Such a beautiful and fascinating song. Yes, the lyrics can be traced back to Constantine Cavafy's Poem 'The God Abandons Antony' (http://users.hol.gr/~barbanis/cavafy/antony.html), but he makes it his own and expands the potential interpretations by aligning the events of the song with heartbreak, loss, admiration, a deepening love, respect that emerges from loss, and more. One can re-listen and unpack this song over and over again.
As with the better poets and songwriters, although there is the creator's original meaning (and the intention of Cavafy's source poem), Cohen clearly invites the listener to apply the key thematic elements to their own lives. And to their own loves, possessed or lost.
Such a beautiful and fascinating song. Yes, the lyrics can be traced back to Constantine Cavafy's Poem 'The God Abandons Antony' (http://users.hol.gr/~barbanis/cavafy/antony.html), but he makes it his own and expands the potential interpretations by aligning the events of the song with heartbreak, loss, admiration, a deepening love, respect that emerges from loss, and more. One can re-listen and unpack this song over and over again.
As with the better poets and songwriters, although there is the creator's original meaning (and the intention of Cavafy's source poem), Cohen clearly invites the listener to apply the key thematic elements to their own lives. And to their own loves, possessed or lost.