Leonard Cohen: Zen And The Art Of Songwriting

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Leonard Cohen performs at a festival in July 2008.

Diego Tuson / AFP/Getty Images

Leonard Cohen performs at a festival in July 2008.

Diego Tuson / AFP/Getty Images

Leonard Cohen is touring the U.S. for the first time in 15 years.

The deep-voiced musician, best known for writing songs that straddle the folk-rock fence, has produced numerous albums and written several books of poetry. He has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the U.S.

Here, Cohen joins Fresh Air host Terry Gross to talk about his poetry, his songwriting and his time at a retreat called the Zen Center.

This interview was first broadcast on May 22, 2006.