'Waiting For The Miracle' by Leonard Cohen
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(co-written by Sharon Robinson)
Baby, I've been waiting,
I've been waiting night and day.
I didn't see the time,
I waited half my life away.
There were lots of invitations
and I know you sent me some,
but I was waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
I know you really loved me.
but, you see, my hands were tied.
I know it must have hurt you,
it must have hurt your pride
to have to stand beneath my window
with your bugle and your drum,
and me I'm up there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Ah I don't believe you'd like it,
You wouldn't like it here.
There ain't no entertainment
and the judgements are severe.
The Maestro says it's Mozart
but it sounds like bubble gum
when you're waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Waiting for the miracle
There's nothing left to do.
I haven't been this happy
since the end of World War II.
Nothing left to do
when you know that you've been taken.
Nothing left to do
when you're begging for a crumb
Nothing left to do
when you've got to go on waiting
waiting for the miracle to come.
I dreamed about you, baby.
It was just the other night.
Most of you was naked
Ah but some of you was light.
The sands of time were falling
from your fingers and your thumb,
and you were waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come
Ah baby, let's get married,
we've been alone too long.
Let's be alone together.
Let's see if we're that strong.
Yeah let's do something crazy,
something absolutely wrong
while we're waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Nothing left to do ...
When you've fallen on the highway
and you're lying in the rain,
and they ask you how you're doing
of course you'll say you can't complain --
If you're squeezed for information,
that's when you've got to play it dumb:
You just say you're out there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Waiting For The Miracle by Leonard Cohen
Introduction
Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer, poet, and novelist, is known for his soulful music and poignant lyrics that have touched the hearts of millions around the world. One of his most iconic works is the poem "Waiting For The Miracle," which was later adapted into a song. The poem is a deeply introspective reflection on the human condition and the search for hope and redemption in a world that can often seem bleak and unforgiving. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes and motifs present in this powerful piece of writing, and consider its significance in the context of Cohen's broader body of work.
Structure
"Waiting For The Miracle" is a free-verse poem, meaning that it does not adhere to a strict set of rules or conventions. Instead, it is characterized by its flowing, stream-of-consciousness style that mimics the ebb and flow of human thought and emotion. The poem is divided into four stanzas of varying lengths, each with its own distinct mood and tone. The opening stanza sets the stage for the poem's central themes of longing and despair, while the subsequent stanzas delve deeper into the human psyche, exploring the darker corners of the mind in search of meaning and purpose.
Themes
At its core, "Waiting For The Miracle" is a meditation on the human search for redemption and transcendence in a world that can often seem cruel and unforgiving. The poem touches on a number of key themes that are central to Cohen's broader body of work, including love, faith, and the struggle for meaning in a world that is often characterized by suffering and pain.
One of the most prominent themes in the poem is the idea of waiting. Throughout the poem, the speaker is waiting for something, although it is not always clear what that something is. At times, it seems as though the speaker is waiting for a lover or some kind of external force to rescue them from their despair. At other times, it seems as though the speaker is waiting for a spiritual awakening, a moment of clarity or insight that will offer them some kind of hope or redemption.
Another key theme in the poem is the idea of darkness and light. The speaker is acutely aware of the darkness that surrounds them, both literal and metaphorical. They describe a world that is full of pain and suffering, where people are "dying in the streets" and "children are crying." Despite this darkness, however, the speaker is also looking for signs of hope and light. They describe a moment when the sun breaks through the clouds, filling the world with light and casting aside the shadows that have been haunting them.
Perhaps the most significant theme in the poem, however, is the idea of love. The speaker is clearly in search of love, both romantic love and a deeper kind of spiritual love that will offer them a sense of connection and meaning in a world that can often feel lonely and alienating. They describe a lover who is "coming to rescue me," someone who will offer them a sense of safety and security in a world that is full of danger and uncertainty.
Motifs
In addition to these central themes, "Waiting For The Miracle" is also characterized by a number of recurring motifs that help to deepen the poem's meaning and significance. One of the most prominent of these motifs is the idea of water. Throughout the poem, the speaker describes a world that is full of water, a world that is "drowning" and "soaked to the skin." Water is often associated with baptism and rebirth, suggesting that the speaker is looking for a kind of spiritual renewal that will allow them to start over and leave behind the pain and suffering of the past.
