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Dance Me to the End of Love
10 years ago, Welcome Books published the star of its Art & Poetry Series, Dance Me to the End of Love , a deliriously romantic song by Leonard Cohen that was brilliantly visualized through the sensual paintings of Henri Matisse. Now for its 10-year anniversary, Welcome is thrilled to present the entirely re-imagined and redesigned Dance Me to the End of Love. With the art of Matisse and the words of Cohen still at the heart of the book, the new look and feel of this Art & Poetry book is overwhelmingly beautiful.
Cohen's song is a lyrical tribute to the miracle of love, the grace it bestows on us and its healing, restorative power. Originally recorded on his Various Positions album, and featured in Cohen's anthology, Stranger Music , this poetic song is gloriously married to the art works by Henri Matisse, perhaps the greatest artist of the twentieth century. "I had this dance within me for a long time," Matisse once said in describing one of his murals. Dance Me to the End of Love is the perfect book for art lovers, song lovers, and all other lovers as well.
Cohen's song is a lyrical tribute to the miracle of love, the grace it bestows on us and its healing, restorative power. Originally recorded on his Various Positions album, and featured in Cohen's anthology, Stranger Music , this poetic song is gloriously married to the art works by Henri Matisse, perhaps the greatest artist of the twentieth century. "I had this dance within me for a long time," Matisse once said in describing one of his murals. Dance Me to the End of Love is the perfect book for art lovers, song lovers, and all other lovers as well.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
About the author
Leonard Cohen
198 books2,211 followersLeonard Norman Cohen was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963.
Cohen's earliest songs (many of which appeared on the 1968 album Songs of Leonard Cohen) were rooted in European folk music melodies and instrumentation, sung in a high baritone. The 1970s were a musically restless period in which his influences broadened to encompass pop, cabaret, and world music. Since the 1980s he has typically sung in lower registers (bass baritone, sometimes bass), with accompaniment from electronic synthesizers and female backing singers.
His work often explores the themes of religion, isolation, sexuality, and complex interpersonal relationships.
Cohen's songs and poetry have influenced many other singer-songwriters, and more than a thousand renditions of his work have been recorded. He has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008 for his status among the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters".
Cohen's earliest songs (many of which appeared on the 1968 album Songs of Leonard Cohen) were rooted in European folk music melodies and instrumentation, sung in a high baritone. The 1970s were a musically restless period in which his influences broadened to encompass pop, cabaret, and world music. Since the 1980s he has typically sung in lower registers (bass baritone, sometimes bass), with accompaniment from electronic synthesizers and female backing singers.
His work often explores the themes of religion, isolation, sexuality, and complex interpersonal relationships.
Cohen's songs and poetry have influenced many other singer-songwriters, and more than a thousand renditions of his work have been recorded. He has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and is also a Companion of the Order of Canada, the nation's highest civilian honour. Cohen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 10, 2008 for his status among the "highest and most influential echelon of songwriters".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
December 1, 2022
This dancing poem matches the dancing paintings by Matisse perfectly. Vibrant color, on big pages spacing the poem at 1-2 lines per page. Perfect!
Dance me to your beauty
with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic
till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with you naked hand
touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Entire poem here:
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/...
Dance me to your beauty
with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic
till I'm gathered safely in
Touch me with you naked hand
touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Entire poem here:
http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/...
August 23, 2011
Being a huge Leonard Cohen fan this book was for me. I found it by accident at the library. Every now and then something really wonderful falls into your hands and this is one of those somethings. Leonard and Matisse doing it together. Beautiful. I will check out other books in this series.
January 3, 2019
Il primo libro del 2019 non può che essere questo. L'ho ricevuto come regalo di Natale da Niccolò e mi ha profondamente emozionato.
La scelta di accostare le opere di Matisse alla poesia di Cohen è estremamente riuscita.
Potrebbe essere una trovata commerciale, ma è comunque una trovata emozionante e delicata, Cohen stesso faceva un sacco di disegni accanto ai suoi testi. Anche solo a leggere il testo della canzone sento la sua voce, che brividi (https://youtu.be/NGorjBVag0I).
Perché tutti meritano di incontrare la persona che gli permetta di dire "dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in".
La scelta di accostare le opere di Matisse alla poesia di Cohen è estremamente riuscita.
Potrebbe essere una trovata commerciale, ma è comunque una trovata emozionante e delicata, Cohen stesso faceva un sacco di disegni accanto ai suoi testi. Anche solo a leggere il testo della canzone sento la sua voce, che brividi (https://youtu.be/NGorjBVag0I).
Perché tutti meritano di incontrare la persona che gli permetta di dire "dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in".
March 11, 2020
A fine pairing. I learned something too, about Henri Matisse:
"At twenty, while working as a law clerk, he was stricken with acute appendicitis and, during his convalescence, was given a box of paints by his mother. " The moment I had this box of colors in my hands," he later remembered, "I had the feeling that my life was there."
"At twenty, while working as a law clerk, he was stricken with acute appendicitis and, during his convalescence, was given a box of paints by his mother. " The moment I had this box of colors in my hands," he later remembered, "I had the feeling that my life was there."
September 26, 2009
You could read this again and again and always find fresh beauty.
March 5, 2013
To me, this book is about the passion in a lifetime with your love.
Let us dance...
Let us dance...
September 2, 2013
I think these books are fantastic!
January 28, 2016
What a lovely pairing: Leonard Cohen & Henri Matisse.
September 12, 2018
Leonard Cohen and Henri Matisse together - need I say more? The most gorgeous book. I love to gift it to others.
December 11, 2018
A novel I just read prompted me to dig this old publication out. Complementary perfectly to each other, awestruck after I had stored both artists at the back of mind.
