In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
If you want a lover
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
If you want a partner, take my hand, or
If you want to strike me down in anger
Here I stand
I'm your man
If you want a boxer
I will step into the ring for you
And if you want a doctor
I'll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver, climb inside
Or if you want to take me for a ride
You know you can
I'm your man
Ah, the moon's too bright
The chain's too tight
The beast won't go to sleep
I've been running through these promises to you
That I made and I could not keep
Ah, but a man never got a woman back
Not by begging on his knees
Or I'd crawl to you baby and I'd fall at your feet
And I'd howl at your beauty like a dog in heat
And I'd claw at your heart, and I'd tear at your sheet
I'd say please (please)
I'm your man
And if you've got to sleep a moment on the road
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone
I'll disappear for you
If you want a father for your child
Or only want to walk with me a while across the sand
I'm your man
If you want a lover
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
If you want a partner, take my hand, or
If you want to strike me down in anger
Here I stand
I'm your man
If you want a boxer
I will step into the ring for you
And if you want a doctor
I'll examine every inch of you
If you want a driver, climb inside
Or if you want to take me for a ride
You know you can
I'm your man
Ah, the moon's too bright
The chain's too tight
The beast won't go to sleep
I've been running through these promises to you
That I made and I could not keep
Ah, but a man never got a woman back
Not by begging on his knees
Or I'd crawl to you baby and I'd fall at your feet
And I'd howl at your beauty like a dog in heat
And I'd claw at your heart, and I'd tear at your sheet
I'd say please (please)
I'm your man
And if you've got to sleep a moment on the road
I will steer for you
And if you want to work the street alone
I'll disappear for you
If you want a father for your child
Or only want to walk with me a while across the sand
I'm your man
If you want a lover
I'll do anything you ask me to
And if you want another kind of love
I'll wear a mask for you
Lyrics submitted by division2ronin
I'm Your Man Lyrics as written by Leonard Cohen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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Just A Little Lovin'
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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To me this song is deeper than just a love song or the token of someone's commitment. I see this as someone who is obsessive and forceful over a relationship. Who will do anything not to be alone. He is saying he will be whatever she needs, knowing full well that the promises he makes in the long run he can't keep "I've been running through these promises to you, That I made and I could not keep".
As I'm writing this I am trying to understand if that still is love. I think it might be but it's not a relationship. I guess I'm saying this because I think he's not singing to one particular person. I think he's singing it to every female he could ever possibly be with. He's a desperate romantic, wearing any kind of mask he has to to get the love he needs.
I'm just saying this from personal experience. I could be completly wrong though.
This is so beautiful. I would probably die for anyone who said something like this to me. He is saying that he loves a person, and the love is a special, life-changing kind of love that he would give anything to keep. And the way he sings, the animal-like emotion makes me breathe heavily and feel like there's something happening that I've never before thought of. And I feel this every single time I hear it.
Most of us men feel this way. But you have to deal with the anger too. <br /> It's easy to fall, harder to stay.<br /> RJ
for me this represents the greatest form of love. i want to sing this to somebody, even once.
One of my favorite LC songs.
First of all, I think the underlying theme is how a person is willing to do ANYTHING to win an ex-lover back driven by sexual yearnings (he's a "dog in heat"). There are quite a few hilarious allusions to S&M/role-play/kink ("another kind of love," "I'll wear a mask," "The chain's too tight,"strike me down in anger," "If you want a doctor/ I'll examine every inch of you as well" etc.).
It seems like his lover has left him because he failed or wronged in some way ("I've been running through these promises to you/ That I made and I could not keep") and now he misses her and so he says he'd be or do a number of things to get her back, even if it means to "degrade" himself.
We don't know much about the woman in question, but perhaps the line "And if you want to work the street alone/ I'll disappear for you" suggests that the woman works in the, um, "oldest profession"?
This is one of my favourite Cohen songs. Lyrically it's simpler than some of his others, but some of the imagery in it is fantastic. Although the man is laying his life at her feet - he'll do anything she asks him to - and he can't sleep at night for the need of her, he's not going to beg because he knows she won't respect him for that. But it's the raw need in his voice when he sings how he would beg - just abandon all self respect and dignity - if he thought for a moment that it would work, that makes me listen to this song again and again. This is a wonderful love song.
This is one of my favourite Cohen songs. Lyrically it's simpler than some of his others, but some of the imagery in it is fantastic. Although the man is laying his life at her feet - he'll do anything she asks him to - and he can't sleep at night for the need of her, he's not going to beg because he knows she won't respect him for that. But it's the raw need in his voice when he sings how he would beg - just abandon all self respect and dignity - if he thought for a moment that it would work, that makes me listen to this song again and again. This is a wonderful love song.
This song has already been greatly explained. I thought I would mention Dax riggs did a cover of this. It's amazing go check it out.
great song, simple message i love you so much i dont care what you do/want/think i wont change my mind
This is hte way I love. With every bit of my heart and soul.
Favourite lines:
"Ah but a man never got a woman back Not by begging on his knees Or I'd crawl to you baby And I'd fall at your feet And I'd howl at your beauty Like a dog in heat And I'd claw at your heart And I'd tear at your sheet I'd say please, please I'm your man"
DAMN that's intense! I LOVE it!
This is my favourite Cohen song and I think it's about someone who is desperately in love and trying to prove himself, even though he knows that at least half of the shit he is promising he'll never be able to keep.
I think LC doesn't get enuff credit for his sense of humour.Several of his songs crack me up , e.g this one and Tower of Song. The line about being a doctor who will examine every inch of you is a belter. I'm not missing out his lyrical, mystical qualities and his power to see things most of us miss , but don't miss the fun along the way !!