Aye, this song, which I count among my favorites of his, forever leaves me speechless! I know of no one other than Leonard Cohen (accompanied only by his guitar) who can make beautiful such dark, haunting themes.
Great song. Has fascinated me for a long time, but I used to find it haunting, somehow. A higher power speaking, one that I couldn't grasp. It was only this year that I suddenly heard the song very differently. Maybe it is the voice from within speaking to the human seeker, a voice that is hidden behind thick layers of worldly ties. So the song could be a recipe for a path to liberating this forgotten treasure inside.
The alternative lyrics reveal a hint at the meaning of this epic song. Every reference is to the 'hero story' and how it is in tandem with the reality of relationships of love. Your love for others is only as strong as your love for the story of your life (which you decide to navigate with compassion and courage or you don't). This is the moral of the 'hero story' in a nutshell. You can tell Cohen read a great deal about the concept.
I love this manic depressed SOB...........he puts my feelings into words like nobody else can. He never received the recognition in America he deserved but he is too great an artist to concern himself with ego. Bob Dylan is the only person close to his poetic/songwriting ability IMHO........
Well, I stepped into an avalanche/it covered up my soul/when i am not this hunchback that you see/ I sleep beneath the golden hill. Yeah, I can relate to that...................I give my bathroom mirror this excuse every morning.
So hard to interpret this. Parts of it seem like they are sung from the perspective of Jesus. "Your cross is no credential here, it's just the shadow, the shadow of my wound", like it's said to someone who wears a crucifix on their neck but isn't truly a student of the teachings of Jesus. The part about our love being the crumbs he left behind, the new testament is full of references to Jesus being love, God is love, the emotion of love personified. "You strike my sides by accident", striking the sides of Jesus on the cross was the turn of phrase used in the old King James bible. Dressing in rags and pretending to be impoverished is something that some Christians did, and if I'm correct even some Jewish sects. So it's like he's talking to them from the voice of Jesus. I have begun to long for you, I who have no need. Jesus, God, creators of the universe never the less await our return. Don't love me quite so fiercely now when you know that you are not sure. Religious zealotry that it is used to mask political and social power struggles, it's just fake and for show. But heaps of other lyrics don't match this theory. Maybe he's talking about life and creative force and implies that Jesus was just one instance of it. And the force possesses us all, "this is your world, beloved, it is your flesh that I wear" - something in us, speaking through us, we are just vessels for it. But also it loves us (again, sounding like Jesus). EDIT 2 YEARS LATER - This is your world, your flesh actually could be said by Jesus as well. He was the divine made flesh, walked in the steps of man, in our world.
Maybe a voice from within a human, the last remnant of the immortal aspect. We humans think we suffer, but it is foremost this immortal soul that suffers from being bound to the material realm ... We strike its side by accident when we pursue earthly goals and hit the wall because the innermost longing cannot be fulfilled that way. When hitting the wall, we become more open to the voice from within. "There is a crack in everything ..."
This seems kinda dead. Though i like Songs of Leonard Cohen for this poetical sorrow quite a lot, in here he sort of can't capture needed emotions musically, you know? Through this perspective i prefer Cave's version.
I'm here becoz of "Sweet Tooth" (Netflix) -2024. What a great song by L.Cohen.👍🏽👍🏽
Sweet Tooth brought me here!!!
I'm not quite sure what all those lyrics mean, but he sure did feel them deep.... Hell of a song
This magnificent song is one of the best songs ever. Those haunting words could only have been written by a great poet called Leonard Cohen.
Aye, this song, which I count among my favorites of his, forever leaves me speechless! I know of no one other than Leonard Cohen (accompanied only by his guitar) who can make beautiful such dark, haunting themes.
I love him now I love him more...
Agreed- are you from the UK? My father in law is, he always says people are _called_ ______ It’s pretty neat :)
"....The crumbs of love that you offer me, are the crumbs I left behind....."
Man, that hits me all the time!
We are privileged to have lived in the time of this genius. RIP Leonard Miss you already.
Great song. Has fascinated me for a long time, but I used to find it haunting, somehow. A higher power speaking, one that I couldn't grasp.
It was only this year that I suddenly heard the song very differently. Maybe it is the voice from within speaking to the human seeker, a voice that is hidden behind thick layers of worldly ties. So the song could be a recipe for a path to liberating this forgotten treasure inside.
I started listening to him in 1968 and am still listening and love the music more.
I´ve had the chance to see him in ´73 and the first show of his last tour. It makes me shiver... after all these years... he´s timeless
Brilliant man does not cut it.
to me this is his chef-d'œuvre. unparalleled.
