Diamonds in the Lines : Leonard Cohen in his own live words

Joan of Arc
The Marriage Of Joan Of Arc (1970-1985)

Frankfurt 06/05/70

This is a song called "The Marriage of joan Of Arc"

Stockholm 03/04/72

A song that I wrote for a brave woman

Birmingham 18/09/74

Modified Verses

Who are you ?, she sternly spoke
To the voice beneath the smoke
And saying this she climbed inside
To be his one, to be his virgin bride

Paris 19/10/74

Now a song about a woman that has haunted me for a long time.

Interview with Kathleen Kendal 04/12/74

I think it's just a song about total gift, of total giving and total consummation of a spirit in that kind of experience. It takes in the whole shot to me: man and woman.

Paris 20/10/74

This song was written for a German girl (*) I used to know. She's a great singer, I love her songs. I recently read an interview where she was asked about me and my work. And she said "I was completely unnecessary". Anyhow.... I hope she's not here. This song came through her.

(*) Nico

Paris 23/02/85

J'ai reçu un télégramme juste avant le spectacle, si je peux appeler ça comme ça. C'était une jeune fille de 6 ans et elle m'a demandé de jouer "Joan Of Arc", et je veux la faire pour elle

English translation: "I received a telegram just before the show, if I can call that a show. It was from a 6 years old girl who asked me to perform "Joan Of Arc", and I want to play it for her.

This picture is taken from the backcover of the album "Songs of Leonard Cohen". It is not Joan of Arc who's pictured. I let Leonard tell us who's she (from an interview with Jack Hafferkamp): This is "a mexican religious picture called "Anima Sola", the lonely spirit of the lonely soul. It is the triumph of the spirit over matter, the spirit being that beautiful woman breaking out of the chains and the fire and prison". Even though I think this picture can match to illustrate the "Joan Of Arc" live words' page. Saint Joan Of Arc, "Sainte Jeanne d'Arc", was born at Domremy in Champagne, France, probably on 6 January, 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.

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