Jazz Police

Jazz Police - meaning Summary

Authority Policing Cultural Expression

Leonard Cohen's "Jazz Police" satirically imagines authority figures policing a subculture. The poem mixes mundane domestic details, surreal commands, and ironic sympathy to suggest how institutions misunderstand, control, and commodify artistic life. Repeated refrains create a sense of surveillance and absurdity while speakers alternate between defiance, longing and mock submission, implying that cultural policing warps identity and relationship to creativity.

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Can you tell me why the bells are ringing? Nothing's happened in a million years I've been sitting here since Wednesday morning Wednesday morning can't believe my ears Jazz police are looking through my folders Jazz police are talking to my niece Jazz police have got their final orders Jazzer, drop your axe, it's Jazz police! Jesus taken serious by the many Jesus taken joyous by a few Jazz police are paid by J. Paul Getty Jazzers paid by J. Paul Getty II Jazz police I hear you calling Jazz police I feel so blue Jazz police I think I'm falling I'm falling for you Wild as any freedom loving racist I applaud the actions of the chief Tell me now oh beautiful and spacious Am I in trouble with the Jazz police? Jazz police are looking through my folders Jazz police are talking to my niece Jazz police have got their final orders Jazzer, drop your axe, it's Jazz police! They will never understand our culture They'll never understand the Jazz police Jazz police are working for my mother Blood is thicker margarine than grease Let me be somebody I admire Let me be that muscle down the street Stick another turtle on the fire Guys like me are mad for turtle meat Jazz police I hear you calling Jazz police I feel so blue Jazz police I think I'm falling I'm falling for you