Leonard Cohen - The Partisan

Leonard Norman Cohen, (born September 21, 1934) is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, poet and novelist. Cohen published his first book of poetry in Montreal in 1956 and his first novel in 1963. His work often deals with the exploration of religion, isolation, sexuality and complex interpersonal relationships. Famously reclusive, spending years in a Zen Buddhist monastery, and possessing a persona frequently associated with mystique, he is extremely well-regarded by critics for his literary accomplishments and for producing an output of work of high artistic quality over a five-decade career. Lyrics: 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.