'The Partisan' appreciation

[Rae]

They have this song at my local karaoke. Fun to sing. Leonard plays fast and loose with the translation-- the English is almost more poetic than the French, which seems rare. I've heard that there are other versions besides his... anyone heard them?

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 étaient chez moi,
ils me disent, "résigne toi,"
mais je n'ai pas peur;
j'ai repris mon arme
J'ai changé cent fois de nom,
j'ai perdu femme et enfants
mais j'ai tant d'amis;
j'ai la France entière
Un vieil homme dans un grenier
pour la nuit nous a caché,
les Allemands l'ont pris;
il est mort sans suprise...

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...

~Rae

[O'Shag]

Beautiful words Rae. It reminds me a lot of a song called Arthur McBride, which is about British officers trying to force an Irish country boy to join the British Army to fight on the frontlines in France in WW1. A great many of the soldiers that died in the frontline trenches in WW1 were young Irish lads who were so straving they accepted the few shillings to sign up - little knowing they were going to certain death.

The song Arthur McBride (I think written by James Joyce if I'm not much mistaken) has been sung by many, including BobDylan. But my favorite version is by Paul Brady. Many hit songs recorded by other famous artists - such as Bonny Raitt's most famous hit, were written by Paul Brady. Its been many years since I sang at Karioke. If I remember correctly, I got up with a girl - a friend of mine - and we sang Don't You Want Me Baby by The Human League.