Lyrics & Translation
Dive into the evocative world of Leonard Cohen's "The Night of Santiago"! This song, rich with poetic imagery and a haunting flamenco-infused melody, offers a unique opportunity to experience the nuanced beauty of English lyrics. Learn how Cohen masterfully blends sensuality with a profound exploration of human relationships and memory, making it a truly special piece for language learners and music enthusiasts alike.
[English]
She said she was a maidenThat wasn't what I heard
For the sake of conversation
I took her at her word
The lights went out behind us
The fireflies undressed
The broken sidewalk ended
I touched her sleeping breasts
They opened to me urgently
Like lilies from the dead
Behind a fine embroidery
Her nipples rose like bread
Then I took off my necktie
And she took off her dress
My belt and pistol set aside
We tore away the rest
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
Her thighs, they slipped away from me
Like schools of startled fish
Though I've forgotten half my life
I still remember this
Now, as a man, I won't repeat
The things she said aloud
Except for this, my lips are sealed forever
And for now
And soon, there's sand in every kiss
And soon, the dawn is ready
And soon, the night surrenders
To a daffodil machete
I gave her something pretty
And I waited till she laughed
I wasn't born a gypsy
To make a woman sad
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
I didn't fall in love, of course
It's never up to you
But she was walking back and forth
And I was passing through
When I took her to the river
In her virginal apparel
When I took her to the river
On that night of Santiago
And yes she lied about it all
Her children and her husband
You were born to judge the world
Forgive me but I wasn't
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
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maiden /ˈmeɪ.dən/ B2 |
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conversation /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən/ B1 |
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fireflies /ˈfaɪəˌflaɪz/ B2 |
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broken /ˈbroʊ.kən/ A2 |
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sidewalk /ˈsaɪd.wɔːk/ B1 |
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breasts /brɛsts/ B1 |
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lilies /ˈlɪl.iːz/ B2 |
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embroidery /ɪmˈbrɔɪ.dəri/ C1 |
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necktie /ˈnɛk.taɪ/ B1 |
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pistol /ˈpɪs.təl/ B2 |
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river /ˈrɪv.ər/ A1 |
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dawn /dɔːn/ B1 |
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daffodil /ˈdæf.ə.dɪl/ C1 |
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machete /məˈʃeɪ.ti/ C1 |
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gypsy /ˈdʒɪp.si/ B2 |
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virginal /ˈvɜː.dʒɪ.nəl/ C1 |
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judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B2 |
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forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1 |
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Key Grammar Structures
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She said she was a maiden
➔ Reported speech (past simple + past simple)
➔ The verb "said" is in the past simple and introduces reported speech; the verb "was" is also past simple, showing the state she claimed to have.
-
I took her at her word
➔ Idiomatic expression with past simple
➔ The verb "took" is in the past simple and forms the idiom "take someone at their word" meaning to believe what someone says.
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The lights went out behind us
➔ Phrasal verb (go out) in past simple
➔ "Went" is the past simple of "go" and together with "out" forms the phrasal verb "go out", meaning the lights stopped shining.
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I touched her sleeping breasts
➔ Present participle as adjective (sleeping)
➔ "Sleeping" is a present participle used adjectivally to describe the state of the breasts.
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And I was passing through
➔ Past continuous (was passing)
➔ "Was passing" combines the past tense of "be" with the present participle "passing" to indicate an ongoing action in the past.
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Though I've forgotten half my life
➔ Present perfect (have forgotten)
➔ "I've forgotten" is the contraction of "I have forgotten", the present perfect, showing an action that started in the past and has relevance now.
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Now, as a man, I won't repeat
➔ Modal verb + base form (won't repeat)
➔ "Won't" is the contraction of "will not"; it is a modal verb followed by the base verb "repeat" to express a future negative intention.
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I wasn't born a gypsy
➔ Passive voice in past simple (wasn't born)
➔ "Wasn't born" uses the past simple of "be" + past participle "born" to form a passive construction meaning "I did not come into the world as a gypsy".
