Who By Fire

Leonard Cohen performs his classic song with a mind-blowing assist from saxophone giant Sonny Rollins.

[@dmande3]

RIP Hal Wilmer, the wonderful producer of the late 80's "Night Music" TV show from which this performance is taken - a genuine visionary.

[@zizoumonk10]

love the guy in the background going "TELL ME! TELL ME! TELL ME!"

[@scwells68]

Sweet Pea Atkinson. RIP

[@simonjager9259]

@ zizoumonk #metoo

[@ajcarr1965]

and in response, Leonard cracks a tiny, knowing grin 1:50

[@Frank_Cohen]

Sonny Rollins with Leonard Cohen!?! Wow! Mindblowing. One to be played over and over again. Two music legends and they mesh sublimely.

[@gesuyarou663]

Everyone in this is such a class-act. I love the bassist's movement, the emotion in all the back-ups singers, the percussion is so good and different from the original. It's all so good.

[@joeoutofthepast7862]

God Bless David Sanborn. The alto sax player to Rollins' left is a fine player in his own right, but shows the respect, class and good judgement to let Rollins have all the solo space.

[@TheSamygamgy]

Joe Outofthepast even the silence of sanborn in that song is a all way of playing....

[@roberthouston6130]

Yes David Sanborn. That's what you do when you're in the presence of a great one. Leonard Cohen rip and Mr. Rollins probably go back decades.

[@davideisen143]

#LeonardCohenRIP If only the Nobel Prize for Literature could be awarded posthumously...

[@fenris040495]

My thoughts exactly

[@ExodusPessoa]

I second that.

[@user-vw5we4dl2b]

Lisa Jacks all

[@wallypbmerrill2371]

This rendition with Sonny is the greatest! Leonard will live forever through his beautiful music and lyrics.

[@JohnWatersJH2o]

The saxophone is so soulful. I love it. Great song, reminds me of when i lived in Germany and went to Jazz Clubs. Just great music.

[@michaeldominici610]

The great Sonny Rollins

[@jOsSeLFeO]

The way Sonny Rollins moves his face, and shoulders and lips, is a poem. The way L. Cohen applause the beauty at the end is a poem too...

[@dme1016]

Stunning show. Cohen, Rollins, the house band, & the energy that Was (Not Was) dislayed....all live. Diverse peoples united in music.

[@miphka66]

Whoever had the idea to have Sonny play on this tune is a genius

[@michaelkarn2216]

Thanks Giselle

[@Papercupsthebandchicago]

thank you leonard cohen for the most gentle music. gentleness has been bleached out and eradicated from our music, our ears, our collective mind for music. your gift was letting listeners put down their guard for a hot minute and just exist. there is no music that seeks out gentleness like yours did. goodbye friend..

[@dirkness42]

Well put friend. He was a gentle man.

[@turbogrammy]

Doesn't get any better than this.

[@MichaelDominici1968]

+Pegi Emiliani It truly doesn't. And, after watching the crap that passes as 'Late Night' television these days...to think that this was performed live on late night television and that both of these titans are still out there on the road and in their 80's is pretty amazing as well.

[@maryblackchurch]

Bloody awesome this is... stunning arrangement.

[@ties3330]

SUPER SPECIAL, juist this day!!! R.I.P. Mr. Cohen. Always in our heart!!!

[@Psylocke00]

Wow!!!! Great sax solo, great song

[@tehila894]

this song is based on "U'Netaneh Tokef", the moving prayer recited on Yom Kippor (start today), about G-d determining who will die and who will live in the coming year.

[@carynjoy1440]

Yes and a superb musical innovation. Even the sax at the end reminded me of the shofar. For those of you who don't know, the shofar is a ram's horn, used like a wind instrument, for religious purposes in the Jewish tradition. It is used especially to mark the end of Yom Kippur. Hence the significance with the U'Netaneh Tokef / Who by Fire, prayer. I love you Leonard!

[@davideisen143]

lizzi dizzi That sax finale was the greatest Tekia Gedola I ever heard! ת.נ.צ.ב.ה

[@josephcesana8454]

Amazing... Where did you read this? He was a great singer... we loved him around the world and particularly in France...

