Leonard Cohen – Joan of Arc Lyrics

Saint Joan of Arc was born at Domremy in Champagne, France, in 1412, and died at Rouen, 1431, at the age of 19. She heard voices of the Saints of God, that told her to go to the King of France and help him reconquer his kingdom. She was condemned to death as a heretic, sorceress, and adulteress, and burned at the stake on 1431. Her ashes were thrown into the Seine. She was ultimately canonized in 1920.

Although she never married, this song’s working title was “The Marriage of Joan of Arc”.

The picture bellow fits well with the song, though it is not really Saint Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc Lyrics by Leonard Cohen

Now the flames they followed Joan of Arc
As she came riding through the dark
No moon to keep her armour bright
No man to get her through this very smoky night

She said, “I’m tired of the war
I want the kind of work I had before
A wedding dress or something white
To wear upon my swollen appetite”

Well, I’m glad to hear you talk this way
You know I’ve watched you riding every day
And something in me yearns to win
Such a cold and lonesome heroine
“And who are you?” she sternly spoke
To the one beneath the smoke
“Why, I’m fire”, he replied
“And I love your solitude, I love your pride”

“Then fire, make your body cold
I’m going to give you mine to hold”
Saying this she climbed inside
To be his one, to be his only bride

And deep into his fiery heart
He took the dust of Joan of Arc
And high above the wedding guests
He hung the ashes of her wedding dress

It was deep into his fiery heart
He took the dust of Joan of Arc
And then she clearly understood
If he was fire, oh then she must be wood

I saw her wince, I saw her cry
I saw the glory in her eye
Myself, I long for love and light
But must it come so cruel, and oh so bright?