'The Future' by Leonard Cohen
AI and Tech Aggregator
Download Mp3s Free
Tears of the Kingdom Roleplay
Best Free University Courses Online
TOTK Roleplay
Give me back my broken night
my mirrored room, my secret life
it's lonely here,
there's no one left to torture
Give me absolute control
over every living soul
And lie beside me, baby,
that's an order!
Give me crack and anal sex
Take the only tree that's left
and stuff it up the hole
in your culture
Give me back the Berlin wall
give me Stalin and St Paul
I've seen the future, brother:
it is murder.
Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
Won't be nothing
Nothing you can measure anymore
The blizzard, the blizzard of the world
has crossed the threshold
and it has overturned
the order of the soul
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
You don't know me from the wind
you never will, you never did
I'm the little jew
who wrote the Bible
I've seen the nations rise and fall
I've heard their stories, heard them all
but love's the only engine of survival
Your servant here, he has been told
to say it clear, to say it cold:
It's over, it ain't going
any further
And now the wheels of heaven stop
you feel the devil's riding crop
Get ready for the future:
it is murder
Things are going to slide ...
There'll be the breaking of the ancient
western code
Your private life will suddenly explode
There'll be phantoms
There'll be fires on the road
and the white man dancing
You'll see a woman
hanging upside down
her features covered by her fallen gown
and all the lousy little poets
coming round
tryin' to sound like Charlie Manson
and the white man dancin'
Give me back the Berlin wall
Give me Stalin and St Paul
Give me Christ
or give me Hiroshima
Destroy another fetus now
We don't like children anyhow
I've seen the future, baby:
it is murder
Things are going to slide ...
When they said REPENT REPENT ...
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Future by Leonard Cohen: A Deep Dive into the Human Psyche
I have always been a fan of poetry that speaks to the human condition - the struggles, the triumphs, the love, the pain, and everything in between. And when it comes to such poetry, Leonard Cohen's 'The Future' is a masterpiece that never fails to leave me in awe.
From the haunting opening lines to the apocalyptic imagery that pervades the poem, 'The Future' is a complex and multi-layered work that demands close reading, interpretation, and analysis. In this literary criticism, I will attempt to unravel the poem's themes, symbols, and metaphors, and offer my own interpretation of its meaning and significance.
The Opening Lines: A Haunting Prophecy
"The future is murder / Things are going to slide, slide in all directions / Won't be nothing / Nothing you can measure anymore"
These are the first lines of the poem, and they set the tone for what is to come - a bleak and ominous prophecy of a world on the brink of collapse. The use of the word 'murder' suggests violence and bloodshed, and immediately creates a sense of unease and foreboding. Cohen's repetition of 'slide' adds to this feeling, as if the world is slipping out of control, spiraling towards an inevitable catastrophe.
But what does the poet mean by 'Things are going to slide, slide in all directions'? Is he referring to the breakdown of social order, the collapse of institutions, or the erosion of values and morals? Perhaps all of the above. What is clear, however, is that Cohen is painting a picture of a world that has lost its bearings, and where chaos and confusion reign.
The Politician: A Familiar Figure
"Give me back the Berlin wall / Give me Stalin and St. Paul / I've seen the future, brother / It is murder"
In these lines, Cohen introduces us to a familiar figure - the politician, who promises to restore order and stability by resurrecting past ideologies and leaders. The Berlin wall, Stalin, and St. Paul are all symbols of a bygone era, and yet the politician sees them as solutions to the problems of the present.
Cohen's use of the word 'brother' suggests a sense of solidarity and empathy with the listener, as if he is warning us about the dangers of nostalgia and false promises. The line 'I've seen the future, brother / It is murder' is chilling in its frankness, and suggests that the poet has a deep understanding of the human psyche and its capacity for violence and destruction.
The Apocalypse: A Vision of the End
"Destroy another fetus now / We don't like children anyhow / I have seen the future, baby / It is murder"
These lines are some of the most controversial in the poem, and have been the subject of much debate and interpretation. At face value, they suggest a callous disregard for human life, and a willingness to destroy the most innocent and vulnerable among us. But perhaps there is more to it than that.
Cohen's use of the word 'fetus' instead of 'baby' or 'child' is deliberate, and suggests a detachment from the reality of the situation. The line 'We don't like children anyhow' is sarcastic and ironic, and suggests a society that has lost its compassion and empathy.
But why does Cohen repeat the line 'I have seen the future, baby / It is murder' twice? Is it to emphasize the horror of his vision, or to suggest that the future is inescapable and inevitable? Perhaps both.
The Devil: A Familiar Presence
"Give me back the Berlin wall / Give me Stalin and St. Paul / Give me Christ / Or give me Hiroshima"
In these lines, Cohen introduces another familiar figure - the devil, who offers a choice between Christ and Hiroshima. The juxtaposition of these two symbols is striking, and suggests a choice between peace and destruction, love and hate, life and death.
But why does the devil want the Berlin wall, Stalin, and St. Paul? Is it because they represent a world where he can thrive, where chaos and cruelty are the norm? And why does he offer a choice between Christ and Hiroshima, as if they are equivalent options? Perhaps because he knows that both have the power to destroy, and that ultimately, it is up to us to choose between them.
The Conclusion: A Call to Action
"I've seen the nations rise and fall / I've heard their stories, heard them all / But love's the only engine of survival"
These lines are a powerful conclusion to the poem, and offer a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness and despair. Cohen suggests that despite the horrors of the past and the present, love is the only thing that can save us from ourselves.
