This thread will essentially deal with love, romance, tenderness, feelings songs (not rock).
In that domain, French is particularly well suited to express emotions, due to the richness of French language.
I have much been on YouTube, and how many times I have seen such comments:
"It's so beautiful, so moving, I'd like to learn French to understand the lyrics".
Before I posted that thread, I had to entirely review it, for I was suspecting that several links might have been removed for access violation, and it was effectively the case: I had to replace some links (or eventually suppress them).
(If a picture doesn't appear right away, click it with the mouse's right button, and click "Display picture" in the menu which appears).
I'll start with foreign songs
Everybody reminds the song "As time goes by" which is perfomed in the movie "Casablanca", shot in the forties with Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergmann.
Here is the scene in which Bergmann asks the pianist to play the song:
Lyrics:
You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh
The fundamental things apply
As time goes by
And when two lovers woo
They still say, "I love you"
On that you can rely
No matter what the future brings
As time goes by
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
it's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
-----------------
Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date
Hearts full of passion
Jealousy and hate
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate
That no one can deny
it's still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers
As time goes by
Frank Sinatra, said "the voice", never to be forgotten.
For many, Sinatra is the voice which sings "strangers in the night"; this songs really symbolizes the crooner.
RIP Frankie.
Lyrics:
Strangers in the night exchanging glances
Wond'ring in the night
What were the chances we'd be sharing love
Before the night was through.
Something in your eyes was so inviting,
Something in you smile was so exciting,
Something in my heart,
Told me I must have you.
Strangers in the night, two lonely people
We were strangers in the night
Up to the moment
When we said our first hello.
Little did we know
Love was just a glance away,
A warm embracing dance away and -
Ever since that night we've been together.
Lovers at first sight, in love forever.
It turned out so right,
For strangers in the night.
"I'm a fool to want you" is one of the only songs (the only one?) Frank Sinatra composed; here's is an interpretation by the famous blues/jazz singer Billie Holiday:
Lyrics:
Im a fool to want you
Im a fool to want you
To want a love that cant be true
A love thats there for others too
Im a fool to hold you
Such a fool to hold you
To seek a kiss not mine alone
To share a kiss that devil has known
Time and time again I said Id leave you
Time and time again I went away
But then would come the time when I would need you
And once again these words I had to say
Take me back, I love you
...i need you
I know its wrong, it must be wrong
But right or wrong I cant get along
Without you
Billie Holiday, "Lady blues", was a great blues singer; she died of drug abuse in the fifties and is missed.
RIP Billie
Lyrics:
I don't know why but I'm feeling so sad
I long to try something I never had
Never had no kissin'
Oh, what I've been missin'
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
The night is cold and I'm so alone
I'd give my soul just to call you my own
Got a moon above me
But no one to love me
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
I've heard it said
That the thrill of romance
Can be like a heavenly dream
I go to bed with a prayer
That you'll make love to me
Strange as it seems
Someday we'll meet
And you'll dry all my tears
Then whisper sweet
Little things in my ear
Hugging and a-kissing
Oh, what I've been missing
Lover man, oh, where can you be?
Another great singer Patsy Cline.
Here interpreting "I've loved and lost again:"
Lyrics
I've loved and lost again
Oh, what a crazy world we're livin' in
True love has no chance to win
I've loved and lost again
I ask you what chance have I
When each love I meet just makes me cry
He loves awhile then says goodbye
I've loved and lost again
CHORUS:
To be true to one alone
Don't seem to matter anymore
They tell you you're out of style
Unless you've had three or four
REPEAT FIRST VERSE
REPEAT CHORUS
REPEAT FIRST VERSE
And here interpreting "Crazy":
Lyrics
Crazy, I'm crazy for feeling so lonely
I'm crazy, crazy for feeling so blue
I knew you'd love me as long as you wanted
And then someday you'd leave me for somebody new
Worry, why do I let myself worry?
Wond'ring what in the world did I do?
Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you
I'm crazy for trying and crazy for crying
And I'm crazy for loving you
Crazy for thinking that my love could hold you
I'm crazy for trying and crazy for crying
And I'm crazy for loving you.
Judy Garland was a great American singer; in the thirties, fourties, she played in musical movies in which she showed her great talent.
She died of alcohol abuse in the sixties; RIP Judy!
Here she is performing "How insensitive"
Lyrics:
How insensitive
I must have seemed
When she told me that she loved me
How unmoved and cold
I must have seemed
When she told me so sincerely
Why she must have asked
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
What was I to say?
What can you say
When a love affair is over?
Why she must have asked
Did I just turn and stare in icy silence
What was I to say?
What can you say
When a love affair is over?
So now she's gone away
And I'm alone
With a memory of her last look
Vague and drawn and sad
I see it still
All the heartbreak in her last look
How she must have asked,
Could I just turn and stare in icy silence
What was I to do?
What can one do
When a love affair is over
Otis Redding was a true legend of soul music.
He tragically died in a plane crash in the sixties, and the world then lost a great musician.
He is here performing "Try a little tenderness"
Lyrics:
oh she may be weary
them young girls they do get wearied
wearing that same old miniskirt dress
but when she gets weary
you try a little tenderness
oh man that
un hunh
i know shes waiting
just anticipating
the thing that youl never never possess
no no no
but while she there waiting
try just a little bit of tenderness
thats all you got to do
now it might be a little bit sentimental no
but she has her greavs and care
but the soft words they are spoke so gentle
yeah yeah yeah
and it makes it easier to bear
oh she wont regret it
no no
them young girls they dont forget it
love is their whole happiness
yeah yeha yeah
but its all so easy
all you got to do is try
try a little tenderness
yeah
damn that hart (hard?)
all you got to do is know how to love her
you've got to
hold her
squeeze her
never leave her
now get to her
got got got to try a little tenderness
yeah yeah
lord have mercy now
all you got to do is take my advice
you've got to hold her
don't squeeze her
never leave her
you've got to hold her
and never
so you got to try a little tenderness
a little tenderness
a little tenderness
a little tenderness
you've got to
got to got to
you've gotta hold her
don't squeeze her
never leaver her
you got
got got got to
now now now
got got got to
try a little tenderness
ye
The group "The mammas and the papas" was a famous group of the sixties.
Their song "california dreaming" is a major hit of the time, and has remained in all memories of those who lived in that time (and that includes myself).
Sadly, of the four members, only one is still alive, Michelle Phillips.
Denny Doherty died at the beginning of this year from kidney failure.
Lyrics:
all the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
if I was in L.A
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day
stopped into a church
I passed along the way
well, I got down on my knees
and I pretend to pray
you know the preacher likes the cold
he knows I'm gonna stay
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day
all the leaves are brown
and the sky is grey
I've been for a walk
on a winter's day
if I didn't tell her
I could leave today
California Dreamin'
on such a winter's day x3
Procol Harum is a great group of the sixties.
Their song "A whiter shade of pale" is a major hit of the sixties, and John Lennon was worshipping it, and wanted to buy plenty of copies of it.
Lyrics:
We skipped the light fandango
turned cartwheels 'cross the floor
I was feeling kinda seasick
but the crowd called out for more
The room was humming harder
as the ceiling flew away
When we called out for another drink
the waiter brought a tray
And so it was that later
as the miller told his tale
that her face, at first just ghostly,
turned a whiter shade of pale
She said, 'There is no reason
and the truth is plain to see.'
