The Goal

Leonard Cohen's song 'The Goal' is a poignant reflection on the human condition, filled with introspection and a sense of resignation. The lyrics convey a deep sense of isolation, as the narrator admits to being unable to leave the house or answer the phone. This could symbolize a broader feeling of being trapped or disconnected from the world. Despite this, the narrator acknowledges that they are 'not alone,' hinting at a shared human experience of struggle and solitude.

The song delves into the idea of settling 'accounts of the soul,' suggesting a reckoning or an attempt to make peace with one's past actions and decisions. The line 'This for the trash, that paid in full' implies a sorting of what is valuable and what is not, both materially and spiritually. Cohen's use of natural elements like rain and snow, which cannot be stopped, serves as a metaphor for the inevitability of life's challenges and the passage of time.

In the latter part of the song, the narrator describes a mundane scene of sitting in a chair and exchanging a 'smile of defeat' with a neighbor. This moment captures the shared, often unspoken, acknowledgment of life's hardships. The lines 'I move with the leaves, I shine with the chrome' evoke a sense of being in tune with the world yet feeling almost detached, 'almost alive' and 'almost at home.' The final lines, 'No one to follow and nothing to teach, except that the goal falls short of the reach,' encapsulate a profound realization about the nature of aspirations and the often elusive nature of fulfillment.