I’ve finally given into watching season two of True Detective. I loved season one and vaguely heard that season two wasn’t as good. So I went in with low expectations, and I’ve been marginally enjoying it as a background story to other activities (like writing here – it’s on now, another screen, episode 6).

I really like the opening song though.

So I thought I’d explore it with ChatGPT-4, if I still had enough messages left to send, I’ve been hitting my 25 per 3 hour limit almost all day. But thankfully, I had enough.

I started sharing the lyrics and asking for a meaning.

Anna: I really like the following song, but I’m not sure what it means, could you explain the lyrics to me, please?

Leonard Cohen – Nevermind Lyrics

The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line

I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised

I had to leave
My life behind
I dug some graves
You’ll never find

The story’s told
With facts and lies
I had a name
But never mind

Never mind
Never mind
I had to leave my life behind

The story’s told
With facts and lies
You own the world
So never mind

My woman’s here
My children too
Their graves are safe
From ghosts like you

In places deep
With roots entwined
I live the life I left behind

The war was lost
The treaty signed
I was not caught
I crossed the line

I was not caught
Though many tried
I live among you
Well disguised

ChatGPT-4:
“Nevermind” by Leonard Cohen is a poetic and enigmatic song, open to various interpretations. Here’s one possible explanation of the lyrics:

The song could be about a character who was involved in a war that ended in defeat, with the signing of a treaty. This character managed to escape capture, crossing a metaphorical line to live among others without revealing their true identity. “I was not caught, though many tried” suggests that this person might have been a person of interest or even a fugitive during or after the war.

“I had to leave my life behind” signifies the character’s decision to abandon their past, including their name, in order to survive. They had to bury some secrets (“I dug some graves you’ll never find”), and the story of their life is now obscured by both facts and lies. The repetition of “never mind” throughout the song might suggest a sense of resignation or dismissal of the past.

The lines “My woman’s here, my children too” indicate that the character’s family is with them, and their graves are safe from those who might be seeking retribution. The character has found solace in living a new life, one that is hidden and protected from their past (“In places deep, with roots entwined”).

Overall, the song could be interpreted as a reflection on the complexities of war and the personal sacrifices made by individuals caught in the crossfire. The protagonist has had to abandon their past and identity in order to survive, but they continue to live among the very people they fought against. The lyrics paint a picture of a person haunted by their past, yet trying to move forward and live a life that is “well disguised.”

Interesting, I love reading interpretations, and this to me is no different than one I might read on the web somewhere. Just something to ponder while I watch more of the show or write.

My next thought…

Anna: Rewrite the song, with a more feminine voice.

I hadn’t asked the model to do anything in a feminine or masculine or any other gender oriented word, so I was curious how it might interpret that. The reply…

In the battle lost,
A pact was sealed,
I wasn’t caught,
The line I crossed.

I wasn’t caught,
Though many sought,
Among you, I dwell,
A guise so well.

I had to part,
From life once known,
I hid some tombs,
You’ll never own.

My tale unfolds,
With truths and lies,
A name I bore,
But never mind.

Never mind,
Never mind,
From life I knew, I had to hide.

My tale’s spun,
With truths and lies,
You rule the world,
So never mind.

My lover’s near,
My children too,
Their graves are safe,
From shades like you.

In depths concealed,
With roots entwined,
The life I left, I’ve left behind.

In the battle lost,
A pact was sealed,
I wasn’t caught,
The line I crossed.

I wasn’t caught,
Though many sought,
Among you, I dwell,
A guise so well.

I like it, a fun modification I thought. Now, I wanted a summary of the song.

Anna: Explain the new version of the song, in four words.

ChatGPT-4: Feminine, secretive, resilient, haunting.

And I wanted to know why it was defined as “more” of anything. So I asked…

Anna: What made that a more feminine version?

ChatGPT-4: In the revised version, the song’s voice takes on a more feminine perspective through the use of gender-neutral or feminine language. For example, the original line “My woman’s here” has been changed to “My lover’s near,” making the relationship more inclusive and open to a feminine narrator. Additionally, the general tone and vocabulary have been softened to create a more gentle and sensitive atmosphere, which is often associated with feminine expression.

I liked that modification, to “my lover.” I didn’t really notice on the first read through anything that made me think more feminine or masculine, just made me think, something… different than the original. Interesting experiment.