Lyric discussion by bijoupali 

I disagree about the being stood up comment. I think he's finally met someone who loves him more than he's ever been loved. He feels the same and is trying to be the "man" in the relationship by being the aggressor. That is why she laughs. The person is telling him that he doesn't have to do or be anything except himself. This person is telling him that she will be the lover. She will love him enough for the two of them. It's a spiritual love. The line: "That I am not the one who loves. It's love that seizes me," lends one to believe that this love was meant to be. They had no choice in loving one another. "When hatred with it's package comes. You forbid it's delivery" makes me think that this woman is being the protector in this relationship, which is something he's never experienced before. This woman is teaching him what real love is truly about. "You have loved enough. Now let me be the lover," is reiterating this point. "I am not the one who loves. It is love that chooses me." To me, that means that this love is an all-encompassing, fated love in which he can relax in. She's comforting him. He's not used to feeling completely comfortable in a relationship, but he can with her. She's taking control. He knows that this woman will be there for him like no other. She's looking out for his best interest. He can rest assured that she will always be there for him. He can sit back and just being loved for the first time.

I scoff; he'd never allow it. Nice song, though. Cohen is such an excellent STORY teller.

The lyrics clearly has a holistic, buddhistic touch. You cannot love properly until you grasp the wholeness, in this case of a person.

I swept the marble... - polish the surface but you sent down below - depth of the person in question. You kept me from believing- do not think that you know until you really do.

When hatred comes you forbid delivery - buddhism, do not deny your feelings, learn to deal with them in a loving way.

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