But I wandered through my playing cards
and would not let her be
one of sixteen vestal virgins
who were leaving for the coast
and although my eyes were open
they might have just as well've been closed
She said, 'I'm home on shore leave,'
though in truth we were at sea
so I took her by the looking glass
and forced her to agree
saying, 'You must be the mermaid
who took Neptune for a ride.'
But she smiled at me so sadly
that my anger straightway died
If music be the food of love
then laughter is its queen
and likewise if behind is in front
then dirt in truth is clean
My mouth by then like cardboard
seemed to slip straight through my head
So we crash-dived straightway quickly
and attacked the ocean bed
The Moody Blues is another great group of the sixties.
Their song "Nights in white satin" is probably their greatest song, still in our memories.
Lyrics:
Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters Ive written,
Never meaning to send.
Beauty Id always missed
With these eyes before,
Just what the truth is
I cant say anymore.
cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Gazing at people,
Some hand in hand,
Just what Im going thru
They can understand.
Some try to tell me
Thoughts they cannot defend,
Just what you want to be
You will be in the end,
And I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.
Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters Ive written,
Never meaning to send.
Beauty Id always missed
With these eyes before,
Just what the truth is
I cant say anymore.
cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.
cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.
Who doesn't know the beatles.
"Hey Jude" is one of their best songs; I still have memories of pals singing it during a holidays camp in the Alps, in the sixties
Lyrics:
Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
Hey, Jude, don't be afraid
You were made to go out and get her
The minute you let her under your skin
Then you begin to make it better.
And any time you feel the pain, hey, Jude, refrain
Don't carry the world upon your shoulders
Well don't you know that its a fool who plays it cool
By making his world a little colder
Hey, Jude! Don't let her down
You have found her, now go and get her
Remember, to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better.
So let it out and let it in, hey, Jude, begin
You're waiting for someone to perform with
And don't you know that it's just you, hey, Jude,
You'll do, the movement you need is on your shoulder
Hey, Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better
After the Beatles separated, each one continued a solo career.
John Lennon was assassinated in 1980 by a crazy freak.
Here performing "A jealous guy"
Lyrics:
I was dreaming of the past.
And my heart was beating fast,
I began to lose control,
I began to lose control,
I didn't mean to hurt you,
I'm sorry that I mad you cry,
I didn't want to hurt you,
I'm just a jealous guy,
I was feeling insecure,
You night not love me any more,
I was shivering inside,
I was shivering inside,
I was trying to catch your eyes,
Thought that you were trying to hide,
I was swallowing my pain,
I was swallowing my pain.
The bee gees is also a mythic group.
Here they are performing "How deep is your love"
Lyrics:
I know your eyes in the morning sun
I feel you touch me in the pouring rain
And the moment that you wander far from me
I wanna feel you in my arms again
And you come to me on a summer breeze
Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave
And its me you need to show
Chorus:
How deep is your love
I really need to learn
cause were living in a world of fools
Breaking us down
When they all should let us be
We belong to you and me
I believe in you
You know the door to my very soul
Youre the light in my deepest darkest hour
Youre my saviour when I fall
And you may not think
I care for you
When you know down inside
That I really do
And its me you need to show
Chorus
Repeat and fade
Another mythic group "The doors".
Here Jim Morrisson (RIP 
) performing "light my fire.
Lyrics
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
The time to hesitate is through
No time to wallow in the mire
Try now we can only lose
And our love become a funeral pyre
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire, yeah
You know that it would be untrue
You know that I would be a liar
If I was to say to you
Girl, we couldn't get much higher
Come on baby, light my fire
Come on baby, light my fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Try to set the night on fire
Elton John is a famous composer/singer in rock/popular music.
His song "A candle in the wind" is dedicated to Marilyn Monroe.
Lyrics:
Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name
And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did
Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude
Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe
Elton_John_Photo.jpg)
His song "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" is a wonderful moving hymn to the difficulty for two human beings (or extensively for two communities) to forgive each other.
Lyrics:
What have I got to do to make you love me
What have I got to do to make you care
What do I do when lightning strikes me
And I wake to find that you're not there
What do I do to make you want me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I say when it's all over
And sorry seems to be the hardest word
It's sad, so sad
It's a sad, sad situation
And it's getting more and more absurd
It's sad, so sad
Why can't we talk it over
Oh it seems to me
That sorry seems to be the hardest word
What do I do to make you love me
What have I got to do to be heard
What do I do when lightning strikes me
What have I got to do
What have I got to do
When sorry seems to be the hardest word
Simon and Garfunkel have made a great duet in the sixties, seventies, until they separated and carried alone.
They began singing in the metro, and sometimes the police was chasing them.
"Like a bridge over troubled water" is also a major hit of the sixties.
Lyrics:
When youre weary, feeling small,
When tears are in your eyes, I will dry them all;
Im on your side. when times get rough
And friends just cant be found,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
When youre down and out,
When youre on the street,
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you.
Ill take your part.
When darkness comes
And pains is all around,
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down.
Sail on silvergirl,
Sail on by.
Your time has come to shine.
All your dreams are on their way.
See how they shine.
If you need a friend
Im sailing right behind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind.
Karen Carpenter had a wonderful romantic voice; too bad she died of anorexia; like it's used to say, it's always the best ones who are the first ones to leave!
Lyrics:
When I was young
I’d listened to the radio
Waitin’ for my favorite songs
Waiting they played I’d sing along
It made me smile
Those were such happy times
And not so long ago
How I wondered where they’d gone
But they’re back again
Just like a long lost friend
All the songs I loved so well
(*) every sha-la-la-la
Every wo-wo-wo
Still shines
Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re starting to sing’s
So fine
When they get to the part
Where he’s breakin’ her heart
It can really make me cry
Just like before
It’s yesterday once more
Lookin’ back on how it was
In years gone by
And the good times that I had
Makes today seem rather sad
So much has changed
It was songs of love that
I would sing to then
And I’d memorize each word
Those old melodies
Still sound so good to me
As they melt the years away
Repeat (*)
All my best memories
Come back clearly to me
Some can even make me cry
Just like before
It’s yesterday once more
Abba is a very famous group of the seventies.
Here they perform "Fernando", a vision of nostalgia for presumably two soldiers reminiscing in old age about some unspecified war of liberation or national defense they participated in during their younger days.
Lyrics:
Can you hear the drums fernando?
I remember long ago another starry night like this
In the firelight fernando
You were humming to yourself and softly strumming your guitar
I could hear the distant drums
And sounds of bugle calls were coming from afar
They were closer now fernando
Every hour every minute seemed to last eternally
I was so afraid fernando
We were young and full of life and none of us prepared to die
And Im not ashamed to say
The roar of guns and cannons almost made me cry
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
Theres no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
Now were old and grey fernando
And since many years I havent seen a rifle in your hand
Can you hear the drums fernando?
Do you still recall the frightful night we crossed the rio grande?
I can see it in your eyes
How proud you were to fight for freedom in this land
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
Theres no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
There was something in the air that night
The stars were bright, fernando
They were shining there for you and me
For liberty, fernando
Though I never thought that we could lose
Theres no regret
If I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando
Yes, if I had to do the same again
I would, my friend, fernando...
Billy Joel is a talented artist.
He is here performing "Honesty".
Lyrics:
If you search for tenderness
it isn't hard to find.
You can have the love you need to live.