[@eisteachbhinn]

Thank you for sharing this. It adds to the very substance of his poetry and sing to know such things. 🙏🏻❤️

[@daeuri]

This is the first time I have seen this since this first aired on Sunday Night with David Sanborn and Jools Holland. An awesome collaboration of talent on an awesome song. Thank you very much.

[@mira4544]

the best version of this song!! wonderful!!! the singers on the back and the saxsophone are great!! they add so much to the song.

[@magoulianitissa]

This is the greatest piece of music! I just love it! I could leasten to this for ever.... Leonard and Rollngs thank you!

[@gesuyarou663]

I'd love for a better quality of this to surface someday. It's such a wonderful performance with multiple legendary artists. It gives you the chills. Glad I got to see Leonard once before he went.

[@Soul74]

I loved how Rollins took Cohen's melody and condensed and stretched it for his solo. I dare you to put something like this on TV today!

[@Katesghost]

OMG..this is PHENOMENAL. How I love love love Leonard C! He's my Man!! (lol, for those of you in the know)..I'm knocked out here by Sonny Rollins! Who else could pull off these lyrics but L.C. and maybe God?? What a genius. Thanks to the person that posted this. Head to toe chills!!

[@GhemF0X]

i just love sonny... so lucky to have seen him last year.

[@Anilu1sunset]

No words, I can listen to this song all day long, is just amazin beutiful, the lirics, the voices, the saxophon...more please more.

[@unionguy390]

Sonny Rollins - wow!

[@eleninefeli]

Je pensais connaître mon Léonard Cohen par coeur depuis 40 ans eh bien non je ne connaissais pas cette version extraordinaire, merci pour cette vidéo magnifique et très bonne qualité.

[@jbelafonte]

One word: sublime. Rest in Peace Mr.Cohen.

[@anthonycooper6579]

Yo, and Sonny’s still rolling at 90 years young

[@CliffHendroval]

@@anthonycooper6579 Sadly, he can't play anymore because of health reasons, but we're still lucky that there are recordings.

[@lagrange65535]

It's amazing that such simple melody combined with the wonderful lyrics can be so touchy. For me this is a masterpiece.

[@broadfeor]

Unequaled and absolutely mind-blowing. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this.

[@JanileighCohen]

I love how he uses soft female backing to a company his haunting Voice, he is an amazing man in every single way i feel honoured to share his last name. I am only 19 and have been listening to cohen for only a year now and he has truly inspired me. I wish more people grasped the beauty within his music, his words and his presence. God bless you L. Cohen.

[@KATLINRIMER08]

who does not love Leonard cohen...love this ......katlin

[@AbbbasGirl]

Hauntingly beautiful...

[@duhonmj]

I saw this when it originally aired and sat numb, realizing I just witnessed one of the hipest things on tv. Thanks for showing this.

[@Toriach]

To the person who posted this. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I was in my early teens and I saw this one late sunday night on NBC and I was transfixed. I didn't remember the singers name, but the song stayed with me. I went in a couple years later to my local public library and happened to be talking music with one of the librarians. I told him about this song I could not get out of my head and he said, oh yeah that's Leonard Cohen. I took home a best of CD and was hooked...

[@purpleturtle6068]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ART! ת.נ.צ.ב.ה May his soul be bound in the bundle of life On Rosh HaShana they are written And on Tsom Yom Kippur they are sealed. How many shall pass, and how many created: Who shall live and who shall die; Who in their time and who not in their time; Who by water And who by fire; Who by the sword And who by a beast; Who by hunger And who by thirst; Who by disaster And who by sickness; Who by strangling And who by stoning; Who will rest And who will wander; Who will be go peacefully And who will go violently; Who will be calm And who will be harried; Who will be poor And who will be rich; Who will be degraded And who will be exalted.

[@JSL101064]

I saw this when it aired on Sanbornes late night, It blew me away then and does more so now. Just incredible!

[@blazestriker]

Simply awesome! I love both of these artists and would have never guessed that they came together for such a work of art. Bravo!

[@jennynichols3928]

Still missing you Leonard. You left behind your greatest gift your songs and poems. Thank you.

[@supersaiyanhair]

this is one awesome song, i could listen to this every day.

[@DarkeningSkies1]

The great existentalist of jazz playing in perfect harmony with the greatest lyricist who ever lived- even if this is all David Sanborn ever managed to acheive on "Night Music", I forgive him all his middle of the road/ pop sax /dentist office music for THIS clip right here. Still blows me away.

