Meaning of "Nightingale" by Leonard Cohen

The lyrics of "Nightingale" by Leonard Cohen paint a vivid picture of love and loss through the metaphor of a nightingale's song. The narrator's initial enchantment with the bird's sweet melodies paralleled the beginning of a love affair, where everything seemed perfect and full of promise. However, as time passed, the beauty faded, and the relationship was overshadowed by the passage of time and inevitable change. The closing lines convey a sense of nostalgia and acceptance of the inevitable end of things, as the nightingale's song can no longer be heard, but its memory lingers on. The song captures the bittersweet essence of love, where even the most beautiful moments are fleeting and eventually fade into memory.