There was always one “beautiful” American classic Leonard Cohen wished he had written. So he stole its melody three decades later

Leonard Cohen admired Fats Domino’s version of “Blueberry Hill”, praising its simple, memorable lyrics and saying he wished he had written the song. The article argues that Cohen later drew on its melody for “Memories”, turning his admiration for the American classic into a musical homage.

“Blueberry Hill” was written in 1940, with music by Vincent Rose and lyrics by Larry Stock and Al Lewis, but Domino’s 1956 recording made it widely resonate. Cohen, known for spending years refining his songs, said a song eventually “surrenders” with enough time; in 1977, working with producer Phil Spector, he used a similar melodic shape for “Memories”.