July 16, 2024
This is a review of the first Welcome hardback edition.
I was just about to write this review and Mom saw me holding this large but slim book. "WHAT'S THAT?" she yelled, since she's hard of hearing. It was the same tone of voice she uses when she sees me eating something and suspects that I'm trying to hide tasty food from her.
I showed her the book cover. I didn't mind sharing this. "It's the lyrics to a Leonard Cohen song paired with paintings and drawings by Henri Matisse."
She looked interested, but frowned and asked, "What's it called?"
"Dance Me To the End of Love. Do you want to look at it?"
"No."
Sorry, Leonard. Everyone's a critic. Personally, I loved the title. I also enjoyed the book, even though I'm not a fan of Matisse. However, the book opened my eyes to some incredibly elegant images I wasn't familiar with. Some of the best works are emotional figures done with just one or two flowing lines.
There was great thought put into pairing images with specific references in the song's lyrics. My favorite was "Dance me very long" where the accompanying image is of a very elongated female nude.
Perhaps Mom will come around and want to look at the book as avidly as she does for Van Gogh, Monet, and the Wyeths ... even if there are words like "Dance me to the end of love."
I bought this book years ago from a popular online used book seller (and I'll be darned if I can remember which one). The book came with a big UPC sticker smack-dab in the middle of the cover. I was too tired to complain or send the book back.
Knock it off with the damn stickers ruining the covers, used booksellers, will you please?
I was just about to write this review and Mom saw me holding this large but slim book. "WHAT'S THAT?" she yelled, since she's hard of hearing. It was the same tone of voice she uses when she sees me eating something and suspects that I'm trying to hide tasty food from her.
I showed her the book cover. I didn't mind sharing this. "It's the lyrics to a Leonard Cohen song paired with paintings and drawings by Henri Matisse."
She looked interested, but frowned and asked, "What's it called?"
"Dance Me To the End of Love. Do you want to look at it?"
"No."
Sorry, Leonard. Everyone's a critic. Personally, I loved the title. I also enjoyed the book, even though I'm not a fan of Matisse. However, the book opened my eyes to some incredibly elegant images I wasn't familiar with. Some of the best works are emotional figures done with just one or two flowing lines.
There was great thought put into pairing images with specific references in the song's lyrics. My favorite was "Dance me very long" where the accompanying image is of a very elongated female nude.
Perhaps Mom will come around and want to look at the book as avidly as she does for Van Gogh, Monet, and the Wyeths ... even if there are words like "Dance me to the end of love."
I bought this book years ago from a popular online used book seller (and I'll be darned if I can remember which one). The book came with a big UPC sticker smack-dab in the middle of the cover. I was too tired to complain or send the book back.
Knock it off with the damn stickers ruining the covers, used booksellers, will you please?
August 14, 2022
Ma-gni-fi-que. Grande chanson, grand poème de Leonard Cohen, dont les vers sont parfaitement accompagnés par des tableaux de Henri Matisse pour en faire un tout harmonieux et complémentaire. Les paroles permettent de voir certains tableaux sous un angle nouveau. Inspirant, planant, magnifique album.
April 30, 2023
Dance me to your beauty
with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic
till I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch
and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Lindísimo pequeño gran libro objeto. Junta la letra de la archiconocida canción de Leonard Cohen con la obra de Matisse. Resultado: ganan todos.
with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic
till I'm gathered safely in
Lift me like an olive branch
and be my homeward dove
Dance me to the end of love
Lindísimo pequeño gran libro objeto. Junta la letra de la archiconocida canción de Leonard Cohen con la obra de Matisse. Resultado: ganan todos.
September 17, 2023
une fois de plus c’est bien évidemment un livre que j’utilise psq la fanfic est pas sur goodreads
dance me to the end of love - solmussa
tbh un peu déçue psq on m’avait vendu ça comme une ballroom/royal fic sur wolfstar et jegulus et c’était littéralement que du jegulus smut, wolfstar was nowhere to be found donc bon moyen mais +1 étoile pr trans reg
dance me to the end of love - solmussa
tbh un peu déçue psq on m’avait vendu ça comme une ballroom/royal fic sur wolfstar et jegulus et c’était littéralement que du jegulus smut, wolfstar was nowhere to be found donc bon moyen mais +1 étoile pr trans reg
July 20, 2017
Beautiful art to match the beautiful lyrics.
August 23, 2017
Beautiful
December 6, 2017
Beautiful!
December 16, 2018
Lovely book.
June 16, 2022
I love u
October 21, 2023
Stunning!!
January 18, 2026
Sexy coffee table book!
November 2, 2008
What I learned from this book.. Besides that I fall more & more in love with the work of Leonard Cohen & Henri Mattise from their union in this graphic-novel of sorts.. Love Life. And this book is far to artsy to read to a room of 3rd graders as a 20 year old student teacher.. cause there are far too many drawings of "boobies" for the youngins to handle!
June 22, 2007
The beautiful artwork by Matisse adds so much to Cohen's lovely haunting lyrical poem.
November 28, 2007
Of course it has pretty pictures. These most excellent poems are illustrated by Henri Matisse!
February 22, 2009
I have this by my bed and read it frequently. Beautiful.
January 26, 2013
This is a piece of art to be owned. One of the treasures in my personal library. If you are a fan of Cohen, buy it. Matisse and Leonard weaving a wonderful piece together.
August 13, 2014
I love love love love loved this book. Only Matisse's paintings could match the beauty of Leonard Cohen's music. Lalalala.
April 16, 2016
A lyrical love poem (song) by the brilliant songwriter Leonard Cohen, illustrated with works of art by Matisse.
October 11, 2016
Simply beautiful. I was feeling so down, so lonely today. This book really helped me feel better.
May 20, 2008
My love 7
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews