"The Partisan" by Leonard Cohen.

OK, boys and girls, THE MAN is back: This '69 Leonard Cohen cut from "Songs From A Room" is a cover of a '43 composition from London by Emmanuel D'Astier de la Vigerie and Anna Marly as they survived the German bombings. Cohen and Hy Zaret translated and scored it. Speaks of the French Resistance against the Nazi occupation in the North and the "puppet" Vichy government. Covered by Joan Baez and Buffy Sainte-Marie.

Answer: "The Partisan" by Leonard Cohen. As many times as I've listened to this Cohen masterpiece I never tire - a certain "je ne sais quoi" about it - maybe it's the contrast between his rich bass and the angelic voices of Julie Christensen and Perla Batalla. Sadness but optimism. Without a doubt one of the great composers of our time - this is him at his best!  When he performs it on stage John Bilezikhjian's accompaniment on the oud adds yet another layer of magic.  

Through the years I have lost so many of my musical heroes and every time I do I lose a small piece of myself.  When we lost Leonard Cohen in 2016 it was different.  Maybe it was because I never saw him live, maybe because of my deep admiration for him and his work since the 60s, for a couple of weeks I experienced an underlying sadness like never before.  So grateful to have had my dear friend Dr. Eric Bligard, another avid Cohen admirer, to commiserate.

Leonard Cohen - The Partisan (Audio) (youtube.com)

Leonard Cohen The Partisan 1988 (youtube.com)

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