live in the same time as Leonard.

Mr. Cohen, you are simply wonderful.

pure genius. will endure forever.

Leonard was awesome here.

He's a hundred floors above rock and roll in the tower of song!

Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering There is a crack in everything That's how the light gets in.

Hmmm must admit, i loved how you got the 'total' identity of this guy in his speech just quoting his lyrics. Lou Reed got it spot on when he said 'he could have stopped there' !

there is no other person like this, the man is .........pure legend

Oh man...amazing! No words, no words.

they're actually lyrics to a song of his called Tower Of Song. one of his best songs, imo

congrats, lenny

Thanks, chum!

Love it!!! Leonard Cohen, what a great poet!! xx:)

Well Leonard is such a great and wise MAN!

What a cool statement...We're so lucky to be alive the same time Leonard Cohen is. *g*

If I recall correctly, Leonard Cohen also recited the words to his signature piece, "Tower of Song," when he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame some years ago. I echo the comments of some here who feel other musical Canadians deserve induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and it's long overdue as it was for Cohen.

The event was to celebrate Leonard Cohen's induction into the hall of fame. Lou was all class, reciting some of Leonard's greatest lines. I think Lou woulda looked the fool if he reciting his own lines :) And as you can see, Leonard continued his speech with his own reciting. Very fitting I'd say.

That was amazing.

A true original. All I can say is if you Know Cohen's work, in the biblical sense, then you are truly a richer person for it. You will take his words and melody with you to the end. Reed is right, we are lucky to be alive at the same time as Leonard Cohen. Beautiful.

That's wonderful.

the rich have got their windows in the bedrooms off the poor my gosh brilliant love Leonard Cohen

He,s been speaking to you sweetly from the tower of song

What an awesome talent.

He is great I saw him in Istanbul this Aug I love him

It's 12:30 am and I gave him a standing ovation as the audience did :)

i love u leonard!

Great man.

He is great!!!!

rock on lenny!

This entire video should be transcribed verbatim, with vivid visual and palpable encodement of its profoundness for the listening or visually impaired. It would be beautiful in braille and sign language too. Thank you for sharing. I love RU-vid!

great thanks

im gonna see him in denmark soon

i love his voice

I am so happy! Michael Fiftynites

Thanks

thx a lot it is obviously this one :-)...I love it ^^

true poet, true musician, true idol...