Nevermind

Leonard Cohen's 'Nevermind' is a hauntingly reflective song that delves into themes of war, identity, and the nature of truth. The lyrics suggest the perspective of someone who has been through a conflict and has had to abandon their previous life. The repeated phrase 'The war was lost, the treaty signed' sets a tone of defeat and resignation, while the lines 'I was not caught / I crossed the line' imply a narrow escape from capture or persecution, and perhaps a crossing of moral boundaries as well.

The song's chorus, 'Never mind,' serves as a refrain of dismissal or detachment, indicating a desire to leave the past behind and to disregard the painful memories associated with it. Cohen's use of 'never mind' could also be interpreted as a commentary on the futility of holding onto names, identities, and the minutiae of life ('The clothes we wore / Our spoons, our knives') in the face of the larger, more indifferent forces of history and fate. The contrast between 'truth that lives' and 'truth that dies' suggests a philosophical musing on the impermanence and subjectivity of truth, especially in the aftermath of war.

The song also touches on personal betrayal and the struggle to maintain one's humanity ('I could not kill / The way you kill'). Cohen's narrator speaks of being turned in and rejected, yet despite this, they continue to live 'the life I left behind'—a life that is full and undivided by time, safe from the 'ghosts' of the past. The imagery of graves and roots entwined evokes a sense of deep connection to family and history that cannot be erased by conflict or by the passage of time.