[@dwidmark]

I never get tired of sharing the greatest live performance of Leonard Cohen and the most awesome tenor player that ever lived Sonny Rollins. Notice Sandborn do

[@Toriach]

I'd forgotten so much about the appearence, (like the very sax heavy aspect of it) but I always remembered the set and the back up singers. So when I found this I was beside myself. And best of all I now get to share one of my best musical memories with my wife. Oh and to all you haters or those who claim that the guest artists took attention away from LC? Not even possible. The man has one of the most powerful voices ever.

[@ricbear]

Thanks for posting this! I remember being blown away by this performance when I saw it on TV years ago!

[@rrpprp]

the most exciting, bold, creative version of a Leonard Cohen song I´ve ever heart.

[@RossM3838]

Well put. Like all great musicians Sonny Rollins doesn't just play. He listens as well.

[@rondabolton2014]

Always loved his backup singers. They were with him forever and such an important part of his music. I think he wrote songs that featured all the power in the background. Incredible!

[@kines68]

WOW!!!!! By far the best, most vivid version of that great song I have ever heard! Thanks for having posted it here!

[@IndridCool54]

One of the best performances on one of the best music shows on television.

[@Zadalove]

i love the saxophone....love cohen...love fire...

[@ZupaDub]

..wonderful.. thanks for letting me see & hear this , appreciated xxx

[@aroneus]

The nexus of these two greats at a place dear to all those who hear and play music--soul and conviction--is obvious to, for one, my seven-year-old daughter, who lights up like a candle anytime she hears this!!

[@julaybib]

The smatter of applause for Sonny in mid-song by hard-boiled jazz fans made me smile, but in no way detracting from a performance that is by every measure a genuine nugget of gold. Great music, and Len is at his uber-coolest.

[@marensinc]

unbelievable to see these two amazing performers sharing the stage! Thanks for this gem!

[@Teefrog1]

words can not express how incredibly talented this man is..........awesome!

[@sebs26]

my dad taped this show each week and i remember him showing this when we had some guests over. i must have been about 7. i distinctly remember saying, "that guy has a good poker face." the I'm Your Man album was also the soundtrack to my parents' parties for most of the early 90's :)

[@trapperbt]

Sonny Rollins did a performance at Berklee for us in 1973. Talked about Jazz and improv. Great player great school

[@robertbrown6400]

Sonny Rollins one of The colossus of the tenor saxophone.R.I.P. Leomard Cohen.

[@petermikolay]

Had a barbiturate coma this summer. This song was my wake up ringtone for months. Seeing him tonight at Budapest.

[@iankelleher123]

I like this performance. How lucky Leonard was to perform with Sonny Rollins. I wish I was famous and got to play with both of them

[@celticgodsoriginal]

the absolute best version you will ever hear of THAT song, oh my god, Saxophone Colossus indeed.

[@sheercerebralpower]

The celestial Leonard Cohen with the jazz deity Sonny Rollins....

[@AnaliaDecaminos]

Two genious of music with the contribution of a great group of musicians. Simply fabulous. In regard to the "sax guy", at least according to the ear of Leonard Cohen himself, his solo gives new richness of the original. Bravo.

[@SirSpleenovich]

Bloody amazing saxophonist.

[@coyoteartist]

One more to the choir of the heavens

[@renzatanini3074]

da brividi..........grazie per averci lasciato una immensa eredità!!!

[@gilbertroland1953]

Nite Music was one of the best t. v. shows of the '80s. Saw some great musicians doing some great collaborative numbers like this one combining the talents of Was Not Was and Pharaoh Saunders with the Poet Laureate Leonard Cohen. A real treasure. Sure wish this show or one like it was still on the air!

[@Keiji1234]

Great great great version.Leonard cohen is a giant and an immortal.

[@jackson842]

Sonny Rollins ... "Saxophone Collosus"...along with Bird, 'Trane, Art Pepper and a few others...one of the all time greats....

[@ebaylistentomusic]

I loved every moment of that series but this was the high water mark right here.

[@Vggamegod]

hehe, saw your comment - really is true. i'm a pretty hard-core metal-head and i love cohen's music

[@bs5750]

Thanks all you guys who explain more about the history, and the really intelligent informative comments.

