I think it's all of the above. It's about a lifelong dance partner. A young couple learning about life. Learning, laughing, living, loving, growing old together. A dance partner in the dance of life, until the music stops.
The song is chronological: courtship, marriage, children, then aging and death.
The last lines are:
"Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in"
The panic is the process and fear of dying. I'm afraid, so hold my hand and dance me until I'm gathered safely in.
"Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove"
The naked hand is the flesh. The glove is a metaphor for the touch of your memory after you are gone. You may be gone, but your love remains. Your memory is there to dance me in my heart. Dance me to the end of love.
@Hoponthebusgus
Thank you, your thoughts echo mine exactly as my wife of 57 years of marriage died two days ago after several weeks in hospital. During that time we often joked there is a song for every occasion as we both love music. I discovered this song recorded live by Leonard Cohen one night when surfing YouTube and although previously unknown to me, suited our very sad circumstances admirably..
@Hoponthebusgus
Thank you, your thoughts echo mine exactly as my wife of 57 years of marriage died two days ago after several weeks in hospital. During that time we often joked there is a song for every occasion as we both love music. I discovered this song recorded live by Leonard Cohen one night when surfing YouTube and although previously unknown to me, suited our very sad circumstances admirably..
I think it's all of the above. It's about a lifelong dance partner. A young couple learning about life. Learning, laughing, living, loving, growing old together. A dance partner in the dance of life, until the music stops.
The song is chronological: courtship, marriage, children, then aging and death.
The last lines are:
"Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in" The panic is the process and fear of dying. I'm afraid, so hold my hand and dance me until I'm gathered safely in.
"Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove"
The naked hand is the flesh. The glove is a metaphor for the touch of your memory after you are gone. You may be gone, but your love remains. Your memory is there to dance me in my heart. Dance me to the end of love.
@Hoponthebusgus Thank you, your thoughts echo mine exactly as my wife of 57 years of marriage died two days ago after several weeks in hospital. During that time we often joked there is a song for every occasion as we both love music. I discovered this song recorded live by Leonard Cohen one night when surfing YouTube and although previously unknown to me, suited our very sad circumstances admirably..
@Hoponthebusgus Thank you, your thoughts echo mine exactly as my wife of 57 years of marriage died two days ago after several weeks in hospital. During that time we often joked there is a song for every occasion as we both love music. I discovered this song recorded live by Leonard Cohen one night when surfing YouTube and although previously unknown to me, suited our very sad circumstances admirably..