Meaning of "I Can't Forget" by Leonard Cohen

"I Can't Forget" by Leonard Cohen reflects on the complexities of memory, nostalgia, and the longing to hold onto faded moments from the past. The opening lines suggest a sense of disorientation and inner conflict as the narrator wakes up and prepares for an unknown challenge. Smoking a cigarette and tightening their gut symbolize both physical and emotional readiness for the struggle ahead. However, the repetitive line "I can't forget but I don't remember what" captures the paradox of memory. The narrator strongly feels the weight of these memories, but the specific details elude them, leaving an unresolved yearning.

The lyrics then depict the narrator embarking on a journey down to Phoenix, guided by an old address associated with someone significant from their past. The reference to the address being "high and fine and free" suggests that the memories of this person and place are imbued with a sense of beauty and liberation. The narrator's aim in going there is to recreate the past, to relive the feelings and experiences once shared. However, the line "I can't forget but I don't remember who" reveals that the identity of this person has become blurred or perhaps lost in the recesses of time. It highlights the transient nature of relationships and the fragility of human connections.

The song's final stanza intensifies the emotional depth as the narrator expresses a profound love for someone, declaring their desire for it to be the way they end their life. The reference to the changing seasons, with the summer almost gone and winter tuning up, indicates the passage of time. Despite this impermanence, the narrator believes that love transcends it all, stating that "a lot goes on forever." The repetition of the line "I can't forget" underscores the lasting impact of love, even if the details become hazy or forgotten.

In essence, "I Can't Forget" invites contemplation of the human condition, the bittersweet nature of memory, and the longing to hold onto the intangible remnants of the past. It illustrates the tension between the desire to remember and the inevitability of forgetting, as well as the power of love to persist even when the memories associated with it fade.