| Leonard Cohen – You Know Who I Am Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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I personally have a very different interpretation of this song from those who have already commented. For me this poem meets, word by word, what I understand to be the condition of a relationship, and of humankind in general. And it's not a bad thing, only if you are scared of it. "I cannot follow you, my love, You cannot follow me." The idea that when two people get into a relationship they merge into one is a terrible one, that only causes suffering. A person remains a person, no matter what. No one can follow you in your deepest self, that is for you, and you alone, to take care of, and even enjoy it. "You know who I am, You've stared at the sun, Well I am the one who loves Changing from nothing to one." This part is about cycles. we all die and reborn at certain points in our lives, and a true relationship embraces that. A true relatioship as to, from time to time, be able to stare at the sun, and allow itself to become blind, even if it is dangerous, so it can "see" differenttly afterwards... "Sometimes I need you naked, Sometimes I need you wild, I need you to carry my children in And I need you to kill a child." Again... about the ambiguity and the paradox of life/death that permeates everything. And being able to bare with that. "If you should ever track me down I will surrender there And I will leave with you one broken man Whom I will teach you to repair." Now this is truly beautiful. This is how we get born again... not because someone "delivers" us like we are babies being taken care of, when we fall, but because we can teatch someone to help us helping ourselves. that's true love. |
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