Chances are you're familiar with Leonard Cohen. He's one of Canada's most celebrated musicians and poets. His work has inspired generations of songwriters. And he's been celebrated with numerous awards over the course of his career (including a 1968 Governor General's Award for poetry which he famously refused).
Most recently, he was awarded the 2011 Prince of Asturias Award for Letters. The Prince of Asturias Foundation is a Spanish organization founded in 1980 with the goal of "encouraging and promoting scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of mankind's universal heritage". The award ceremony was held last week.
Luckily for us, Leonard didn't refuse this award. Instead, he delivered this moving speech about the young Spanish man who first helped him "find his song", and how central Spain has been to his music:
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