I find this to be one of the most intriguing texts published by Cohen in a long time. It re-connects very well with his first album “Songs of Leonard Cohen” from 1967. There is a slightly different version of the text published in “The Flame”, but most of it is the same.
This song is about the price that the heart must pay for acting against your ideals, truth or God. Leonard Cohen is looking back at his life’s work and accomplishments in his usual self-deprecating style. A fallen fighter trying to convey a few lessons to younger generations about what happens to the heart.
The eternal conflict that arises as Leonard Cohen is forced to choose between his love for women and satisfying a higher power, pursuing his quest for truth. This “double-parking” is a recurring theme going back to poems by Lorca, a key inspiration for Cohen.
There is also a political aspect involved, however this is more apparent in “The Flame” version. I find the fifth passage to be a critical stance on the state of the debating climate, clever political tactics and the “dark house”. Where “every soul is like a minnow, every mind is like a shark”. Cohen himself claims to have fought for “something final, not the right to disagree”.
“I was handy with a rifle, my father’s .303”. With a little imagination and an eye to previous songs of Cohen, this phrase may refer to the book of Genesis, chapter 3, verse 03, where it says that you should not eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge, or you will die. Does Cohen finally give himself some credit for his ability as a seeker of knowledge and truth?
Of course, If you are no fan of complex interpretations, you can also just lean back and enjoy this song and beautiful composition of words crafted by Cohen!
I find this to be one of the most intriguing texts published by Cohen in a long time. It re-connects very well with his first album “Songs of Leonard Cohen” from 1967. There is a slightly different version of the text published in “The Flame”, but most of it is the same.
This song is about the price that the heart must pay for acting against your ideals, truth or God. Leonard Cohen is looking back at his life’s work and accomplishments in his usual self-deprecating style. A fallen fighter trying to convey a few lessons to younger generations about what happens to the heart.
The eternal conflict that arises as Leonard Cohen is forced to choose between his love for women and satisfying a higher power, pursuing his quest for truth. This “double-parking” is a recurring theme going back to poems by Lorca, a key inspiration for Cohen.
There is also a political aspect involved, however this is more apparent in “The Flame” version. I find the fifth passage to be a critical stance on the state of the debating climate, clever political tactics and the “dark house”. Where “every soul is like a minnow, every mind is like a shark”. Cohen himself claims to have fought for “something final, not the right to disagree”.
“I was handy with a rifle, my father’s .303”. With a little imagination and an eye to previous songs of Cohen, this phrase may refer to the book of Genesis, chapter 3, verse 03, where it says that you should not eat from the fruit of the tree of knowledge, or you will die. Does Cohen finally give himself some credit for his ability as a seeker of knowledge and truth?
Of course, If you are no fan of complex interpretations, you can also just lean back and enjoy this song and beautiful composition of words crafted by Cohen!