This song is from the point of view of God (or what ever entity you choose). He is explaining that he is using Leonard Cohen to say his message, for example: 'I love to speak to Leonard... He's a lazy bastard... But he does say what I tell him.' This is backed up by the lyrics 'He will speak these words of wisdom... Though he knows he's really nothing.' Again, this is God describing the way he is using LC as a muse or messenger.
And what's his message? When you die you leave your sorrow, your burden, and your 'costume' here on earth. He has instructed Leonard only to repeat this.
Now, of course this song is actually written by Leonard, he's just using an omniscient point of view to try to explain his own writing inspiration. What we can take from this is maybe he set about writing some songs about 'A love song', or 'an anthem of forgiving', etc, but instead feels divinely inspired to write about the release of one's burdens with inevitable death. It's really quite beautiful.
This song is from the point of view of God (or what ever entity you choose). He is explaining that he is using Leonard Cohen to say his message, for example: 'I love to speak to Leonard... He's a lazy bastard... But he does say what I tell him.' This is backed up by the lyrics 'He will speak these words of wisdom... Though he knows he's really nothing.' Again, this is God describing the way he is using LC as a muse or messenger.
And what's his message? When you die you leave your sorrow, your burden, and your 'costume' here on earth. He has instructed Leonard only to repeat this.
Now, of course this song is actually written by Leonard, he's just using an omniscient point of view to try to explain his own writing inspiration. What we can take from this is maybe he set about writing some songs about 'A love song', or 'an anthem of forgiving', etc, but instead feels divinely inspired to write about the release of one's burdens with inevitable death. It's really quite beautiful.