

It’s about “light”.
Leonard has said that he uses a special “vocabulary” which he derives from the “biblical landscape”. And he pointed out that he preferred the term biblical to Hebrew. This implies that he uses both old and new testament vocab.
It’s about “light” in the poetry.
In that biblical landscape, the concept of “light” takes many forms, from a burning bush, to a fallen star, “goodnight, goodnight my fallen star” (Lucifer, shedder of light and the Morning Star), the “Word” of God, tongues of fire and the Spirit of Holiness; and so on.
It’s about light and its intensity.
“You want it darker” references a light that is so finely tuned, so dim and obscure that it no longer hurts to look at it; it is barely visible, and, this is just the light that the “biblical vocab” suggests is required in this “game” of seeking the Source of all. In that darkness, “steer your way, “O my heart…through the darkness… through the ruins… past the Truth…through the pain” of annihilation and Union of light (Leonard’s spirit) with Light Divine.
“…and please don’t make me go there though there be a God or not”
This is the “darkness” he fears most of all.
“You want it darker,
We kill the flame.”………annihilation
Like Jesus on the cross at Calvary, Leonard holds “various positions” on imminent death.
“…Into thy hands I commend my spirit
Why hast Thou forsaken me?
…It is finished”
The first “position” is one of loving faith and immanent Union.
The second “position” is it’s exact opposite, one of dark and immanent extinction and killing off of the flame.
The third “position” is one of acceptance, as if God were talking to himself. “I and the Father are One", vista.
There is a fourth “position” too, of course, but I haven’t noticed it in Leonard’s work. That of re-incarnation.
So, in summary, the “You want it darker” album is a tangled up matter of faith, hope and doubt; beautifully framed in music and the Biblical vocabulary of “light/Light” with a touch of Cowboy bravado. Hallelujah! Leonard was human after all.

John 1:5 “And The Light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.” So for me, the “flame” of Leonard is safe. (Aramaic Bible in Plain English)
Later, I would like to go through the poetry of the “You Want It Darker” songs like I/we did for the “Ten New Songs” album with “The Poetry of ten new songs” thread. But I am not ready for that yet….no “Hineni Hineni” for me yet.
I really want to look at the whole concept of "Traveling Light" ...and I don't mean baggage

"I'm traveling light" Leonard Cohen.
Thanks for reading my sauntering thoughts,
MatbbgJ