But if you look for truthfulness
You might just as well be blind.
It always seems to be so hard to give.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I can always find someone
to say they sympathize.
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve.
But I don't want some pretty face
to tell me pretty lies.
All I want is someone to believe.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I can find a lover.
I can find a friend.
I can have security until the bitter end.
Anyone can comfort me
with promises again.
I know, I know.
When I'm deep inside of me
don't be too concerned.
I won't as for nothin' while I'm gone.
But when I want sincerity
tell me where else can I turn.
Because you're the one I depend upon.
Honesty is such a lonely word.
Everyone is so untrue.
Honesty is hardly ever heard.
And mostly what I need from you.
I love that melody "You're my lady" from Peter Skellern, all in sweetness!
Lyrics:
Now the evening has come to a close
And I've had my last dance with you
On to the empty streets we go
And it might be my last chance with you
So I might as well get it over
The things I have to say won't wait until another day
You're a lady, I'm a man, you're supposed to understand
How these things are often planned to be
You're romantic, I'm a fool,
You're the teacher, I've come to school
Here I sit and hope that you'll love me
You're pure magic, unlock my chain
Nothing ventured nothing gained
And so I say with no restraint, be mine, be mine
Hard to answer I agree
But then I've got to know
I'm not asking you to marry me
Just a little love to show
Oh I know I could make you happy
So the things I have to say
Won't wait until another day
You're a lady I'm a man
You are suposed to understand
How these things are
Often planned to be
You're romantic, I'm a fool
You're the teacher, I've come to school
Here I sit and hope that you'll love me
You're pure magic, unlock my chain
Nothing ventured nothing gained
And so I say with no restraint, be mine, be mine
Burt Bacharach is a very talented American music composer.
Although many Frenchmen don't know it, he has composed several songs they much appreciate:
. "Toute la pluie tombe sur moi" performed by Sacha Distel is originally "Raindrops keep falling on my head", and has been composed by Burh Bacharach.
. "Il ya toujours un coin qui me rappelle" performed by Eddy Mitchell is originally "There's always something there to remind me" and has been composed by Burt Bacharach.
. and "I'll never leave you", sung by Nicolle Croisille, has also been composed by Burt Bacharach.
And many other ones.
The song "raindrops keep falling on my head" ("Toute la pluie tombe sur moi" for the French) has been used in the movie picture "Butch Cassidy and the sundance kid":
Lyrics:
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed
Nothin' seems to fit
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
So I just did me some talkin' to the sun
And I said I didn't like the way he got things done
Sleepin' on the job
Those raindrops are fallin' on my head, they keep fallin'
But there's one thing I know
The blues they send to meet me won't defeat me
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
{trumpet}
It won't be long till happiness steps up to greet me
Raindrops keep fallin' on my head
But that doesn't mean my eyes will soon be turnin' red
Cryin's not for me
'Cause I'm never gonna stop the rain by complainin'
Because I'm free
Nothin's worryin' me
I have looked on YouTube and DailyMotion for an english version of "There's always something there to remind me", but I have only found shitty ones (there exists good ones, but they have not been put on these sites).
So rather than giving a link to a shitty English version, I have preferred to give a link to a good French version, as performed by the French singer "Eddy Mitchell":
English Lyrics:
I walk along the city streets you used to walk along with me.
And ev'ry step I take reminds me ofjust how we used to be.
Oh
how can I forget you
girl?
When there is always something there to remind me.
Always something there to remind me.
When shadows fall I pass the small cafe where we would dance at right
And I can't help recalling how it felt to kiss and hold you tight.
Oh
how can I forget you
girl? . . .
I was born to love you and I will never be free
You'll always be a part of me.
If you should find you miss the sweet and tender love we used to share
Just come back to the places where we used to go and I'll be there.
Oh
how can I forget you
girl? . . .
I was born to love you and I will never be free -
You'll always be a part of me.
'cos there is always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
Always something there to remind me
French Lyrics
Je marche seul le long des rues
Où nous allions tous deux avant
A chaque pas je me souviens
Comme on s'aimait auparavant
Comment pouvoir t'oublier ?
Il y a toujours un coin qui me rappelle
Toujours un coin qui me rappelle
Je suis né pour t'aimer
Et je serai toujours ainsi
Tu restes la vie de ma vie
Quand l'ombre vient, mon pas m'entraîne
Où on allait danser le soir
Je me revois là t'embrassant
Et serrant fort tous mes espoirs
Comment pouvoir t'oublier ?
{Refrain}
Mais si ton coeur regrette un jour
Ce grand amour que l'on vivait
Reviens alors dans cet endroit
Où l'on allait, j'y serai
Comment pouvoir t'oublier ?
{Refrain}
Je n'aimerai personne d'autre !
Je n't'oublierai pas pour une autre !
Tu restes la vie de ma vie !
Finally, here is a performance by Elvis Presley of "I'll never fall in love again", also composed by Burt Bacharach:
Lyrics:
What do you get when you fall in love?
A guy with a pin to burst your bubble
That's what you get for all your trouble.
I'll never fall in love again.
I'll never fall in love again.
What do you get when you kiss a guy?
You get enough germs to catch pneumonia.
After you do, he'll never phone you.
I'll never fall in love again.
I'll never fall in love again.
Don't tell me what is all about,
'Cause I've been there and I'm glad I'm out,
Out of those chains, those chains that bind you
That is why I'm here to remind you
What do you get when you fall in love?
You get enough tears to fill an ocean
That's what you get for your devotion.
I'll never fall in love again.
I'll never fall in love again.
What do you get when you fall in love?
You only get lies and pain and sorrow.
So, for at least until tomorrow,
I'll never fall in love again!
I'll never fall in love again!
Percy Sledge is a great singer of soul music.
His song "When a man loves a woman" is one of the greatest love songs ever written.
Lyrics:
When a man loves a woman
Can't keep his mind on nothing else
He'll trade the world
For the good thing he's found
If she's bad he can't see it
She can do no wrong
Turn his back on his best friend
If he put her down
When a man loves a woman
Spend his very last dime
Tryin' to hold on to what he needs
He'd give up all his comfort
Sleep out in the rain
If she said that's the way it ought to be
Well, this man loves a woman
I gave you everything I had
Tryin' to hold on to your precious love
Baby, please don't treat me bad
When a man loves a woman
Down deep in his soul
She can bring him such misery
If she plays him for a fool
He's the last one to know
Lovin' eyes can't ever see
When a man loves a woman
He can do no wrong
He can never own some other girl
Yes when a man loves a woman
I know exactly how he feels
'Cause baby, baby, baby, you're my world
When a man loves a woman.....
Stevie Wonder is a great American musician
He is undoubtedly a musical genius, although he is blind, like Ray Charles, and also a talented French musician "Gilbert Montagné" (and like Rodrigo, the spanish musician who composed the Aranjuez concerto), which is the proof that being blind is in no way an impediment for being a great musician; blind people often develop a great sensitiveness to music.
He here sings a wonderful love message "I just called to say I love you"
Lyrics:
No new year's day
To celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring
No song to sing
In fact heres just another ordinary day
No april rain
No flowers bloom
No wedding saturday within the month of june
But what it is
Is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
No summers high
No warm july
No harvest moon to light one tender august night
No autumn breeze
No falling leaves
No even time for birds to fly to southern skies
No libra sun
No halloween
No giving thanks to all the christmas joy you bring
But what it is
Though old so new
To fill your heart like no three words could ever do.
