The Old Revolution

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,

ils me dirent, "Signe toi,"

mais je n'ai pas peur;

j'ai repris mon arme.

J'ai change' cent fois de nom,

j'ai perdu femme et enfants

mais j'ai tant d'amis;

j'ai la France entie`re.

Un vieil homme dans un grenier

pour la nuit nous a cache',

les Allemands l'ont pris;

il est mort sans surprise.

[The Germans were at my home

They said, "Sign yourself,"

But I am not afraid

I have retaken my weapon.

I have changed names a hundred times

I have lost wife and children

But I have so many friends

I have all of France

An old man, in an attic

Hid us for the night

The Germans captured him

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.