A Master Word man-Leonard taps our innermost feelings about love ,loss and redemption..
So brilliantly written and sang!
You will stay in our hearts and minds, Mr. L.Cohen
the only song and poem where God have claims to human not otherwise :)
... right... it's about Jesus Christ...
you who wish to conquer pain
you must learn to serve me well.
AFTER SO LONG, I HAPPENED TO LISTEN TO THIS TODAY. AND I HAPPENED TO FALL IN LOVE. ONCE AGAIN.
Incredible! One of my all time favourites.
Classic Leonard, RIP master
NON SEULEMENT SA VOIX M ACCROCHE, MAIS IL JOUE DE LA CORDE...COMME PERSONNE! BRAVO MONSIEUR, MERCI👍😘
Five people wish to conquer pain and must learn, learn to serve me well
amazing, amazing song.
LEGEND!
His Master speaks...
Wauw!
Leonard 😊😊😊😊
95 Cohen has been recognised for his songwriting and playing, just cause he ain't sold as much as his contemporaries don't mean a thing!!
The alternative lyrics reveal a hint at the meaning of this epic song. Every reference is to the 'hero story' and how it is in tandem with the reality of relationships of love.
Your love for others is only as strong as your love for the story of your life (which you decide to navigate with compassion and courage or you don't).
This is the moral of the 'hero story' in a nutshell. You can tell Cohen read a great deal about the concept.
rip beautiful man
Superior ! on any level ...(where is this from ...?)
RIP
merci tj là pour moi cette avalanche )
I love this manic depressed SOB...........he puts my feelings into words like nobody else can. He never received the recognition in America he deserved but he is too great an artist to concern himself with ego. Bob Dylan is the only person close to his poetic/songwriting ability IMHO........
rewatching Black sails and i heard the lyrics and said thats gotta be Leonard .. yep .
Well, I stepped into an avalanche/it covered up my soul/when i am not this hunchback that you see/ I sleep beneath the golden hill.
Yeah, I can relate to that...................I give my bathroom mirror this excuse every morning.
Go AVAX!
between hallelujah and Avalanche there is just a foot
So hard to interpret this. Parts of it seem like they are sung from the perspective of Jesus. "Your cross is no credential here, it's just the shadow, the shadow of my wound", like it's said to someone who wears a crucifix on their neck but isn't truly a student of the teachings of Jesus.
The part about our love being the crumbs he left behind, the new testament is full of references to Jesus being love, God is love, the emotion of love personified.
"You strike my sides by accident", striking the sides of Jesus on the cross was the turn of phrase used in the old King James bible.
Dressing in rags and pretending to be impoverished is something that some Christians did, and if I'm correct even some Jewish sects. So it's like he's talking to them from the voice of Jesus.
I have begun to long for you, I who have no need. Jesus, God, creators of the universe never the less await our return.
Don't love me quite so fiercely now when you know that you are not sure. Religious zealotry that it is used to mask political and social power struggles, it's just fake and for show.
But heaps of other lyrics don't match this theory.
Maybe he's talking about life and creative force and implies that Jesus was just one instance of it. And the force possesses us all, "this is your world, beloved, it is your flesh that I wear" - something in us, speaking through us, we are just vessels for it. But also it loves us (again, sounding like Jesus). EDIT 2 YEARS LATER - This is your world, your flesh actually could be said by Jesus as well. He was the divine made flesh, walked in the steps of man, in our world.
Maybe a voice from within a human, the last remnant of the immortal aspect. We humans think we suffer, but it is foremost this immortal soul that suffers from being bound to the material realm ... We strike its side by accident when we pursue earthly goals and hit the wall because the innermost longing cannot be fulfilled that way. When hitting the wall, we become more open to the voice from within. "There is a crack in everything ..."
Oh absolutely!
That is exactly the message all Jewish people are trying to find a way to express.
The original version is "your pain is no credential here..." He has changed a lot of the lyrics in this song and not for the better.
COMPAGNO BERLINGUER!! PERCHÈ TI SEI RITIRATO DAL CANTAUTORATO? ERI COSÌ BRAVO!
Dexter brought me here
This seems kinda dead. Though i like Songs of Leonard Cohen for this poetical sorrow quite a lot, in here he sort of can't capture needed emotions musically, you know? Through this perspective i prefer Cave's version.
?
Louis Filliger Nick Cave piano and cello
The song is dark i dont know what you expect buddy
I think he wanted the lyrics to shine, not the vocals on this particular song...to be understated.