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart.
I just called to say I love you
I just called to say how much I care
I just called to say I love you
And I mean it from the bottom of my heart
Of my heart
Of my heart
I also much like this song "I'm free"; in fact he took it from a spiritual, but he made a cool version of it:
Lyrics:
Free like the river
Flowin' freely through infinity
Free to be sure of
What I am and who I need not be
Free from all worries
Worries prey on oneself's troubled mind
Freer than the clock's hands
Tickin' way the times
Freer than the meaning of free that man defines
Life running through me
Till I feel my father God has called
Me having nothin'
But possessing riches more than all
And I'm free
To be nowhere
But in every place I need to be
Freer than a sunbeam
Shinning through my soul
Free from feelin' heat or knowing bitter cold
Free from conceiving the beginning
For that's the infinite start
I'm gone - gone but still living
Life goes on without a beating heart
Free like a vision
That the mind of only you can see
Freer than a raindrop
Falling from the sky
Freer than a smile in a baby's sleepin' eyes
I'm free like a river
Flowin' freely to infinity
I'm free to be sure of what
I am and who I need not be
I'm much freer - like the meaning of the word free that
crazy man defines
Free - free like the vision that
The mind of only you are ever gonna see
Free like the river my life
Goes on and on through infinity
Albert Morris made a great success of "Feelings"; but later, a French musician later realized that Morris had in fact borrowed his music; that French musician, Loulou Gasté, lover of Line Renaud, had already written a song "Pour toi" (for you) in the fifties, that Line Renaud then sang, with the same melody as in "Feelings".
Loulou Gasté sued Morris before an US court, and won the trial; he was granted most of the royalties of the song.
This event is reported in this link:
History of feelings
Here is Morris performing "Feelings":
Lyrics:
Feelings, nothing more than feelings,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Teardrops rolling down on my face,
trying to forget my feelings of love.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
wo-o-o, feel you again in my arms.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
and feelings like I've never have you again in my heart.
Feelings, for all my life I'll feel it.
I wish I've never met you, girl; you'll never come again.
Feelings, feelings like I've never lost you
and feelings like I've never have you again in my life.
Feelings, wo-o-o feelings,
wo-o-o, feelings again in my arms.
Feelings...(repeat & fade)
I know that some don't like Barbra Streisand (and not only for her political opinions, but they also find she has no talent); first, I don't mix art with politics, and thence it's not because an artist is a known leftist that I can't appreciate him, and second, I think that she made a successful association with the bee gees; the song "woman in love" has been written by one of the bee gees, and she made a great interpretation of it; I know that this song is terrifically appreciated in Asia (Japan, China), for the romance it conveys (Asians are very romantic)
Lyrics:
Life is a moment in space
When the dream is gone
Its a lonelier place
I kiss the morning goodbye
But down inside you know
We never know why
The road is narrow and long
When eyes meet eyes
And the feeling is strong
I turn away from the wall
I stumble and fall
But I give you it all...
Chorus:
I am a woman in love
And I do anything
To get you into my world
And hold you within
Its a right I defend
Over and over again
What do I do?
With you eternally mine
In love there is
No measure of time
We planned it all at the start
That you and i
Would live in each others hearts
We may be oceans away
You feel my love
I hear what you say
No truth is ever a lie
I stumble and fall
But I give you it all
Repeat chorus
I am a woman in love
And Im talking to you
Do you know how it feels?
What a woman can do
Its a right
That I defend over and over again......
The first time that Gloria Gaynor sang "I Will survive", her manager was not believing it was a good song, and didn't want her to sing that song.
On an evening, after she had sung all her songs, he allowed her to sing that song, without thinking one second that this song had a future.
This song has nevertheless become a major hit.
Its theme has even been used in the soccer world championship.
Lyrics:
First I was afraid
I was petrified
Kept thinking I could never live
without you by my side
But I spent so many nights
thinking how you did me wrong
I grew strong
I learned how to carry on
and so you're back
from outer space
I just walked in to find you here
with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed my stupid lock
I should have made you leave your key
If I had known for just one second
you'd be back to bother me
Go on now go walk out the door
just turn around now
'cause you're not welcome anymore
weren't you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye
you think I'd crumble
you think I'd lay down and die
Oh no, not I
I will survive
as long as i know how to love
I know I will stay alive
I've got all my life to live
I've got all my love to give
and I'll survive
I will survive
It took all the strength I had
not to fall apart
kept trying hard to mend
the pieces of my broken heart
and I spent oh so many nights
just feeling sorry for myself
I used to cry
Now I hold my head up high
and you see me
somebody new
I'm not that chained up little person
still in love with you
and so you felt like dropping in
and just expect me to be free
now I'm saving all my loving
for someone who's loving me
B.B. King is a great guitarist and bluesman, and "the thrill is gone" is one of his greatest hits.
Here performing with Gary Moore.
Lyrics:
The thrill is gone
The thrill is gone away
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away
You know you done me wrong baby
And you'll be sorry someday
The thrill is gone
It's gone away from me
The thrill is gone baby
The thrill is gone away from me
Although I'll still live on
But so lonely I'll be
The thrill is gone
It's gone away for good
Oh, the thrill is gone baby
Baby its gone away for good
Someday I know I'll be over it all baby
Just like I know a man should
You know I'm free, free now baby
I'm free from your spell
I'm free, free now
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's over
All I can do is wish you well
A song performed by Joe Cocker: "You are so beautiful.
Lyrics
You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can't you see
Your everything I hoped for
Your everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me
From Sad, the song "Hang on to your love".
Lyrics
In heaven's name why are you walking away
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why do you play these games
Hang on to your love
Take time if you're down on luck
It's so easy to walk out on love
Take your time if the going gets tough
It's so precious
So if you want it to get stronger
You'd better not let go
You gotta hold on longer
If you want your love to grow
Gotta stick together
Hand in glove
Hold tight, don't fight
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why are you walking away
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why do you play these games
Hang on to your love
Be brave when the journey is rough
It's not easy when you're in love
Don't be ashamed when the going gets tough
It's not easy don't give up
If you want it to get stronger
You'd better not let go
You gotta hold on longer
If you want your love to grow
Gotta stick together
Hand in glove
Hold tight, don't fight
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why are you walking away
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why do you play these games
Hang on to your love
Da da da dee dee da, da da da dee dee da, daaa (dee dee daa)
Da da da dee dee da, da da da dee dee da, daaa (dee dee daa)
Da da da dee dee da, da da da dee dee da, daaa (dee dee daa)
Da da da dee dee da, da da da dee dee da, daaa (dee dee daa)
So if you want it to get stronger
You'd better not let go
You gotta hold on longer
If you want your love to grow
Gotta stick together
Hand in glove
Hold tight, don't fight
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why are you walking away
Hang on to your love
In heaven's name why do you play these games
Hang on to your love
When you find a love (to your love)
Don't let it walk away
When you find your love (to your love)
You've got to make it stay (hang on)
Hang on to your love
Don't let it walk away
When you find your love
Got to make him stay
You've got to hang on to your love (to your love)
You've got to hang on to your love (to your love)
Why are you walking away (why are you walking away)
Why do you play these games< (play these games)
Da da da dee dee da (to your love), da da da dee dee da, daaa (to your love)
Da da da dee dee da (to your love), da da da dee dee da, daaa (to your love)
Hang on to your love
FRENCH LOVE SONGS
And now I am going to present you with French songs.
