Now: Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley, and the Leonard Cohen Connection

A story of enduring love between Leonard Cohen and his Norwegian muse, Marianne Ihlen. Filmmaker Nick Broomfield chronicles their relationship, from the early days in Greece to how their love evolved when Leonard became a successful musician.

Now: The Tim, Jeff Buckley, and Leonard Cohen Connection

When we think about the Buckleys, father, and son, we find a poignant duality: two gifted musicians, each with short lives and an artistic legacy that continues to captivate. Tim and Jeff Buckley lived parallel lives in different eras, sharing a bond of blood and music but only meeting once. Yet, their stories intertwined with uncanny symmetry, linked in part by their admiration for the works of Leonard Cohen. This article explores that connection, illuminating their influence on each other and the music that shaped them.

Tim Buckley: A Trailblazer in Folk, Jazz, and Beyond

Tim Buckley (1947–1975), a contemporary of Leonard Cohen and Nick Drake, was known for his versatility and vocal range, which spanned genres from folk to avant-garde jazz and soul. His career began rooted in folk, but he quickly expanded into more complex musical realms, ultimately creating a unique “voice as instrument” approach that defied conventional categorization. Though commercial success eluded him during his lifetime, Tim’s work has since become an influential touchstone, particularly among artists who explore genre-fluid music.

In Greetings from L.A., Tim Buckley diverged into a gritty barroom rock style, showing an experimental spirit that marked much of his later work. His bold performances, sometimes ethereal, other times grittily intense, were mesmerizing but tragically cut short by his death at 28 due to a heroin overdose. Tim’s son, Jeff, would inherit both his musical spirit and his restless artistic drive, though he never truly knew his father.

Jeff Buckley: A Troubadour Transcending Boundaries

Jeff Buckley (1966–1997) grew up with a minimal connection to Tim but possessed an undeniable musical gift. Raised under the name Scott Moorhead, he spent years honing his craft as a session guitarist in Los Angeles. By the early ’90s, Jeff emerged as a solo artist in New York’s East Village, captivating audiences with covers and his nascent original work at venues like Café Sin-é. Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” became a staple of his sets, which Jeff reimagined with haunting beauty and emotion. This song, immortalized on his 1994 album Grace, would define him for years to come.

Grace stands as Jeff’s only complete studio album, yet its impact is seismic. His voice—angelic, yet powerful—brought Leonard Cohen’s words to new heights, rendering Hallelujah unforgettable for generations. Tracks like “Lover, You Should’ve Come Over” and “Grace” showcase Jeff’s mastery over serpentine melodies, intense climaxes, and profound intimacy. Much like his father, Jeff explored the vast spectrum of musical expression with an edge that defied his era’s norms.

Leonard Cohen: The Spiritual Link

Leonard Cohen served as a silent mentor to both Buckleys. For Tim, Cohen’s poetic style inspired his early songwriting, adding depth to his folk-influenced sound. For Jeff, Cohen’s work provided an emotional outlet and a spiritual guide, especially during his time at Sin-é. Jeff’s rendition of Hallelujah is perhaps the most celebrated cover in music history, a testament to how Cohen’s lyrics resonated with him and allowed him to convey vulnerability and yearning with each note.

A Family Legacy of Musical Brilliance and Loss

Tim and Jeff’s lives echo each other not only in their artistic fearlessness but also in their tragic ends. Both died young—Tim from a heroin overdose at 28, and Jeff in a drowning accident at 30—yet left behind musical legacies that continue to inspire. Their careers, though brief, revealed their respective desires to explore, challenge, and transcend the boundaries of genre.

Tim’s music, often wildly experimental, laid the groundwork for Jeff’s own forays into musical risk-taking. While Jeff’s style was more polished and structured, his performances carried an emotional intensity reminiscent of Tim’s spirit. Together, they represent the enduring impact of a father-son legacy, a dialogue between generations bound by music, curiosity, and an instinct to defy convention.

Personal Reflections: A Family Connection to Tim

My brother Johnny introduced me to Tim Buckley’s music. At his off-campus room in a funky Victorian house near Cornell, I heard Tim’s voice through Johnny’s high-quality stereo, along with classic tracks like Steve Winwood’s Empty Pages. It was there that I began to appreciate the depth of Tim’s work, unknowingly setting the stage for my later admiration of Jeff’s. Today, revisiting the Buckleys’ music feels like reliving a family tradition—one where Tim’s pioneering spirit and Jeff’s lyrical eloquence continue to resonate, reminding us of the transcendent power of music and the fragile beauty of life.

Lyrics:

Well I heard there was a secret chord
That David played and it pleased the Lord
But you don't really care for music, do you?
Well, it goes like this:
The fourth, the fifth, the minor fall, and the major lift
The baffled king composing Hallelujah

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah...

Well your faith was strong but you needed proof
You saw her bathing on the roof
Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew ya
She tied you to her kitchen chair
She broke your throne and she cut your hair
And from your lips, she drew the Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye (Edit)

Lyrics: This is our last goodbye I hate to feel the love between us die But it's over Just hear this and then i'll go You gave me more to live for More than you'll ever know This is our last embrace Must I dream and always see your face Why can't we overcome this wall Well, maybe it's just because i didn't know you at all Kiss me, please kiss me But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation You know it makes me so angry 'cause i know that in time I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye

Tim Buckley - My Fleeting House - full documentary

Music
SONG
Who Do you Love
ARTIST
Tim Buckley
ALBUM
Dream Letter
LICENSES
The Orchard Music (on behalf of Manifesto Records); MINT_BMG, ARESA, CMRRA, BMG Rights Management (US), LLC, and 2 Music Rights Societies

Jeff Buckley - Live in Frankfurt (1995)

Jeff Buckley Live in 1995.
So in January 2020, I had the opportunity to hold Jeff's guitar (the telecaster he used at this concert) in my hands. I even played it for 15 minutes, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. The owner had his original guitar pick and leather guitar strap. On his guitar case were some letters written by Jeff, and some letters addressed to him. I believe he sold the guitar recently to one famous band member, which I promised to keep in secret (edit* it's now safe to say it was Matt Belamy)... Anyways, I certainly won't forget this day and how much it meant to me.
To see me playing Jeff's guitar, go to my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/B71H-CNlQKn/​ and please don't judge my guitar playing, I was too afraid to even hold it in my hands 😉
I do not own this video, I just thought everyone should be entitled to watch this performance.

TRACKLIST:
Mojo Pin: 00:00​ - 11:53​
So Real: 13:00​ - 18:00​
Last Goodbye: 19:10​ - 23:40​
What Will You Say: 24:35​ - 32:00​
Lilac Wine: 33:44​ - 40:15​
Grace: 41:40

Tim Buckley - Strange Feelin'

Jeff Buckley - Last Goodbye (Edit)

Lyrics:

This is our last goodbye
I hate to feel the love between us die
But it's over
Just hear this and then I'll go
You gave me more to live for
More than you'll ever know

This is our last embrace
Must I dream and always see your face
Why can't we overcome this wall
Well, maybe it's just because I didn't know you at all

Kiss me, please kiss me
But kiss me out of desire, babe, and not consolation
You know it makes me so angry 'cause I know that in time
I'll only make you cry, this is our last goodbye