@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
And who by fire, who by water
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?
And who in her lonely slip, who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love, who by something blunt
Who by avalanche, who by powder
Who for his greed, who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?
And who by brave assent, who by accident
Who in solitude, who in this mirror
Who by his lady's command, who by his own hand
Who in mortal chains, who in power
And who shall I say is calling?
Who in the sunshine, who in the night time
Who by high ordeal, who by common trial
Who in your merry merry month of may
Who by very slow decay
And who shall I say is calling?
And who in her lonely slip, who by barbiturate
Who in these realms of love, who by something blunt
Who by avalanche, who by powder
Who for his greed, who for his hunger
And who shall I say is calling?
And who by brave assent, who by accident
Who in solitude, who in this mirror
Who by his lady's command, who by his own hand
Who in mortal chains, who in power
And who shall I say is calling?
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Based on the Yom Kippur prayer Unetaneh Tokef, part of which is as follows: "On Rosh Hashanah it is written and Yom Kippur it is sealed How many shall pass on and how many shall come to be; who shall live and who shall die; who shall see ripe old age and who shall not; who shall perish by fire and who by water; who by sword and who by beast; who by hunger and who by thirst..."
I wonder about the refrain, "and who shall I say is calling?". After the "who by ..." that opens every line, this "who" suddenly is a different one. A completely different "who". It is sarcastic change of the repetin "who". There is a a very polite question here, "who shall I say", with all due respect and humility, who is calling here. Who is the one that is behind all this, that calls us, whether we die from fire or from barbiturate. Cohen does not state this as a pure philosophical issue. It comes from a deep pain of the human state where one faces its unchallengeable end. Cohen, as I see it, does not accept the simplistic view of the faithful. He wants an answer that is acceptable and sensible for a modern person of our times. Even if he knows no answer would ever come, it is still his privilege, ours, to ask.
More specifically, in that last line "who is calling", Cohen tells us finally what is the scene where this questions are being asked. Of course the background is the Netane Tokef Prayer of the Jewish Yom Kipur. The final line regards the different verdicts as messages directed to any one of us, delivered in this dreadful day. And so when Cohen picks up this allegoric phone and receives the message for someone, a relative maybe, he does not just lamely says "got it". Instead he courageously, if somewhat humbly, without expecting any response, asks "an who shall I say is calling?"<br /> <br /> P.S. It is Hebrew New-Year eve today, ten days before Yom Kipur Taf-Shin-Samech-Alef (2010). Hag Sameach!
"Who shall i say is calling?"<br /> <br /> amazing lyric, as you say yaakov, switches completely from the verse. originally i interpreted it as: however you may die, are you going to heaven or to hell? ("who is calling - Satan or God?"). however now i also think it could be broader than that, in the sense of: who decides?, who is behind all this?<br /> <br /> thanks
I think of St. Peter at the gates of heaven, calling on those who are waiting to get in.
@nursejen <br /> I, having a baptist childhood, immediately thought of Saint Peter at the gates of heaven. I don't know if this is what Leonard meant, but it seems a crystal clear meaning to anyone who's been taught that all souls are judged before reaching their final (eternal) destination.
"your merry, merry month of May" - seems to me to be quite sarcastic, as in if you died in the month of May, it wouldn't be so merry after all. Again, saying that death can come at any time, and in any form.
"Who shall I say is calling?" - I agree with "track", he's questioning who is it that decides, the when and the where.
Fabulous, chilling stuff. Thank you , Leonard.
"who in your merry merry month of may,<br /> who by very slow decay,"<br /> <br /> I think it means who will die young in their prime (may implies spring time and youth) and who will die old and suffer through aging and gradual decline in health.
"who by avalanche" and "who in this mirror" are maybe referencing two songs on his Songs of Love and Hate album, "Avalanche" and "Dress Rehearsal Rag" respectively. Just a thought. Give them a listen, especially the latter.
I think you nailed it on the head!!
Unetaneh Tokef talking about god and that he is so strong and powerful and he decides everithing but leonard is asking "and who shall i say is calling"he means who decides people their own fate or god.
I think it's addressed to us, the listeners. Which one will YOU be, will you die by fire, by water.... So it's calling to mind the moment of our own death. A bit scary?
Good interpretations, I like the saint peter one alot. I first liked this song just because the girls voice is amazing now it is even better!
props to lady midnight...a lot of his songs are based in judaism
"Who by fire" is about death. Plain and simple. Cohen is saying that it is something the we all will face sooner or later and questions how we will die.
"Who shall I say, Is calling" = What will cause your own death.
I respectfully disagree that the song is about hell or sinners alone. See the lines:
"who by brave accent" "who by accident" "who in the sunshine, who in the nightime" "who in solitude, who in this mirror"
The overall meaning is that we all will die.
@fgv1977 yep, agree<br />