In order to allow you to understand the words of the songs, for each song, I'll display the French words, and on the right of them, I'll display in italic their English translation.
But the translation does not render the beauty of the French words, and also makes lose the rhymes.
At least you'll know what the songs are about.
I advise you to read the words with their translation before clicking the corresponding link, so that you may know what the singer sings.
Frehel was a famous female singer of the thirties; she was very expressive, and was an inspirator and model for Edith Piaf.
In this link, Frehel is inyterpreting the song "Où sont tous mes amants" (where are all my lovers).
Unfortunately, the song is not complete and has been cut (and has been replaced with a stupidity).
Lyrics
Refrain:
Où sont tous mes amants Where are all my lovers
Tous ceux qui m'aimaient tant All those who loved me so much
Jadis quand j'étais belle ? Once when I was pretty
Adieu les infidèles Farewell the unfaithful ones
Ils sont je ne sais où They are I don't know where
A d'autres rendez-vous At other rendez-vous
Moi mon coeur n'a pas vieilli pourtant Me, my heart hasn't got older
Où sont tous mes amants , Where are all my lovers
Dans la tristesse et la nuit qui revient In the sadness and the night which comes back
Je reste seule, isolée sans soutien I remain alone, alone without support
Sans nulle entrave, mais sans amour without any bound, but without love
Comme une épave mon coeur est lourd Like a wreck, my heart is heavy
Moi qui jadis ai connu le bonheur Me, who once knew happiness
Les soirs de fête et les adorateurs The party nights and adorators
Je suis esclave des souvenirs I am slave of souvenirs
Et cela me fait souffrir. And that makes me suffer
Play Refrain
La nuit s'achève et quand vient le matin The night ends and when comes the morning
La rosée pleure avec tous mes chagrins the dew weeps with all my sorrows
Tous ceux que j'aime All those that I love
Qui m'ont aimée who loved me
Dans le jour blême In the pale day
Sont effacés are wiped out
Je vois passer du brouillard sur mes yeux I see fog pass before my eyes
Tous ces pantins que je vois, ce sont eux All these puppets that I see, them they are
Luttant quand même, suprême effort, Struggling anyway, supreme effort
Je crois les étreindre encore. I can feel I still hold them
{Refrain}
Edith Piaf is a true legend of French popular music.
The way she was singing was making think of a sparrow, so it would have been natural to give her "Moineau" as a stage name ("Moineau" meaning "sparrow" in French).
But "Moineau" was not free and was already used by another artist; so her manager decided to give her an equivalent, and called her "Piaf", knowing that "Piaf" is a slang word for sparrow in French.
Her true name was "Edith Gassion" in fact.
RIP Piaf!
"La vie en rose" (Life in rose) is one of her greatest songs; she composed herself the song, both text and music; she had somebody write the musical score for her, for she could not write music formally, although she very well could feel it.
Here is a performance dating back from 1954.
See how the audience is ecstatic.
Lyrics:
Des yeux qui font baisser les miens Eyes which make mine lower
Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche A smile which vanishes on his mouth
Voilà le portrait sans retouche that's the exact portrait
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens of the man I belong to
{Refrain:}
Quand il me prend dans ses bras, When he takes me in his arms
Il me parle tout bas he speaks to me softly
Je vois la vie en rose, I see life "en rose"
Il me dit des mots d'amour He says me love words
Des mots de tous les jours, everyday words
Et ça m'fait quelque chose And that makes me something
Il est entré dans mon coeur, Into my heart has penetrated
Une part de bonheur a part of happiness
Dont je connais la cause, of which I know the cause
C'est lui pour moi, It's him for me
Moi pour lui dans la vie me for him in life
Il me l'a dit, l'a juré He told me so, sworn it
Pour la vie for life
Et dès que je l'aperçois and as soon as I see him
Alors je sens en moi then I feel in myself
Mon coeur qui bat my heart which beats
Des nuits d'amour à plus finir neverending nights
Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place A great happiness which takes the place
Des ennuis, des chagrins s'effacent troubles, sorrows fade away
Heureux, heureux à en mourir happy, happy up to die of it
{Refrain}
"Je ne regrette rien" (I regret nothing) is another great song of Piaf, which says that she regrets nothing of life because she has found her love.
Lyrics:
Non ! Rien de rien No, nothing of nothing
Non ! Je ne regrette rien No! I regret nothing
Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait Neither the good which has been done to me
Ni le mal tout ça m'est bien égal ! nor the evil, I don't care about anything
Non ! Rien de rien No, nothing of nothing
Non ! Je ne regrette rien No, I regret nothing
C'est payé, balayé, oublié It's paid off, forgotten
Je me fous du passé ! I don't care about the past
Avec mes souvenirs With my memories
J'ai allumé le feu I have lighted the fire
Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs My sorrows, my pleasures
Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux ! I don't need them any more
Balayées les amours Swept away my loves
Et tous leurs trémolos And all their tremolos
Balayés pour toujours Swept away forever
Je repars à zéro I start back from zero
Non ! Rien de rien No! Nothing of nothing
Non ! Je ne regrette rien No! I regret nothing
Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait Neither the good which has been done to me
Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal ! Nor the evil, I don't care about anything
Non ! Rien de rien No! Nothing of nothing
Non ! Je ne regrette rien No! I regret nothing
Car ma vie, car mes joies For my life, for my joys
Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi ! Today, they begin with you
Marie Laforêt is an artist who was famous in the sixties.
Here is one of her songs of the time, "Les vendanges de l'amour" (the harvest of love).
Lyrics:
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Demain les vendanges de l'amour tomorrow the harvest of love
Car la vie toujours rassemble for life always gathers
Oui la vie toujours rassemble, for life always gathers
Malgré tout, ceux qui se quittent un jour Despite everything those who come apart one day
Et le soleil du bel âge And the sun of the young age
Brillera après l'orage will shine after the storm
Un beau matin pour sécher nos pleurs A pretty morning to dry our tears
Et ta main comme une chaîne And your hand like a chain
Viendra se fondre à la mienne will come melt with mine
Enfin pour le pire et le meilleur At last for the worst and the best
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Demain les vendanges de l'amour tomorrow the harvest of love
Car je sais que tu ressembles for I know you resemble
Oui je sais que tu ressembles for I know you resemble
Comme deux gouttes d'eau à l'amour love like two water drops
Ma comparaison peut-être My comparison perhaps
Sur tes lèvres fera naître on your lips will make appear
Un sourire en guise de discours a smile in lieu of a speech
Mais pourtant j'en suis certaine but however I am sure of it
Ce soir autant que je t'aime this evening as much as I love you
Oui ce soir tu ressembles à l'amour yes this evening you look like love
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Demain les vendanges de l'amour tomorrow the harvest of love
Car la vie toujours rassemble for life always gathers
Oui la vie toujours rassemble, for life always gathers
Malgré tout, ceux qui se quittent un jour despite everything all those whome apart one day
Et le soleil du bel âge and the sun of the young age
Brillera après l'orage whill shine after the storm
Un beau matin pour sécher nos pleurs A pretty morning to dry our tears
Et ta main comme une chaîne And your hand like a chain
Viendra se fondre à la mienne Will come melt with mine
Enfin pour le pire et le meilleur at last for the worst and the best
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Demain les vendanges de l'amour tomorrow the harvest of love
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Nous les referons ensemble We'll make it together again
Demain les vendanges de l'amour. tomorrow the harvest of love
This song is an hymn to tenderness, and says that tenderness is stronger than anything else, than man can do without anything except tenderness.