[@joeyrighteous]

Who in your merry merry month of May? Who by very slow decay? Who shall I say is calling? Goodbye, Leonard.

[@MrMkayultra]

Joe Howell peace

[@liamciaran]

We need more like you in our generation.

[@cslop01]

I remember watching this when or was broadcast back in the 80's. I really didn't know who Sonny was at the time but later that Monday (the show was broadcast at 1:30am on Ch 4 in NY) I went to the record store and picked up "Way Out West" -- and that started the ball rolling. This entire show was great - Was Not Was, Leonard Cohen, Sonny Rollins. WHEW!!!

[@fransas]

A great moment of music ! A very inspired Sonny Rollins for a beautiful song.

[@yans338]

Outstanding!!!!

[@Danibrontale]

Thank you for the music - it`s full of beauty!

[@grumpywine]

One of the hippest Montrealers of all time. Nice to see that he's still living there and not sold out.

[@5teel555]

Great versjon of the song! I especially like that back-up vocalist with the hat, he makes the song even better.

[@artmaniac53]

two giants in a mystic time! thanks!

[@goatcheese1975]

Saw him in Boston tonight old boy just put on a 4 hour show amazing

[@vanea99]

What a great artist ! Musician and writer.

[@nopedx]

Absolutely stunning, and as of today 8-7-07 Sonny Rollins is one of the few truely great tenormen still alive...

[@chaosmusician]

Sweet! That is none other than Robben Ford on electric guitar.What a band.Thanks for posting.

[@frankiesdemise]

magnificent brilliance. this is an astoundingly beautiful performance which i had never seen. thaank you mr. mcenroe.

[@lcoulman]

This was on one of those late night music shows with Sanborn as host. They used to have different types of acts that would play together at the end. This was probably the most magical moment ever with Sonny's great sax and backups by Was Not Was.

[@toterola451]

Thanks for getting back to me on this. I'm gonna see the old man at Coachella, and I'm going with some much younger friends who had never heard of Leonard. I made them a sampler disc, and they were instant fans (of course!) Thanks again!

[@kjf666]

This guy is so fucking beautiful, a million miles above any other artist.Can't wait to see him when he tours England.

[@108gamma]

Sonny Rollins is a beast

[@adriananaya8104]

I agree. He really deserved a Nobel Prize. There must be a way to give it to him posthumously. Te vamos a extrañar, Sr Cohen!

[@1967870]

he is more than noble but politics

[@ClubdelosImposibles]

such a beautiful song! This is MUSIC! This is ART!

[@debash1234]

I can't believe I found this... two of my favorites playing together...I never would have thought.... Kinda like Joni Mitchell and Charlie Mingus! wonders neve cease!

[@chukcanuk]

Stellar performances all round.

[@addman27]

All that wanted to know, (including myself). This clip is from the U.S. TV show "SUNDAY Night Live" also known as "Night Music." It Aired, February 13, 1989 with David Sanborn & Jools Holland. It's ashame that it was never put out on album or CD. He also played "Tower of Song." on the show. It might be available on a DVD collection. I'm assuming that's where this version came from. It's the BEST version of "Who By Fire" i ever heard, and I've heard all of them. Leonard is a prophet!

[@AnonymerTom]

Wahnsinn! Leonard ist einmalig!!!!

[@ThubtenChokyi]

I adore Leonard Cohen! According to Wikipedia, the words and melody of "Who by Fire" echo the Unetaneh Tokef, an 11th-century liturgical poem recited on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

[@lamota75]

exelente!!!!genio!!!!!amo tu musica!!!!! desde la argentina jose....

[@dmande3]

To danmcenroe, a 1000 thanks for this video - from the "Sunday Night" music show almost 20 yrs ago, I remember it well. That show gave us many wonderful performances, but none better than this. To glidrenyc & ruskibog935, I certainly agree with your posts, but don't waste your energy on philistines who have no ears with which to hear. Let's just be thankful to have bright moments such as this music. If we have the least spark of divinity, it's right here.

[@letsif]

This performance was on a show called Night Music. It was great television, showcasing top musicians and singers in a pure, unaffected, unstarlike manner. It was hosted by the saxaphonist, David Sandborn. "they" took it off. It was too good.

[@RudolfSchmidt]

well, in the first place, its a crazy thing to play your song 15 years or so after writing it...