His work explored religion, politics, isolation, sexuality, and romantic relationships. Leonard Norman Cohen CC GOQ (Septem– November 7, 2016) was a Canadian songwriter poet, singer, and novelist.

One's aspirations are always out of reach. The end objective is never quite achievable. Putting on a brave face despite feelings of hopelessness.įeeling connected to nature in a calming way.įeeling a glimmer of hope for the future.įeeling one has nothing of significance to offer others. Others continue to live their lives normally. The start of the emotional decline was in the past. The downward spiral has been in motion for some time. I am not the only one who experiences such emotions.įinally coming to terms with one's emotional turmoil.Ĭlosing the book on past events that are now resolved. I am falling back into my depressive state. I am unable to interact with others due to my mental state.

I am confined by my own emotions and fears. Lastly, he recognizes that everyone is searching for something in their lives, but the goal is always shorter than the reach. He admits defeat but tries his best to move forward, just like the leaves on the trees, and the shine on the chrome is almost alive, just as he is. In the fourth stanza, the speaker is sitting in his chair, looking out into the street, and notices the neighbor returning home. He accepts that he cannot stop the rain or snow, and he's limited in his ability to control his life circumstances. The third stanza acknowledges that the narrator's current problems began far in the past and that it's too late to try and undo things now. The narrator also acknowledges that some things that he once thought were valuable have turned out to be garbage (trash), while also realizing that at the same time, he has paid a heavy price for them.

This seems to be referring to the idea that he has finally come to terms with the personal demons that have been plaguing him for a while. The second stanza goes on to describe his feelings of settling at last some sort of account of the soul. He admits that he is going down again, although he's not alone. The first stanza of the song 'The Goal' by Leonard Cohen describes the speaker's deep sense of depression and isolation, something that's interpreted from the fact that he cannot leave his house or answer the phone.

The goal lyrics leonard cohen