boogie street
Cohen (Leonard) Lyrics

A sip of wine, a cigarette
And then it's time to go
I tidied up the kitchenette

And o my love, I still recall
The pleasures that we knew
The rivers and the waterfall
Wherein I bathed with you
Bewildered by your beauty there
I'd kneel to dry your feet
By such instructions you prepare
A man for boogie street

O crown of light, o darkened one?

So come, my friends, be not afraid
We are so lightly here
It is in love that we are made
In love we disappear
Tho' all the maps of blood and flesh
Are posted on the door
There's no one who has told us yet
What boogie street is for

O crown of light, o darkened one
I never thought we'd meet
You kiss my lips, and then it's done
I'm back on boogie street

A sip of wine, a cigarette
And then it's time to go

In "Boogie Street", Leonard Cohen uses imagery and metaphorical language to convey a sense of longing for a lost love, and the complexities of moving on. The opening lines "O crown of light, o darkened one, I never thought we'd meet" sets the tone for the song, creating a sense of surprise at the unexpected reunion with a lost love. The chorus echoes the theme of returning to old habits and patterns despite attempts to move on, with the lines "You kiss my lips, and then it's done, I'm back on boogie street." "Boogie street" symbolizes a place of pleasures, temptations, and distractions that can prevent one from making a deeper connection with someone.

Throughout the song, Cohen creates a vivid picture of his surroundings and his routine, using simple yet effective imagery. He paints a picture of himself sitting alone with a bottle of wine and a cigarette, tuning an old banjo, and going to a traffic jam where he is "saving a seat" for him. The memories of his past love interweave with his present reality, highlighting the painful contrast between the two.

The last verse highlights the ephemeral and transient nature of human existence, and the importance of love in making sense of it all. The lines "It is in love that we are made, In love we disappear" suggest that love is what gives life meaning, even in the face of uncertainty and impermanence.

O crown of light, o darkened one
Addressing someone who is both shining with light and shadowed with darkness, expressing surprise at the unexpectedness of their meeting

I never thought we'd meet
Expressing surprise at encountering this person

You kiss my lips, and then it's done
Describing a brief, fleeting moment of intimacy

I'm back on boogie street
Returning to a place or state of mind characterized by indulgence and excess

A sip of wine, a cigarette
Indulging in small pleasures before departing

And then it's time to go
Acknowledging that the moment of indulgence is over and it's time to move on

I tidied up the kitchenette
Doing a small chore before leaving, possibly as a symbolic act of moving on from a situation

I tuned the old banjo
Taking a moment to adjust or prepare something before leaving

I'm wanted at the traffic jam
Being pulled back into the chaos and noise of everyday life

They're saving me a seat
Acknowledging that despite the chaos, there are still people there for you

I'm what I am, and what I am
Asserting one's identity, even in the midst of chaos

Is back on boogie street
Confirming that one is returning to a place or state of mind characterized by indulgence and excess

And o my love, I still recall
Addressing a former love interest and reflecting on memories of them

The pleasures that we knew
Recalling past moments of pleasure and happiness

The rivers and the waterfall
Elaborating on the location and setting of these memories

Wherein I bathed with you
Suggesting a deep, immersive experience shared with the former love interest

Bewildered by your beauty there
Reflecting on how the former love interest's appearance affected the artist

I'd kneel to dry your feet
Describing an act of devotion, possibly a metaphor for subservience or unrequited love

By such instructions you prepare
Acknowledging that the former love interest had a powerful effect on the singer

A man for boogie street
Suggesting that the experiences with the former love interest, including those that occurred in the described setting, prepared the artist for a life of indulgence and excess

So come, my friends, be not afraid
Addressing friends and assuring them that they need not be scared

We are so lightly here
Reflecting on how fragile and fleeting life is

It is in love that we are made
Suggesting that love, rather than some divine force, gives meaning to life

In love we disappear
Further elaborating on how love shapes and defines our existence

Tho' all the maps of blood and flesh
Reflecting on how much we know about our own bodies and biology, yet how little that knowledge means in the context of love and relationships

Are posted on the door
Suggesting that the knowledge we have is readily available and accessible, yet doesn't capture the essence of what we seek

There's no one who has told us yet
Acknowledging that despite all the knowledge and information, we still lack a comprehensive understanding of love

What boogie street is for
Returning to the central theme of the song - exploring and indulging in a life of excess and pleasure, while acknowledging that there is still mystery and uncertainty in that journey

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEONARD COHEN, SHARON ROBINSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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