Interpretation
In "The Night Comes On" by
Leonard Cohen, it is about loss, memory, and the desire for redemption. The song lyrics describe the feelings of the narrator, who speaks of his mother and father and how they influence his life.
The song begins with the narrator going to his mother's grave and telling her about his fears. She assures him that she will always be with him, even when he is alone. The night falls and the narrator wishes it never ends, but his mother tells him to return to the world.
Then, the narrator remembers the time when his father was wounded in war and advises him to carry on and recognize the world's lies. The night falls again and the narrator wishes his father was wrong, but he doesn't want to lie to the young.
The next verse is about a difficult time when the narrator seeks refuge in religion and wonders how long his loved one will stay with him. He longs to touch nothing, but his children remind him that he promised to play with them. They hide from him, but remain in the world.
The song lyrics continue with the narrator always searching for his loved one and bound to her through a prayer. He wonders when she will call him and what he must do to prepare. When she fulfills his longing, he feels safe in her arms. But she tells him to return to the world.
The text ends with the narrator describing the sounds of the night and mentioning that he will go to a bar to meet his friends. He drinks to those who forgive him and those who don't even care. The night falls again and the narrator wishes to cross over and go home, but he is told to return to the world.
Overall, the song lyrics of "The Night Comes On" by Leonard Cohen address the themes of loss, memory, the desire for redemption, and the conflict between the desire for peace and the urge to carry on in the world. It is a song full of emotions and the search for comfort and peace.