Leonard Cohen – The Promise 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.

Submitted by Guest