Saturday, April 10, 2010

The Partisan

French partisan sabotages railroad tracks at Roanne station.

Folks,

My son Matt sent me this email and link:

Check this out. I ran across this song some time ago. I think that you will like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RYy_8u4blk&feature=related

"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.


2 comments:

UK Houston said...

You really should give credit to the great Leonard Cohen.

Paul X said...

My favorite Leonard Cohen song. His sad voice is perfect for it. Here is a link for the version on his record that I like better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG4ndbhOkpI

Here is a page with historical notes about the song. I had to laugh at Joan Baez' modification of it:
http://www.leonardcohensite.com/partisaneng.htm

This song brings out the sad resignation and resolution of the partisan. It will be our song pretty soon, I think.