Leonard Cohen Shares New Song 'Almost Like The Blues' From New Album 'Popular Problems' [LISTEN]

Today, legendary singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen shared a new song titled "Almost Like the Blues," which you can listen to below. The song is the first to be shared from Cohen's upcoming album Popular Problems, which is set for release on Sept. 21. The album will be Cohen's 13th overall, and his first since 2012's Old Ideas.

True to its title, the musical arrangement of "Almost Like The Blues" is almost like the blues, with a traditional 12-bar blues structure, but with some funky bass playing and strings that make it reminiscent of Serge Gainsbourg's Histoire de Melody Nelson.

Check out "Almost Like The Blues" right here:

Since this is a Leonard Cohen song, it's all about the lyrics, so here are the song's lyrics as transcribed by a helpful Youtube commentator:

I saw some people starving
There was murder, there was rape
Their villages were burning
They were trying to escape

I couldn't meet their glances
I was staring at my shoes
It was acid, it was tragic
It was almost like the blues
It was almost like the blues

I have to die a little
Between each murderous plot
And when I'm finished thinking
I have to die a lot

There's torture, and there's killing
And there's all my bad reviews
The war, the children missing, lord
It's almost like the blues
It's almost like the blues

Though I let my heart get frozen
To keep away the rot
My father says I'm chosen
My mother says I'm not

I listened to their story
Of the gypsies and the Jews
It was good, it wasn't boring
It was almost like the blues
It was almost like the blues

There is no God in heaven
There is no hell below
So says the great professor
Of all there is to know

But I've had the invitation
That a sinner can't refuse
It's almost like salvation
It's almost like the blues
It's almost like the blues

Check out the tracklist for Leonard Cohen's Popular Problems right here:

01. Slow
02. Almost Like The Blues
03. Samson In New Orleans
04. A Street
05. Did I Ever Love You
06. Me Oh My
07. Nevermind
08. Born In Chains
09. You Got Me Singing

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Leonard cohen