The Partisan

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,

Ils me dirent, "résigne toi,"

Mais je n'ai pas peur;

J'ai repris mon âme.

[the germans were at my home

They said, "sign yourself,"

But i am not afraid

I have retaken my soul.]

J'ai change' cent fois de nom,

J'ai perdu femme et enfants

Mais j'ai tant d'amis;

J'ai la france entie`re.

[i've changed names a hundred times

I have lost wife and children

But i have so many friends

I have all of france]

Un vieil homme dans un grenier

Pour la nuit nous a cache',

Les allemands l'ont pris;

Il est mort sans surprise.

[an old man, in an attic

Hid us for the night

The germans captured him

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.