The line 'I've seen the nations rise and fall / I've heard their stories, heard them all' suggests a sense of weariness and resignation, as if the poet has seen it all and knows that history repeats itself. But the final line 'But love's the only engine of survival' is a call to action, a reminder that we have the power to choose a different path, to choose love over hate, peace over war, and life over death.
My Interpretation: A Reflection on the Human Condition
After reading and analyzing 'The Future' by Leonard Cohen, I am left with a deep sense of awe and admiration for the poet's ability to capture the complexities and contradictions of the human psyche. The poem speaks to our fears, our hopes, our loves, our hates, and everything in between, and offers a stark reminder of our capacity for both good and evil.
At its core, 'The Future' is a reflection on the human condition, and a warning about the dangers of complacency, nostalgia, and false promises. It is a call to action, a reminder that we have the power to choose our future, and that ultimately, it is love that will save us from ourselves.
As I close this literary criticism, I am reminded of the power of poetry to move us, to challenge us, and to inspire us. Leonard Cohen's 'The Future' is a testament to this power, and a work that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Future by Leonard Cohen: A Poetic Masterpiece
Leonard Cohen, the Canadian poet, singer, and songwriter, is known for his deep and insightful lyrics that touch the soul. His poem "The Future" is a classic example of his poetic mastery, as it delves into the complexities of the human condition and the uncertain future that lies ahead. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, imagery, and symbolism.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's first read the poem in its entirety:
Give me back my broken night
my mirrored room, my secret life
it's lonely here,
there's no one left to torture
Give me absolute control
over every living soul
And lie beside me, baby,
that's an order!
Give me crack and anal sex
Take the only tree that's left
and stuff it up the hole
in your culture
Give me back the Berlin wall
give me Stalin and St Paul
I've seen the future, brother:
it is murder.
Things are going to slide, slide in all directions
Won't be nothing
Nothing you can measure anymore
The blizzard, the blizzard of the world
Has crossed the threshold
And it has overturned
The order of the soul
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
When they said REPENT REPENT
I wonder what they meant
You don't know me from the wind
you never will, you never did
I'm the little Jew
who wrote the Bible
I've seen the nations rise and fall
I've heard their stories, heard them all
but love's the only engine of survival
Your servant here, he has been told
to say it clear, to say it cold:
It's over, it ain't going
any further
And now the wheels of heaven stop
you feel the devil's riding crop
Get ready for the future:
it is murder.
Analysis
Themes
The poem touches on several themes that are relevant to the human condition. One of the most prominent themes is the idea of control. The speaker longs for absolute control over every living soul, which is a reflection of the desire for power that many people have. However, the poem also shows the dark side of this desire, as the speaker's longing for control is coupled with a sense of loneliness and isolation.
Another theme that the poem explores is the idea of destruction. The speaker longs for the return of the Berlin Wall and the reign of Stalin, which are symbols of oppression and destruction. The poem also talks about the blizzard of the world, which has overturned the order of the soul. This is a metaphor for the chaos and destruction that can come with change.
Finally, the poem touches on the theme of repentance. The repeated refrain of "REPENT REPENT" suggests a call to repentance, but the speaker wonders what it really means. This reflects the ambiguity and uncertainty that many people feel when faced with the idea of repentance.
Imagery
The poem is full of vivid and powerful imagery that helps to convey its themes. One of the most striking images is the idea of stuffing the only tree that's left up the hole in your culture. This is a metaphor for the destruction of the natural world and the way that human culture can be destructive to the environment.
Another powerful image is the blizzard of the world, which has crossed the threshold and overturned the order of the soul. This is a metaphor for the chaos and destruction that can come with change, and the way that it can upend our sense of order and stability.
Finally, the poem uses the image of the devil's riding crop to convey the sense of impending doom that the speaker feels. This is a powerful and evocative image that suggests the idea of punishment and suffering.
Symbolism
The poem is also full of powerful symbols that help to convey its themes. One of the most prominent symbols is the Berlin Wall, which represents the idea of oppression and division. The speaker longs for its return, which suggests a desire for control and power.
Another symbol is the tree that is stuffed up the hole in your culture. This represents the destruction of the natural world and the way that human culture can be destructive to the environment.
Finally, the repeated refrain of "REPENT REPENT" is a symbol of the call to repentance that many people feel. However, the speaker wonders what it really means, which suggests the ambiguity and uncertainty that many people feel when faced with the idea of repentance.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Future" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the complexities of the human condition and the uncertain future that lies ahead. Through its themes, imagery, and symbolism, the poem conveys a sense of longing, despair, and uncertainty that is both timeless and universal. Leonard Cohen's poetic mastery is on full display in this classic work, and it continues to resonate with readers and listeners today.
Editor Recommended Sites
Graph DB: Graph databases reviews, guides and best practice articlesChangelog - Dev Change Management & Dev Release management: Changelog best practice for developers
Prompt Composing: AutoGPT style composition of LLMs for attention focus on different parts of the problem, auto suggest and continue
Typescript Book: The best book on learning typescript programming language and react
Timeseries Data: Time series data tutorials with timescale, influx, clickhouse
Recommended Similar Analysis
You know the place: then by Sappho analysisAuguries of Innocence by William Blake analysis
Praise In Summer by Richard Wilbur analysis
I felt a funeral in my brain, by Emily Dickinson analysis
Desire by Samuel Taylor Coleridge analysis
Enigmas by Pablo Neruda analysis
And Thou Art Dead, As Young and Fair by George Gordon, Lord Byron analysis
My Galley, Charged with Forgetfulness by Sir Thomas Wyatt analysis
A Dead Rose by Elizabeth Barrett Browning analysis
Because I could not stop for Death by Emily Dickinson analysis