In December 1967, British audiences were treated to a moment of rare intimacy when Leonard Cohen, the Canadian poet-turned-songwriter, appeared on Julie Felix’s BBC television show. The song he chose to perform, “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye,” was not just another ballad—it was a window into the soul of an artist whose words carried equal weight as poetry and music.
Cohen with his guitar, joined by Julie Felix, the American-born folk singer who had found success in Britain during the folk revival. Together, their voices wove a delicate harmony—Felix’s warm, clear tone lifting Cohen’s hushed baritone into something haunting and unforgettable.
The Story Behind the Song
Written during Cohen’s early years as a songwriter, “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” was born out of fleeting romance and the bittersweet ache of parting. It first appeared on his debut album, Songs of Leonard Cohen (1967), released just weeks before this televised performance. Unlike many love songs of the era, it avoided clichés, instead offering an honest reflection on tenderness, regret, and the inevitability of farewell.
Cohen’s lyrical restraint—“Your hair upon the pillow, like a sleepy golden storm”—captured emotions too complex for grand declarations. Julie Felix’s presence that night gave the piece a new texture, softening its melancholy with grace.
Legacy of the Performance
Though brief, the December 1967 broadcast remains one of the most cherished early clips of Cohen. It captures him before global fame, still modest and unassuming, yet already wielding the lyrical power that would define his career. For Julie Felix, it was another moment where her BBC platform allowed her to showcase rising voices, cementing her role as an important figure in folk music’s history.
More than half a century later, watching Cohen and Felix perform “Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye” feels like opening a time capsule. It is a reminder of the beauty in vulnerability, the strength in simplicity, and the timelessness of Leonard Cohen’s words.