Lyrics:
On peut vivre sans richesse One can live without wealth
Presque sans le sou Almost without money
Des seigneurs et des princesses lords and princesses
Y'en a plus beaucoup There are not many of them left
Mais vivre sans tendresse but loving without tenderness
On ne le pourrait pas One could not do it
Non, non, non, non no, no, no, no
On ne le pourrait pas One could not do it
On peut vivre sans la gloire One can live without glory
Qui ne prouve rien which proves nothing
Etre inconnu dans l'histoire be unknown in history
Et s'en trouver bien and still be well off
Mais vivre sans tendresse but living without tenderness
Il n'en est pas question it is out of the question
Non, non, non, non no, no, no, no
Il n'en est pas question it is out of the question
Quelle douce faiblesse What a sweet weakness
Quel joli sentiment what a pretty feeling
Ce besoin de tendresse this need of tenderness
Qui nous vient en naissant which comes to us from birth
Vraiment, vraiment, vraiment really, really, really
Le travail est nécessaire work is necessary
Mais s'il faut rester but if you must stay
Des semaines sans rien faire weeks without doing anything
Eh bien... on s'y fait well...you get used to it
Mais vivre sans tendresse but living without tenderness
Le temps vous paraît long time seems long to you
Long, long, long, long long, long, long, long
Le temps vous parait long time seems long to you
Dans le feu de la jeunesse in the fire of youth
Naissent les plaisirs arise the pleasures
Et l'amour fait des prouesses and love makes prowesses
Pour nous éblouir to dazzle us
Oui mais sans la tendresse yes but without tenderness
L'amour ne serait rien love would be nothing
Non, non, non, non No, no, no, no
L'amour ne serait rien love would be nothing
Quand la vie impitoyable when pitiless life
Vous tombe dessus falls upon you
On n'est plus qu'un pauvre diable one is no more than a poor wretch
Broyé et déçu broken and disappointed
Alors sans la tendresse then without the tenderness
D'un coeur qui nous soutient of a heart which supports us
Non, non, non, non no, no, no, no
On n'irait pas plus loin we would go no farther
Un enfant vous embrasse A child kisses you
Parce qu'on le rend heureux because he is made happy
Tous nos chagrins s'effacent all our sorrows go away
On a les larmes aux yeux tears come to our eyes
Mon Dieu, mon Dieu, mon Dieu... my god, my god, my god
Dans votre immense sagesse in your immense wisdom
Immense ferveur Immense love
Faites donc pleuvoir sans cesse make always flow
Au fond de nos coeurs in the bottom of our hearts
Des torrents de tendresse torrents of tenderness
Pour que règne l'amour so that love may reign
Règne l'amour love may reign
Jusqu'à la fin des jours to the end of days
Gilbert Becaud is a great artist of the fifties, sixties, seventies.
He has died not long ago of cancer; RIP gilbert!
His song "Et Maintenant" (and now) is a great hit, even known in America, and has become "What now my love" for Americans.
But I think he is the one who has made the greatest interpretation of that song.
Lyrics:
Et maintenant que vais-je faire And now what shall I do
De tout ce temps que sera ma vie of all that time that my life will be
De tous ces gens qui m'indiffèrent of all these people whom I don't care about
Maintenant que tu es partie now that you have gone away
Toutes ces nuits, pourquoi pour qui All these nights, for what for whom
Et ce matin qui revient pour rien And this morning which comes back for nothing
Ce coeur qui bat, pour qui, pourquoi this heart which beats, for whom, for what
Qui bat trop fort, trop fort which beats too strong, too strong
Et maintenant que vais-je faire And now what shall I do
Vers quel néant glissera ma vie Which void will my life slip to
Tu m'as laissé la terre entière You left me the whole earth
Mais la terre sans toi c'est petit but the earth without you, it's small
Vous, mes amis, soyez gentils You my friends, be kind to me
Vous savez bien que l'on n'y peut rien You know I can't help it
Même Paris crève d'ennui Even Paris dies of boredom
Toutes ses rues me tuent All its streets are killing me
Et maintenant que vais-je faire And now what shall I do
Je vais en rire pour ne plus pleurer I'll laugh about it not to weep any more
Je vais brûler des nuits entières I'll burn whole nights on
Au matin je te haïrai In the morning I'll hate you
Et puis un soir dans mon miroir And then one evening in my mirror
Je verrai bien la fin du chemin I'll see the end of the path
Pas une fleur et pas de pleurs not a flower and no tears
Au moment de l'adieu in the time of leaving
Je n'ai vraiment plus rien à faire I have really nothing to do
Je n'ai vraiment plus rien ... I have really nothing
"je reviens te chercher" (I come back to fetch you) is another great hit; I haven't found an interpretation by Becaud himself on YouTube, so I'll give you one from Dalida, which is not so bad either.
Lyrics:
Je reviens te chercher I come back to fetch you
Je savais que tu m'attendais I knew that you were waiting for me
Je savais que l'on ne pourrait I knew that we could not
Se passer l'un de l'autre longtemps live without each other for a long time
Je reviens te chercher I come back to fetch you
Ben tu vois, j'ai pas trop changé You can see I haven't too much changed
Et je vois que de ton côté And I can see that on your side
Tu as bien traversé le temps You went well through time
{Refrain:}
Tous les deux on s'est fait la guerre both of us, we made war to each other
Tous les deux on s'est pillés, volés, ruinés both of us, we looted, robbed, ruined each other
Qui a gagné, qui a perdu, who has won, who has lost
On n'en sait rien, on ne sait plus we don't know, we know no more
On se retrouve les mains nues We end up with bare hands
Mais après la guerre, but after the war
Il nous reste à faire we sill have to make
La paix. the peace
Je reviens te chercher I come back to fetch you
Tremblant comme un jeune marié Shivering like a freshly married
Mais plus riche qu'aux jours passés but richer than in the past
De tendresse et de larmes et de temps of tenderness, tears and time
Je reviens te chercher I come back to fetch you
J'ai l'air bête sur ce palier I look dumb on this threshold
Aide-moi et viens m'embrasser help me and come kiss me
Un taxi est en bas qui attend A taxi is down which waits
{to the Refrain}
Christophe is a talented French artist who started in the sixties.
"Aline" is a love song of someone who has lost his lady and cries for her.
