It's a pity that this picture with Marianne Ihlen behind the typewriter did not become the front cover of Leonard Cohen's album 'Song from a Room'. However, 'In the Greek Mountains' never seemed to work out well. For a moment the lyrics for a new song flashed through Hofstede's head. They refused to take another step with their heavy load, in the middle of the mountains. On the way back the donkeys must have thought: 'we've totally had it'. The room where the photo from the back cover was taken was completely gutted. Pietikaïnen and Hofstede found one big mess. Cohen forgot to mention that it was undergoing renovation just at the time. Loaded with Pietikaïnen's film gear, the animals trudged towards Cohen's house. Donkeys were the preferred means of transport. They just didn't know that cars were not allowed on the island. He went to Hydra with Pietikaïnen to record a movie. Hofstede talked about it during his solo performance on June 27 at De Boerderij. They want to make a documentary about you. Accompanied by his Dutch friend Henk Hofstede, lead singer of Dutch popgroup the Nits. And then one day the Finnish filmmaker Seppo Pietikäinen drops by. You stay together for the rest of your life. You do have a few relationships on the side, but Marianne is your muse and a source for many more songs. Can it be more perfect? Marianne will become the love of your life. You write a song 'Bird on a wire' and you drink a cup of coffee. You grab your camera and take a picture of her. Marianne has just woken up and is sitting behind your typewriter, just for fun. You just spent an entire night with a nice Norwegian girl, Marianne. There are some birds on the cables of a telephone mast. The sun is shining and you can actually hear the sea in the distance. You look out from your house on the Greek island of Hydra.

L eonard cohen muse