Leonard Cohen - The Partisan

The Partisan.
When they poured across the border
I was cautioned to surrender,
this I could not do;
I took my gun and vanished.
I have changed my name so often,
I've lost my wife and children
but I have many friends,
and some of them are with me.

An old woman gave us shelter,
kept us hidden in the garret,
then the soldiers came;
she died without a whisper.

There were three of us this morning
I'm the only one this evening
but I must go on;
the frontiers are my prison.

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows.

Les Allemands e'taient chez moi, (The Germans were at my home)
ils me dirent, "Signe toi," (They said, "Sign yourself,")
mais je n'ai pas peur; (But I am not afraid)
j'ai repris mon arme. (I have retaken my weapon.)

J'ai change' cent fois de nom, (I have changed names a hundred times)
j'ai perdu femme et enfants (I have lost wife and children)
mais j'ai tant d'amis; (But I have so many friends)
j'ai la France entie`re. (I have all of France)

Un vieil homme dans un grenier (An old man, in an attic)
pour la nuit nous a cache', (Hid us for the night)
les Allemands l'ont pris; (The Germans captured him)
il est mort sans surprise. (He died without surprise.)

Oh, the wind, the wind is blowing,
through the graves the wind is blowing,
freedom soon will come;
then we'll come from the shadows.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Leonard
• cohen.
• The
• partisan.
• majorsnag

[MURLOCtheGreat]

Drugovi i drugarice, SMRT FASIZMU - SLOBODA NARODU!

[Kingsmanly]

@emilija74

'Partisan' is a term for any supporter of a particular cause. This song is about French partisans under the Nazi occupation of France. The fact you didn't pick up on this, given the French verses, is remarkable. It is you who have demonstrated ignorance, and not Mr. Cohen.

[PURES3X]

Long live the courage of Partisans That stand by Morals! 

[MULLINAXREX]

DEATH TO FASCISTS !

[kamurashi]

@MrTerraAnt

"Modern fascism" ??? LOL communism isnt fascism too? Yes i guess

[psadpoiafsdf]

@Polo037 yeah the ending was a surprise but I wikipediaed the movie before I watched it so I ruined the surprise

[Polo037]

@psadpoiafsdf good move with an unexpected ending

[polmaccaba01]

@Kingsmanly i disagree with you...."Partisan' is a term for any supporter of a particular cause.", why can't this song have universal meaning/understanding? Is there any reason that it can't? Is it just because it is in french, is it as you say about the french resistance, is that why? I am just curious, and frankly i think it is you that is ignorant for not understanding the Global meaning of this song. Well tha'ts my opinion, more than happy to debate it with you my friend.

[sativaV12]

Greetings from Balkan, freedom or die!!!!

[MrTerraAnt]

PARTISAN

Original: Weapon used in the 16th and 17th centuries. "Weapon having a blade with lateral projections mounted on the end of a long shaft."

Recent: Freedom fighter. "A member of an organized body of fighters who attack or harass an enemy, especially within occupied territory; a guerrilla." Examples would be the partisans of occupied Europe who fought against fascism during WW2.

Modern: A terrorist. Anyone who does not comply with the occupation of their own country by modern fascism.

[jcbellec]

When I listen to this song, I think that our elders that we are free today ... it tears m'arrachent chills. I believe that i was never well described that time in so few words,

What a talent, thank you Leonard

[whiterchocolate]

@dejandragocvet well you better start rearming