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+--- Thread: The Juke Box is OPEN (/showthread.php?tid=5064)
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RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - willie33 - 08-09-2021
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - TrayGold - 08-10-2021
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - willie33 - 08-10-2021
Although I heard this on a secular television show, it is a beautiful song by Leonard Cohen.
I believe as this person -
My Interpretation
Considering the fact that Leonard Cohen knew the bible, I'm quite certain that the meaning of the song is derived from it, because it makes a lot of sense reading the lyrics from that perspective. So here's how I believe the song should be interpreted:
1st Verse:
As a fallible human Cohen is humbly admitting to being a sinful creature before God the creator. Cohen explicitly portrays the contrasts in the 1st 3 lines:
1. by acknowledging his place before the creator, the dealer, thus he will not challenge but rather humbly step out of the game.
2. by trusting that if God claims to be the healer then he, a sinner must surely be in need of healing.
3. by admitting that if God is worthy of glory then by contrast Man isn't.
"If you are the dealer, I'm out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame"
The next 2 lines are a separate refrain by Jesus, the God-Man who on behalf of mankind became the humble Sin-bearer, yet on behalf of God agrees that Sin deserves the total destruction to appease God's justice. Hence Jesus, who came as the Light of the World accepted the justice and punishment of having that light removed from him. His union with God the Father was completely and totally severed when he became Sin on the cross. Thus the cost of Man's sin was fully paid that day!
"You want it darker
We kill the flame"
Chorus:
Here the notion of a God so holy that He will exercise justice is so well stated. In the 1st 2 lines of the chorus Cohen clearly points to the Christian context in which this same holy God also chose to receive that right and just punishment in human form.
"Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame"
The last 2 lines of the chorus is in reference to Jesus' struggle and plea to His Father (God) before He was arrested by the Roman soldiers, in the garden of Gethsemane, where his sweat dropped like blood. He had full knowledge of the will of God to destroy Sin completely and totally to justify God's justice. Yet that plea ('a million candles burning for the help that never came) was for this suffering to be somehow softened or by-passed. Jesus in the end submitted to God's will for Him to become Sin and thus to be utterly and totally severed from God and holiness. ('You want it darker') It was so dark He did cry out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me". Because that help never came!
"A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker"
Outro:
There, in the conclusion part of the song Cohen rephrases Jesus submission to His Father's will by saying 'not my will but your will be done' by saying 'Here I am, I'm ready Lord.' This is very much an old testament reference to heeding God's call (Abraham, Moses, Samuel, Isaiah, etc.) as well as in the new testament (Christ, Paul, all believers attitude, etc.).
"Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord"
Second verse:
This is Cohen's apologetics to the biblical narrative and the Gospel (good news)! The lover is God who loves mankind so much that He came to die for them, yet the old half-baked story of only a punishing God still remains in people's minds. All because suffering continues in this world and some comfort is gleaned from any story. A loving and a punishing God is a paradox that the un-searching mind cannot grasp. Yet Cohen stresses that it is all written in Scripture for those with ears to hear and eyes to see. The truth and Gospel is not just some idle claim! Indeed God wanted the thing that separate Man from God to be abolished - Sin! Christ became that thing and His Father certainly wanted it darker and they killed every flicker of flame.
"There's a lover in the story
But the story's still the same
There's a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it's written in the scriptures
And it's not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame"
Third verse:
According to Scripture, true believers are those that will overcome the 'demons' in their lives for the power they have within (Spirit of God) is stronger than any demon. Strangely true believers will also experience persecution from the world because the spirit of the world or the spirit of the age is opposed to God, Christ and His followers.
The reference to permission to murder and maim is a spiritual battle, not literal killing of other humans but demons within and without. Indeed true believers have the power and mandate to overthrow evil with no compromise. God wants it darker!
"They're lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn't know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker"
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord
Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame
If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I'm broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker
Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I'm ready, my lord
Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - IceWizard - 08-10-2021
Sounds fine to me
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - Charon - 08-10-2021
I have loved Leonard Cohen for years. He was born Jewish. But he came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. As evidenced by the song he wrote: Hallelujah.
He mixed up a story or two in it. But, my good sister and I had peace cuz we prayed for him for so long.
He became more and more spiritual as he aged. Wonderful info, Ms. Willie.
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - TrayGold - 08-12-2021
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - IceWizard - 08-12-2021
![[Image: DhEE0xl.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/DhEE0xl.jpg)
Beatles
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
(Anthology 3 Version)
![[Image: T1nU1as.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/T1nU1as.jpg)
The Beatles
Revolution 9
(Music Video)
![[Image: ElHMk62.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/ElHMk62.jpg)
I Am The Walrus
(Original 1967 Stereo)
![[Image: 2DFaOIy.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/2DFaOIy.jpg)
The Beatles
Taxman
![[Image: JTkm5a0.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/JTkm5a0.jpg)
When I'm Sixty Four
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RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - TrayGold - 08-13-2021
Good luck getting this song out of your head. Lol!
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - IceWizard - 08-13-2021
![[Image: Tak9R0h.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/Tak9R0h.jpg)
RE: The Juke Box is OPEN - IceWizard - 08-16-2021
![[Image: UXQuzDl.jpg]](https://i.imgur.com/UXQuzDl.jpg)