This is an adaption of "The God Abandons Antony" a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy, which was published in 1911. Whereas Cavafy's theme was based around Antony being besieged in the city of Alexandria by Octavian, Cohen's version builds around a woman named Alexandra.
Leonard Cohen was initially reluctant to record the song for 10 New Songs. Sharon Robinson, Cohen's songwriting collaborator on the album, recalled to Uncut: "For Alexandra Leaving, Leonard had reinterpreted a CP Cavafy poem. But Leonard didn't feel that it fit the record. Then towards the end of making Ten New Songs, we listen to it again and he realised that he really liked it and that it should be on the record. He referred to it many times over the years. 'You know, we almost in put that song on the album. I can't believe that!' But unless it felt right to him, he wasn't going to lower his bar, put out anything he wasn't completely happy with."
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