That Don't Make It Junk, Leonard Cohen

I used to think that in his art the poet used things of the world to analogize the human condition. Now I realise that in doing so the artist also uses the human condition to analogize the world.

I fought against the bottle,
but I had to do it drunk.
Took my diamond to the pawnshop,
but that don’t make it junk.

I know that I’m forgiven,
but I don’t know how I know.
I don’t trust my inner feelings –
inner feelings come and go.

How come you called me here tonight?
How come you bother with my heart at all?
You raise me up in grace,
Then you put me in a place where I must fall.

Too late to fix another drink –
the lights are going out.
I’ll listen to the darkness sing –
I know what that’s about.

I tried to love you my way,
but I couldn’t make it hold.
So I closed the Book of Longing
and I do what I am told.

How come you called me here tonight?
How come you bother with my heart at all?
You raise me up in grace,
Then you put me in a place where I must fall.

I fought against the bottle,
but I had to do it drunk.
Took my diamond to the pawnshop,
but that don’t make it junk.