Mary wrote:
> At the end of the song, the protagonist has been "changed. . . with
> religion." Cohen has always been a spiritual seeker, and, as someone
> pointed out, even now spends a substantial portion of his time living at a
> Buddhist temple.
>
> Finally, I recall a comment of Joni's that Leonard Cohen taught her early
on
> to "work on the poignancy of a song." I think that, for a time, anyway,
> what this meant for her was constructing metaphorical conceits (e.g.:
> gallery = women over whom you exert power) that were as carefully
developed
> as those of the metaphysical poets. . .or, for that matter, those of Cohen
> himself. This song strikes me as very much in that vein.
I agree that some of the lines in this song poke holes in my theory that it
could be about Brad McMath. The "changed you with religion" line makes me
think of Cohen, too. But the preceding line "they've monitored your brain"
makes it sound like the religion is more along the lines of the upstart
"cult" variety, and not the more spiritual experience we'd expect Cohen to
seek. The protagonist does sound like someone more established, prosperous
and sophisticated. The way Joni characterizes him overall does not fit with
what little we know about McMath. However, I get thrown by the lines which
are coincidental to her experience with McMath and also the "I keep your
house in fit repair, I dust the portraits daily, your mail comes here from
everywhere" and "I gave you all my pretty years." It's one of the tougher
songs to pin down, I think ;-)
Kakki
NP: Cowboy Junkies - Misguided Angel
