While some of Leonard Cohen's songs may be a little pessimistic and concerned with the trivial pursuits of the flesh, this one is lyrically optimistic and I like that. I think Cohen has some insight into spiritual things but struggles with hope. So this song it quite refreshing in it's hopefulness.
There are some really good lines, aside from the crack in everything, which is a great line I like;
"while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud. "
It is Christian to say your prayers in private(Matthew6:5-6), so this line highlights the fact that those in 'high places' or positions of power in the world are acting in a hypercritical way when they pray out loud to be seen as righteous people.
"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering "
We need to get active spreading the truth now, and not to worry that we have to first become perfect to do so. If we wait for perfection we will never get round to it.
"every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee. "
Everyone that desires love (the divine type, not romantic) will come together to the truth, but they will be like refugee's in a foreign land. As the place of Truth (with a capital T) is very foreign to the way the world is.
While some of Leonard Cohen's songs may be a little pessimistic and concerned with the trivial pursuits of the flesh, this one is lyrically optimistic and I like that. I think Cohen has some insight into spiritual things but struggles with hope. So this song it quite refreshing in it's hopefulness.
There are some really good lines, aside from the crack in everything, which is a great line I like;
"while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud. "
It is Christian to say your prayers in private(Matthew6:5-6), so this line highlights the fact that those in 'high places' or positions of power in the world are acting in a hypercritical way when they pray out loud to be seen as righteous people.
"Ring the bells that still can ring Forget your perfect offering "
We need to get active spreading the truth now, and not to worry that we have to first become perfect to do so. If we wait for perfection we will never get round to it.
"every heart to love will come but like a refugee. "
Everyone that desires love (the divine type, not romantic) will come together to the truth, but they will be like refugee's in a foreign land. As the place of Truth (with a capital T) is very foreign to the way the world is.
That is just the way I take the song anyway.
"Every heart to Love will come, but like a refugee" relates to the meaning of his Suzanne line: "...Only drowning men could See Him."
"Every heart to Love will come, but like a refugee" relates to the meaning of his Suzanne line: "...Only drowning men could See Him."