Lyrics:
J'avais dessiné sur le sable I had drawn on the sand
Son doux visage qui me souriait her sweet face which was smiling to me
Puis il a plu sur cette plage Then it rained on this beach
Dans cet orage, elle a disparu in this storm, she disappeared
Et j'ai crié, crié, Aline, pour qu'elle revienne And I shouted, shouted,Aline, to make her come back
Et j'ai pleuré, pleuré, oh! j'avais trop de peine and I cried, cried, oh I had too much pain
Je me suis assis près de son âme I seated near her soul
Mais la belle dame s'était enfuie but the pretty lady had gone away
Je l'ai cherchée sans plus y croire I looked for her without believing in it
Et sans un espoir, pour me guider and without hope to lead me
Et j'ai crié, crié, Aline, pour qu'elle revienne And I shouted, shouted,Aline, to make her come back
Et j'ai pleuré, pleuré, oh! j'avais trop de peine And I cried, cried, I had too much pain
Je n'ai gardé que ce doux visage I have kept only that sweet face
Comme une épave sur le sable mouillé like a wreck on the wet sand
Et j'ai crié, crié, Aline, pour qu'elle revienne And I shouted, shouted, Aline to make her come back
Et j'ai pleuré, pleuré, oh! j'avais trop de peine and I cried, wried, oh I had too much pain
Et j'ai crié, crié, Aline, pour qu'elle revienne And I shouted, shouted, Aline to make her come back
Et j'ai pleuré, pleuré, oh! j'avais trop de peine... and I cried, cried, oh I had too much pain
Pascal Danel is an artist of the sixties.
His song "les neiges du kilimandjaro" (the snows of kilimandjaro) makes reference to a film of 1952 with Gregory Peck and Ava Gardner
Based on the Ernest Hemingway novel of the same name, Peck plays the part of a wounded hunter who is accompanied by two women in the African wilds. Each of them tries to analyse his or her past life.
Lyrics:
Il n'ira pas beaucoup plus loin. He won't go much farther
La nuit viendra bientôt. Night soon will come
Il voit là-bas dans le lointain, He sees there in the distance
Les neiges du Kilimandjaro. the snows of kilimandjaro
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, They will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir. in which you can sleep
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, They will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir, dormir, dormir. in which you can sleep, sleep, sleep
Dans son délire il lui revient In his delirium he remembers
La fille qu'il aimait. the girl he was loving
Ils s'en allaient main dans la main. They were going hand in hand
Il la revoit quand elle riait. He can see her when she was laughing
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, They will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir. In which you can sleep
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, They will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir, dormir, dormir in which you can sleep, sleep, sleep
Voilà sans doute à quoi il pense, That is probably what he thinks about
Il va mourir bientôt. He will die soon
Elles n'ont jamais été si blanches, They have never been so white
Les neiges du Kilimandjaro. the snows of kilimandjaro
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, They will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir. In which you can sleep
Elles te feront un blanc manteau, they will make you a white coat
Où tu pourras dormir, dormir, bientôt. in which you can sleep, sleep...soon
Jean Ferrat is a great French artist.
Well he stands for the communist party, and you know what I think about the communist party.
But you also know that I don't mix art with politics.
And as an artist, I admire him.
his song "c'est beau la vie" (it's a beautiful life) sings the beauty of life.
Lyrics:
Le vent dans tes cheveux blonds The wind in your blond hair
Le soleil à l'horizon The sun in the distance
Quelques mots d'une chanson some words of a song
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
Un oiseau qui fait la roue A bird who fans his tail
Sur un arbre déjà roux On an already russet tree
Et son cri par dessus tout and his squeak over all
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. it's a beautiful, a beautiful life
Tout ce qui tremble et palpite Everything which shivers and throbs
Tout ce qui lutte et se bat Everything which fights and struggles
Tout ce que j'ai cru trop vite Everything that I thought too fast
A jamais perdu pour moi to be lost for me
Pouvoir encore regarder Being still able to watch
Pouvoir encore écouter Being still able to hear
Et surtout pouvoir chanter and overall being able to sing
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
Le jazz ouvert dans la nuit The jazz, opened in the night
Sa trompette qui nous suit Its trumpet which follows us
Dans une rue de Paris in a street of Paris
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
La rouge fleur éclatée The red blossomed flower
D'un néon qui fait trembler from a neon which makes shiver
Nos deux ombres étonnées our two astonished shadows
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
Tout ce que j'ai failli perdre Everything I almost lost
Tout ce qui m'est redonné Everything which is given back to me
Aujourd'hui me monte aux lèvres Today goes to my lips
En cette fin de journée in this end of the day
Pouvoir encore partager Being still able to share
Ma jeunesse, mes idées My youth, my ideas
Avec l'amour retrouvé with the love found back
Que c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
Pouvoir encore te parler Being still able to speak to you
Pouvoir encore t'embrasser Being still able to kiss you
Te le dire et le chanter to say it to you and sing it to you
Oui c'est beau, c'est beau la vie. It's a beautiful, a beautiful life
the song "La montagne" (the mountain) is a major song of the sixties; Jean Ferrat made many people fall in love with the mountain with that song.
(Our governess was adoring that song, and that's probably why she was often taking us to the mountain).
Lyrics:
Ils quittent un à un le pays They leave one by one the countryside
Pour s'en aller gagner leur vie To go earn a life
Loin de la terre où ils sont nés Far from the land where they were born
Depuis longtemps ils en rêvaient They had dreamed for a long time
De la ville et de ses secrets about the town and its secrets
Du formica et du ciné the formica and the movies
Les vieux ça n'était pas original Old people, they were not original
Quand ils s'essuyaient machinal When they were machinally weeping
D'un revers de manche les lèvres With their sleeves their lips
Mais ils savaient tous à propos But they all knew in the right way
Tuer la caille ou le perdreau kill the quail and the partridge
Et manger la tomme de chèvre and eat the goat cheese
Pourtant que la montagne est belle Yet, how beautiful the mountain is
Comment peut-on s'imaginer How could one imagine
En voyant un vol d'hirondelles When seeing a flight of swallows
Que l'automne vient d'arriver ? That the autumn has just come
Avec leurs mains dessus leurs têtes With their hands over their heads
Ils avaient monté des murettes They had built walls
Jusqu'au sommet de la colline Up to the top of the hill
Qu'importent les jours les années What do matter the days, the years
Ils avaient tous l'âme bien née They all had a steady soul
Noueuse comme un pied de vigne gnarled like a vine foot
Les vignes elles courent dans la forêt the vines, they run though the woods
Le vin ne sera plus tiré The wine won't be any more drawn
C'était une horrible piquette It was an horrible cheap wine
Mais il faisait des centenaires But it was making people live over hundred
A ne plus que savoir en faire as much as not knowing what to do with them
S'il ne vous tournait pas la tête If it was not making your head go dizzy
Pourtant que la montagne est belle Yet, how beautiful the mountain is
Comment peut-on s'imaginer How could one imagine
En voyant un vol d'hirondelles When seeing a flight of swallows
Que l'automne vient d'arriver ? that the autumn has just come
Deux chèvres et puis quelques moutons Two goats and some sheeps
Une année bonne et l'autre non A year which is good and the other not
Et sans vacances et sans sorties and without holidays and without nights out
Les filles veulent aller au bal the girls want to go to the ball
Il n'y a rien de plus normal there is nothing more normal
Que de vouloir vivre sa vie than wanting to live one's life
Leur vie ils seront flics ou fonctionnaires for their life, they will be cops or employees
De quoi attendre sans s'en faire enough to wait without bothering
Que l'heure de la retraite sonne for the time of retirement
Il faut savoir ce que l'on aime One must know what he likes
Et rentrer dans son H.L.M. and live in his cheap dwelling
Manger du poulet aux hormones eat hormone-fed chickens
Pourtant que la montagne est belle Yet, how the mountain is beautiful
Comment peut-on s'imaginer How could one imagine
En voyant un vol d'hirondelles when seeing a flight of swallows
Que l'automne vient d'arriver ? that the autumn has just come
The song "Aimer à perdre l raison" (loving up to lose one's mind) is also a nice song of Jean Ferrat, on an Aragon's poem.
