The Partisan

For other uses, see Partisan (disambiguation).

"La Complainte du Partisan" ("The Partisan") is a song about the French Resistance in World War II. The song was written in 1943 in London by Emmanuel d'Astier de la Vigerie and the music by Anna Marly.

It is often confused with the Chant des Partisans, written by Joseph Kessel and Maurice Druon, composed by Anna Marly, which became the unofficial anthem of the French Resistance.

Adaptation and covers

Originally written in French, it has been adapted in English with lyrics by Hy Zaret and covered by diverse artists, including Leonard Cohen, Les Compagnons de la chanson, Goteki, Joan Baez, Buffy Sainte-Marie, 16 Horsepower, Po' Girl, Branimir Štulić, Arsen Dedić, Jaromír Nohavica, Electrelane, The Swell Season, Other Lives, American Steel, Mick Gordon with Tex Perkins and Los Vega El Partisano.

This song has been translated into many languages, particularly after the version by Leonard Cohen.

• Italian: by Bruno Lauzi (titled Il partigiano), and recorded by Claudio Daiano
• Dutch: translated by Rob Chrispijn as De Vluchteling ("the refugee") and recorded by Herman van Veen in 1971. In 2005, Yasmine and Thé Lau recorded an alternative version.
• Croatian: by Nikica Petrak (titled Partizan) and performed by Arsen Dedić)
• Serbian/Croatian: by Branimir Štulić (adapted and titled Partizan and recorded on Štulić's album "Sevdah za Paulu Horvat")
• Polish: by Maciej Zembaty as Partyzant
• German: by Misha G. Schoeneberg, and recorded by Max Prosa
• Spanish: by Los Vega and Gael Garcia
• Nahuatl: by Son Jarocho Collective Izkaloteka

External links

• The text of the song La Complainte du partisan/The Partisan
• Song of the French Partisan
• Leonard Cohen-The Partisan on YouTube
• Raoul Breton-La Complainte du Partisan on YouTube
• Arsen Dedić-Partizan on YouTube
• Branimir Štulić-Partizan
• Mick Gordon (feat. Tex Perkins) - The Partisan on YouTube