Covered: Suzanne

Of all of singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen’s work, “Hallelujah” is the most famous — and the most covered. But musicians have also honored his debut single, the beautiful “Suzanne,” with their own interpretations.

Originally written as a poem in 1966 and first recorded as a song by Judy Collins, “Suzanne” features a simple acoustic guitar and Cohen’s deep voice, with other subtle touches like subtle strings and light, ethereal background vocals. The lyrics are packed with imagery — from Suzanne’s “place near the river” with the boats to tea and oranges, plus a wonderfully written verse about Jesus as a sailor. It’s an amazing piece of songwriting and a testament to Cohen’s long, highly regarded career that only ended with his death.

In 2015, post-punk band the Psychedelic Furs tapped Los Angeles indie band Black English, formerly known as NO, to open for them on tour. Their set mostly pulled from their (currently only) album, NO, but a cover — especially when done well — is a great choice in any set, and Black English went for it with their take on “Suzanne.”

Black English starts their version similar enough to Cohen’s, with a guitar — albeit electric — and deep vocals, with a sound and attitude in line with the original. It’s a little bit faster than Cohen’s, though, and as it builds, it takes on a rock-oriented life of its own. Drums kick in, as well as some light piano, and it builds to an intensity that’s both lovely and melancholy.

Despite a solid album and shows opening for the Psychedelic Furs and Yann Tiersen, Black English’s social media has been quiet since 2016, unfortunately. A band with such a well-done take on Leonard Cohen and great material of their own deserves to be heard.