The Night of Santiago – English Lyrics

• By: Leonard Cohen

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 maiden

That 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
maiden /ˈmeɪ.dən/ B2	noun - a young unmarried woman
conversation /ˌkɒn.vəˈseɪ.ʃən/ B1	noun - talk between two or more people
fireflies /ˈfaɪəˌflaɪz/ B2	noun - insects that emit light, also called lightning bugs
broken /ˈbroʊ.kən/ A2	adjective - damaged and no longer whole or functional
sidewalk /ˈsaɪd.wɔːk/ B1	noun - a paved path for pedestrians at the side of a road
breasts /brɛsts/ B1	noun - the two soft, protruding parts on a woman's chest
lilies /ˈlɪl.iːz/ B2	noun - a type of flowering plant with large, often fragrant blossoms
embroidery /ɪmˈbrɔɪ.dəri/ C1	noun - decorative needlework on fabric
necktie /ˈnɛk.taɪ/ B1	noun - a long piece of cloth worn around the neck, usually with a shirt
pistol /ˈpɪs.təl/ B2	noun - a small firearm designed to be held in one hand
river /ˈrɪv.ər/ A1	noun - a large natural stream of water flowing toward a sea, lake or another river
dawn /dɔːn/ B1	noun - the first appearance of light in the morning
daffodil /ˈdæf.ə.dɪl/ C1	noun - a spring-flowering plant with bright yellow trumpet-shaped flowers
machete /məˈʃeɪ.ti/ C1	noun - a large, heavy knife used for cutting vegetation or as a weapon
gypsy /ˈdʒɪp.si/ B2	noun - a member of a traditionally itinerant people, often associated with Romani culture
virginal /ˈvɜː.dʒɪ.nəl/ C1	adjective - pure, chaste, or unexperienced in sexual matters
judge /dʒʌdʒ/ B2	verb - to form an opinion or conclusion about something
forgive /fərˈɡɪv/ B1	verb - to stop feeling angry or resentful toward someone for an offense

Key Grammar Structures

• 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.

• 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.

• I touched her sleeping breasts

  ➔ Present participle as adjective (sleeping)

  ➔ "Sleeping" is a present participle used adjectivally to describe the state of the breasts.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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".