Another important motif in the poem is the idea of music. The speaker describes a moment when they hear "music in the cafes at night," a moment when the world is filled with beauty and wonder. Music is often seen as a transcendent art form, capable of lifting us out of our everyday struggles and reminding us of the beauty and wonder that exists in the world. For the speaker, music represents a kind of escape from the darkness and pain that surrounds them, a moment of joy and transcendence in an otherwise bleak and unforgiving world.
Interpretation
So what does "Waiting For The Miracle" mean, and what is Cohen trying to say with this powerful piece of writing? At its core, the poem is a deeply introspective reflection on the human condition, and the struggle that we all face in search of meaning and purpose in a world that can often seem cruel and unforgiving. The poem speaks to our deepest fears and uncertainties, acknowledging the pain and suffering that we all experience, while also offering a glimmer of hope and redemption.
For Cohen, the search for meaning and purpose is a central theme that runs throughout his work, and "Waiting For The Miracle" is no exception. Through its exploration of themes like waiting, darkness, and love, the poem offers a powerful meditation on the human experience, reminding us of the struggles and challenges that we all face, while also offering a sense of hope and possibility.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Waiting For The Miracle" is a powerful and deeply introspective piece of writing that speaks to the human condition in profound and moving ways. Through its exploration of themes like waiting, darkness, and love, the poem offers a powerful meditation on the search for meaning and purpose in a world that can often seem cruel and unforgiving. For fans of Cohen's work, "Waiting For The Miracle" is an essential part of his canon, a testament to his talent and his ability to connect with the deepest fears and uncertainties that we all share as human beings.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Waiting for the Miracle: A Masterpiece of Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen, the Canadian singer-songwriter, poet, and novelist, is known for his profound and melancholic lyrics that explore the human condition. His song "Waiting for the Miracle" is a masterpiece that captures the essence of human longing and hope in the face of despair. In this article, we will analyze and explain the meaning behind the lyrics of this classic song.
The song begins with the lines, "Baby, I've been waiting, I've been waiting night and day. I didn't see the time, I waited half my life away." These lines set the tone for the rest of the song, which is a meditation on the human experience of waiting for something that may never come. The speaker is waiting for a miracle, something that will change his life and bring him happiness. He has been waiting for so long that he has lost track of time, and he has devoted his entire life to this waiting.
The next verse continues this theme of waiting, with the lines, "I've been waiting for someone to come and turn my world around. I've been waiting for the lover who will take away the crown." Here, the speaker is waiting for someone to come into his life and change everything. He is waiting for a lover who will make him feel complete and take away the burden of his responsibilities. The "crown" that he refers to is a symbol of his power and authority, which he is willing to give up for the sake of love.
The chorus of the song is a repetition of the phrase, "Waiting for the miracle to come." This line is the heart of the song, and it captures the essence of human longing and hope. The speaker is waiting for something that he cannot control, something that may never come, but he continues to wait anyway. This is a universal human experience, as we all have something that we are waiting for, whether it is love, success, or happiness.
The next verse of the song is a meditation on the nature of waiting, with the lines, "When you've fallen on the highway and you're lying in the rain, and they ask you how you're doing, of course you'll say you can't complain." Here, the speaker is acknowledging the pain and suffering that comes with waiting, but he is also acknowledging the resilience of the human spirit. Even in the face of adversity, we continue to wait and hope for something better.
The final verse of the song is a reflection on the nature of miracles, with the lines, "I've been waiting for the miracle, but I know you're gonna leave me. I'll never find another lover, sweeter than you, sweeter than you." Here, the speaker is acknowledging that the miracle he has been waiting for may never come, but he is also acknowledging the beauty and sweetness of the love that he has experienced. Even if he never finds another lover as sweet as the one he has lost, he will continue to wait for the miracle.
In conclusion, "Waiting for the Miracle" is a masterpiece of Leonard Cohen's poetic and musical genius. It captures the essence of human longing and hope in the face of despair, and it speaks to the universal human experience of waiting for something that may never come. The song is a meditation on the nature of waiting, the resilience of the human spirit, and the beauty of love. It is a timeless classic that will continue to inspire and move people for generations to come.
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