Lyric discussion by HansGoodman 

Cover art for Teachers lyrics by Leonard Cohen

maybe there's too much analysis for your own good, psychic. analysis is good, but i think this is one of cohen's simplest songs. "teachers = women" gets you about 95% of the song's meaning. i like your analysis of the men and hospital parts.

here's where i come in. i don't think the teachers at the end are saying that he had the answers the whole time. i think they're laughing cruelly because they're playing a cruel game with him. they're the authority figures, he's a helpless child, and they're delighting in messing with him. i assume you're a woman from your name (does that make me sexist?), and i feel like there are some things in cohen's songs, specifically the bitter parts, that are clearer to a man.

I agree with xpsychicheartsx. I interpreted his metaphors the same way. Leonard's songs are not very literal, he uses tropes for most of everything he describes.

Chilling. beautiful. Honest.