The Master Song

[lostsaint]

For almost every night for the past few weeks I have been trying to absorb the meaning of the Master Song, one of L/C's earlier works.
I can gather that it tells of a kind of triology but in where does Leonard fit ?

Is he some kind of Slave to both the Master and the Woman?['And now you bring your prisoner Wine and Bread'?]

Was he once a Mentor to the 'Master' ['I taught him all that he knew']?

Was he the Lover of Both 'Master' and presumably 'The Woman'?['I taught him how he would long for me, no matter what you say or what you do']

Or Is he or has been The Master himself?

Any thoughts mush appreciated,

[Nicolas]

Hello Lostsaint,

I can only suggest you to read the analysis made by Judith Fitzgerald which stands on the http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com website
Click on Alanlysis and you will see it.
I, myself have wondered very long about the meaning of the song and really love it.

Regards

[lyndaim]

This is an amazing song and I have also wondered much about it.
Thanks for the link.

[Zoe Martell]

I don't profess to know what LC means, but I've always read it a bit the way you describe -- a love triangle of sorts, wherein LC's woman runs off with another man (with his permission?), thus enslaving them all....and there is indeed a strong hint at male/male sexual intimacy here, too.

One of my very favorite of the early songs.

Calls up the same type of triangular dynamics to me as famous blue raincoat, a bit.... and also of the gypsy wife...

[Partisan]

By all means use the link, just remember some people cannot see the wood for the trees.

p.

[Cohen Kid]

it changes, but Master Song must be my favourite Cohen piece, especially when that tremelo guitar starts
I wondered too about the meaning, but it's nice to read about it here

[Medusa0blongata]

Look at the triad from Beautiful Losers...

[IsaacOfTheNewts]

I'm bringing up a very old thread, i know. But it deserves more discussion.

On a BBC radio broadcast in 1968, Cohen says this before he begins the Master Song:
"It's about the Trinity. Let's leave that to the scholars... it's about three people."

The Judy Fitzgerald link in the first post references this too.
I agree with PARTISAN'S post about overcritquing, though, and would rather draw out simpler conclusions than fitzgerald...

So, i assume Cohen means to reference the christian trinity (you know, the Lord, his son, the holy spirit?). What's interesting is who he refers to as the 'master', who as the master's disciple, and who as "I".
There are hints of there being a woman, etc, but those could be symbolic.

So, any takers? Who's who?

ps- samples of that bbc broadcast on this blog: captain's dead

[IsaacOfTheNewts]

Oh. There's already a topic in the POETRY AND NOVELS section. No need for the necro after all.
http://www.leonardcohenforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=23694&start=15

[John Etherington]

For a discussion on other dimensions of "Master Song" see the other "Master Song" thread that I've just pulled-up to the top area of this section!

[remote1]

Here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=20471