leonardcohenforum.com

Hei

I sit here with the guitar and a piece of paper with his words written down, and I understand them, in a way, in my own way, which is how I mostly like to feel songs, but still, now, while i'm going to learn to play and sing this song, this easy song, easy, but good, fond of, very fond of, what i'm wondering, i'm wondering what his, the creator's, meaning of this piece is. If you can tell me?

~

The eternal question ~ to which you are likely to get a wide variety of answers. After reading what others have to say, you'll probably make it real, for what it means to you. Welcome to the Forum, Olavsdatter.

~ Lizzy

My dear Lizzytysh,

Your lack of discernment continues to astonish me. Olavsdatter is merely another manifestation of Critic2's dividing egos. (See my monograph). Please note that this latest ego is another female persona. The gender confusion continues. It is interesting to see that no matter how hard the dominant male Super-ego tries to suppress it---it cannot deny it's hidden womanly proclivities. The female must emerge. A sad case. It may even be beyond my powers.

Of course, the secondary cause for this new ego emergence is to make fun of another forum member's scholarly ruminations regarding a certain Leonard Cohen.

YdF

P.S. You on the other hand are doing very nicely.

Dear YDF ~

I bring your attention to Olavsdatter's avatar ~ a cat. No cat person could deceive, such as you suggest.

For anyone considering the duality of their nature, it remains a healthy rumination. I'm surprized and disappointed that you would suggest otherwise, YDF.

Respectfully amidst your pages,
Lizzytysh

Ah, Lizzytysh, I see I was a bit hasty in your prognosis. More meds for you. Cats are the most deceitful critters on the face of the earth. Their owners likewise. I am sorry to be the one to tell you this. But you must face the truth about cats --- and Critic2.



YdF

Nope. Not happenin' [co-opted patient becomes recalcitrant] ~ been a cat owner too long. They are, perhaps, the most honest of creatures ~ many humans just refuse to see their truth. Some humans are doggedly obsessed with interpreting cats through a canine filter. For shame.

And just what is a cat's truth? A conniving, manipulative race. They pretend friendship but the moment your back is turned they laugh through their little whiskers. The smug air of superiority. Outwardly demure --- but inwardly seething with resentment and spite. And all those dead birds.

I know the naughtiness of their hearts.


YdF

Dear YDF ~

They "pretend friendship?" Not on my watch, they haven't. You've never been snubbed by a cat? It's their specialty. Better than gourmet food. The "smug air of superiority" isn't deceit. They are superior; their smugness soundly based.

Oh, dear. The dead birds . My weak spot when it comes to cats. I've never fully bought the "laws of Nature" argument. It's a motivation to keep your own well fed.

~ Lizzy

They can not be perfect also, these creatures. Not just the birds, Elizabeth. Not just the birds! Cats are such predators! When introduced into a new environment they are such efficient hunters that they can endanger some species.

It is not bad or good, however. It is only a characteristic. With this characteristic they often saved a crew and/or a population from being infested with rats - you know how fast they reproduce themselves) and/or other vermin - and, of course, of the diseases that came with infestation by the vermin. According to people-who-know females are best prey catchers then males. They say it is like this because of the family she-cat has to raise.

Smug air of superiority? This is projecton of a human behavior on a non-human support, a behaviour for YDF to explain.

For the rest, all the cats I knew personnaly where honnest, caring for the people who care for them, and very bright and loyal.

And all the people I knew personnaly that does not like cats are people who like (need?) more then others to control other people (not necessarily in an evil way, but in all sorts of manners, for sure) and their surrunding in general. Most of the time, when they like domestic animal, they prefer dogs. Dogs are more obedients.

I would have think Olafsdater was a male. Hum... (my feeling) If you can tell me?

I took Olavsdatter to be a female, too, Tchocolatl. In fact, it sounded like, "Olav's daughter" in Swedish or a similar language.

Yes, you're right on the rats. I guess that's a source of credit in people's eyes because the rats are considered vermin. However, the identical behaviour with the avian population is considered not-so-good to detestable.

What you've said about its just being the way it is, of course, hearkens to that Laws of Nature thing that I have problems with on the rare occasion that I'm 'presented' with ~ or encounter ~ a dead bird. I feel even worse about it all, having seen the film Winged Migration . Fortunately, it's rare that my cats violate this wish of mine that they leave birds alone.

You're right about our tendency to impose human characteristics onto animals; however, if the paw fits . . . .

As to 'dog people' ~ yes, on the control. Generally, the very first thing they'll say they don't like about cats is their "independence" and that they'll never obey you like a dog will. Hmmmm . I can see this as an issue if comparing a dangerous cat to a dangerous dog ~ where obedience were a major issue. However, it doesn't matter the reasons behind the obedience issue ~ it's just obedience, period.

All that said, I have a dog, as well as my cats .

~ Lizzy

My Dear Lizzytysh,

You seem to have a hang-up regarding obedience in dogs.

Generally, the very first thing they'll say they don't like about cats is their "independence" and that they'll never obey you like a dog will. Hmmmm

However, it doesn't matter the reasons behind the obedience issue ~ it's just obedience, period.

And yet!

Fortunately, it's rare that my cats violate this wish of mine that they leave birds alone.

You expect your cats to deny their very nature (and a horrible blood- curdling nature it is) in order to accede to your "wishes."

You are very droll. We must work on that.


YdF

Strange this is. I don't know if you are joking or not. I can laugh. Why no one answered my question. Is it, for you, something wrong with the question. I don't know this place. I have not been here before. My question is real. I am a girl. Olavsdatter means Olav's daughter, yes. I like my name. There's a cat in this room, with me here. I live with a cat. A sincere creature. That you can discover if you learn to know her.

Hope you are fond of your time.

Elizabeth I like cats, dogs, horses, turtles, fishes, pigs, birds, human beings, as well as squirrels, rats and mice when they are not infesting an area, of course, and more. You are not so drôle to me, however - wishes are not orders.

So Olav's daugther or Olavsdatter, you are for real. You are laughing easily, so we are two (at least) now in this discussion. For the serious part of your message, your question I mean, I hope that people with knowledge (or any hint of a sort) about this song answer you soon.

The meaning is obvious:

Let's sing another song, boys

That I understand. I wondered about some smaller parts of the song. Sometimes it's nice to know what they are. But never mind. Hush, away -