If I Could Divide the Smell of Flowers

Album: How I Want To LIve: The Catman Chronicles 2 (2006)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cohen claims he woke up one morning from a dream in which he heard a sexy woman's voice asking him the question, "How do we divide the smell of flowers?" Inspired by that strange question, Cohen sat down and wrote the song in a single morning.
  • The swirling ending with overlapping vocals was inspired by The Beach Boys hit "God Only Knows." Annette Lum, wife of engineer/guitarist James Lum, sang on the end.
  • A florist in Minnesota plays the song at his store daily and believes it inspires customers to buy more flower arrangements.
  • Cohen's father used to say: "Flowers should be for the living but most people never receive them until they are dead." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Arnie - Los Angeles, CA, for all above

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Richard Marx

Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews

Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.

Commercials

CommercialsFact or Fiction

Was "Ring Of Fire" really used to sell hemorrhoid cream?

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Yoko Ono

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Loreena McKennitt

Loreena McKennittSongwriter Interviews

The Celtic music maker Loreena McKennitt on finding musical inspiration, the "New Age" label, and working on the movie Tinker Bell.