Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: singer-songwriter
Song Meaning of “Different Sides” by Leonard Cohen
“Different Sides” by Leonard Cohen is about the tension between two sides of a relationship. It speaks to the complex nature of love and how it can cause a divide between people’s thoughts and feelings. The song starts off with Cohen singing about how “We can come from different sides,” signifying the two distinct sides in the relationship. He goes on to speak about how both parties may view the same thing differently, as “We can look at the same page but we don’t see the same words.” This symbolizes how two people may look at the same thing and process it differently.
The chorus focuses on the idea that the love between two people may be strong, but can be divided by “different sides” that keep them apart. He sings about how “love should mend the bridge that divides us,” and how their “doubts and fears” can separate them. This illustrates the fragility of love, and how even when two people are meant to be together, different feelings or perspectives can get in the way.
The song speaks to the tension that can occur in a relationship due to opposing perspectives and differences. It’s a reminder that love is powerful, but that it can easily be broken or divided by the very differences that make it so unique.