This song in my opinion is the response to the critics in general. The first verse is an admission, but it's a false admission. There is just sarcasm in it, not true agreement with critics. The second verse is about the inspiration the singer gets. I see it as Cohen gives us a glimpse of what is driving his songs, where is the source of his inspiration - women. That he's defence, an explanation why he wrote the song. The third verse is more serious rebuff echoing the first verse. In it Cohen is more straight forward - he describes the methods critics use to demean the work of art. He finishes it though again with a playful "la-la-la" which punctuates one more time he's not really interested in critical opinion in the first place.
This song in my opinion is the response to the critics in general. The first verse is an admission, but it's a false admission. There is just sarcasm in it, not true agreement with critics. The second verse is about the inspiration the singer gets. I see it as Cohen gives us a glimpse of what is driving his songs, where is the source of his inspiration - women. That he's defence, an explanation why he wrote the song. The third verse is more serious rebuff echoing the first verse. In it Cohen is more straight forward - he describes the methods critics use to demean the work of art. He finishes it though again with a playful "la-la-la" which punctuates one more time he's not really interested in critical opinion in the first place.