I think this song is about the kind of small rebellions that we all attempt in life- 'like a drunk in a midnight choir' - nobody notices the drunk is there amongst all the other singers, but he's getting a kick out of his small rebellion - 'Like a bird on the wire' - the bird is free and above and apart from the world but still connected to it.
It's about how we would all love to be free (from reality), but we have to live with the fact that it is impossible.
This quote from Leonard Cohen explaining how he wrote the line might help you understand a little better;
This quote from Leonard Cohen explaining how he wrote the line might help you understand a little better;
"that’s also set on the island. Where drinkers, me included, would come up the stairs. There was great tolerance among the people for that because it could be in the middle of the night. You’d see three guys with their arms around each other, stumbling up the stairs and singing these impeccable thirds. So that image came from the island: "Like a drunk in a midnight choir."
"that’s also set on the island. Where drinkers, me included, would come up the stairs. There was great tolerance among the people for that because it could be in the middle of the night. You’d see three guys with their arms around each other, stumbling up the stairs and singing these impeccable thirds. So that image came from the island: "Like a drunk in a midnight choir."
From The Leonard Cohen Files - http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/zollo.html...
I think this song is about the kind of small rebellions that we all attempt in life- 'like a drunk in a midnight choir' - nobody notices the drunk is there amongst all the other singers, but he's getting a kick out of his small rebellion - 'Like a bird on the wire' - the bird is free and above and apart from the world but still connected to it.
It's about how we would all love to be free (from reality), but we have to live with the fact that it is impossible.
alice84 you have completely misinterpreted the line, the drunk in the choir is trying to redeem himself through the choir because of his alcoholism
alice84 you have completely misinterpreted the line, the drunk in the choir is trying to redeem himself through the choir because of his alcoholism
This quote from Leonard Cohen explaining how he wrote the line might help you understand a little better;
This quote from Leonard Cohen explaining how he wrote the line might help you understand a little better;
"that’s also set on the island. Where drinkers, me included, would come up the stairs. There was great tolerance among the people for that because it could be in the middle of the night. You’d see three guys with their arms around each other, stumbling up the stairs and singing these impeccable thirds. So that image came from the island: "Like a drunk in a midnight choir."
"that’s also set on the island. Where drinkers, me included, would come up the stairs. There was great tolerance among the people for that because it could be in the middle of the night. You’d see three guys with their arms around each other, stumbling up the stairs and singing these impeccable thirds. So that image came from the island: "Like a drunk in a midnight choir."
From The Leonard Cohen Files - http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/zollo.html...
From The Leonard Cohen Files - http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/zollo.html