On October 21, 2016, legendary Canadian singer-songwriter and poet Leonard Cohen released his final studio album, You Want It Darker, just 17 days before his passing at the age of 82. The album, widely praised for its lyrical depth and spiritual themes, was created during a period of declining health, yet Cohen approached the project with clarity and purpose.

After years of touring, Cohen faced serious physical challenges, including multiple spinal fractures. These limitations led him to record the album from his home in Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles, with contributions from musicians sent digitally. Despite the pain, Cohen found creative focus in his solitude. In an interview with The New Yorker, he reflected, “In a certain sense, this particular predicament is filled with many fewer distractions than other times in my life,” adding that it “actually enables me to work with a little more concentration and continuity than when I had duties of making a living, being a husband, being a father”.

Produced by his son Adam Cohen, the album features sparse arrangements and explores themes of mortality, faith, and reflection. The title track, You Want It Darker, earned a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in 2018. The album also includes contributions from the Shaar Hashomayim Synagogue Choir, reflecting Cohen’s deep connection to his Jewish heritage.

You Want It Darker stands as a poignant farewell from an artist whose work spanned more than five decades, blending poetry, music, and spiritual inquiry. It was followed by the posthumous release Thanks for the Dance in 2019.