Lyrics:
Aimer à perdre la raison To love up to lose one's mind
Aimer à n'en savoir que dire To love up not to know what to say
A n'avoir que toi d'horizon Only to have you as an horizon
Et ne connaître de saisons and to know only of seasons
Que par la douleur du partir by the pain of leaving
Aimer à perdre la raison to love up to lose one's mind
Ah c'est toujours toi que l'on blesse Ah it's always you that is hurt
C'est toujours ton miroir brisé it's always your broken mirror
Mon pauvre bonheur, ma faiblesse my poor happiness, my weakness
Toi qu'on insulte et qu'on délaisse you who is insulted, and forsaken
Dans toute chair martyrisée in any martyrized flesh
Aimer à perdre la raison To love up to lose's one mind
Aimer à n'en savoir que dire To love up not to know what to say
A n'avoir que toi d'horizon Only to have you as an horizon
Et ne connaître de saisons and to know only of seasons
Que par la douleur du partir by the pain of leaving
Aimer à perdre la raison to love up to lose one's mind
La faim, la fatigue et le froid Hunger, exhaustion and cold
Toutes les misères du monde all the miseries of the world
C'est par mon amour que j'y crois it's by my love that I believe in them
En elle je porte ma croix In her I bear my cross
Et de leurs nuits ma nuit se fonde and from their nights my night is founded
Aimer à perdre la raison To love up to lose one's mind
Aimer à n'en savoir que dire To love up not to know what to say
A n'avoir que toi d'horizon Only to have you as an horizon
Et ne connaître de saisons and to know only of seasons
Que par la douleur du partir by the pain of leaving
Aimer à perdre la raison To love up to lose one's mind
Enrico Macias is also an artist of the sixties.
Here is a song of his "Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant" (cursed be the one who hurts a child), a song against racism.
Lyrics:
{Refrain:}
Qu'il soit un démon, qu'il soit noir ou blanc, Whether he is a devil, whether he is white or black
Il a le coeur pur, il est toute innocence He has a pure heart, he is nothing but innocence
Qu'il soit né d'amour, ou par accident, Whether he is born from love or from accident
Malheur à celui qui blesse un enfant. cursed be the one who hurts a child
1. Il n'a pas de père, et il n'a pas de mère, He has no father, and he has no mother
C'est le plus frondeur de tout l'orphelinat he is the most insolent of the orphanage
On cite en exemple son sale caractère his bad behavior is quoted as an example
Et on le punit car on ne l'aime pas. and he is punished because he is not loved
{Refrain:}
2. Il vole au marché, un gâteau, une orange, He steals in the market a cake, an orange,
Et on le poursuit, il faut le rattraper and he is chased, he must be caught
On donne l'alerte, on arrête un ange Alarm is given, an angel is arrested
Et pour se défendre il se met à pleurer. and to defend himself, he starts to cry
{Refrain}
3. Il est émigré d'un pays de misère He is an immigrant from a deprived country
Et dans une école il apprend à parler And in a school he learns to speak
Son accent fait rire, il ne peut rien faire his accent makes laugh, he cannot do anything
Sans qu'on lui reproche d'être un étranger without being reproached to be a foreigner
{Refrain}
Daniel Guichard is a French singer with a deep melodious voice.
Here he sings a song about tenderness.
Lyrics:
La tendresse tenderness
C'est quelquefois ne plus s'aimer mais être heureux it's sometimes not to love any more but to be happy
De se trouver à nouveau deux to be both together again
C'est refaire pour quelques instants un monde en bleu it's to make again for some moments a world in blue
Avec le coeur au bord des yeux with the heart near the eyes
La tendresse, la tendresse, la tendresse, tenderness, tenderness, tenderness
La tendresse. tenderness
La tendresse tenderness
C'est quand on peut se pardonner sans réfléchir it's when we can forgive to each other without thinking about it
Sans un regret sans rien se dire without a regret, without saying anything to each other
C'est quand on veut se séparer sans se maudire it's when we can come apart without cursing each other
Sans rien casser, sans rien détruire without breaking anything, without destroying anything
La tendresse, la tendresse, la tendresse, tenderness, tenderness, tenderness
La tendresse. ternderness
La tendresse tenderness
C'est un geste, un mot, un sourire quand on oublie It's a gesture, a word, a smile when we forget
Que tous les deux on a grandi that both of us we have grown up
C'est quand je veux te dire je t'aime et que j'oublie it's when I want to tell you that I love you and I forget
Qu'un jour ou l'autre l'amour finit that some day love comes to an end
La tendresse, la tendresse, la tendresse, tenderness, tenderness, tenderness
La tendresse. tenderness
La tendresse, la tendresse, la tendresse, tenderness, tenderness, tenderness
La tendresse. tenderness
(spoken) Allez viens. so come
Yves Montand is a famous French singer and actor, who started just after the second world war.
He has even played with Marilyn Monroe.
He has died of heart failure inthe nineties; RIP Yves!
Here is a very romantic song "A bicyclette" (on a bike) which uses the bike as a theme to describe a love story in fact.
It's about a bunch of boys who are all in love with a girl, and go bike with her.
But each of the boys dreams that he could be alone with the girl to make her his court.
Lyrics:
Quand on partait de bon matin When we were leaving early in the morning
Quand on partait sur les chemins when we were leaving on the roads
A bicyclette on our bikes
Nous étions quelques bons copains we were some good pals
Y avait Fernand y avait Firmin there was Fernand, there was Firmin
Y avait Francis et Sébastien There was Francis and Sebastien
Et puis Paulette and then Paulette
On était tous amoureux d'elle We all were in love with her
On se sentait pousser des ailes we were feeling wings grow
A bicyclette on our bikes
Sur les petits chemins de terre on the little dirt tracks
On a souvent vécu l'enfer we often lived a hell
Pour ne pas mettre pied à terre not to put a foot on the ground
Devant Paulette before Paulette
Faut dire qu'elle y mettait du coeur She sure was putting energy into it
C'était la fille du facteur she was the postman's daughter
A bicyclette on her bike
Et depuis qu'elle avait huit ans and since she was eight
Elle avait fait en le suivant she had made on his tail
Tous les chemins environnants all the neighboring paths
A bicyclette on her bike
Quand on approchait la rivière When we were nearing the river
On déposait dans les fougères we were putting in the ferns
Nos bicyclettes our bikes
Puis on se roulait dans les champs then we were rolling in the fields
Faisant naître un bouquet changeant giving birth to a changing bouquet
De sauterelles, de papillons of grasshopers and butterflies
Et de rainettes and of tree frogs
Quand le soleil à l'horizon When the sun in the horizon
Profilait sur tous les buissons was casting on all bushes
Nos silhouettes our shadows
On revenait fourbus contents we were coming back tired, happy
Le coeur un peu vague pourtant the heart a little sad however
De n'être pas seul un instant not to be alone a single moment
Avec Paulette with Paulette
Prendre furtivement sa main take furtively her hand
Oublier un peu les copains forget a little the pals
La bicyclette and the bike
On se disait c'est pour demain we were saying ourselves it's for tomorrow
J'oserai, j'oserai demain I'll dare, I'll dare tomorrow
Quand on ira sur les chemins when we'll go on the paths
A bicyclette on our bikes
Serge Reggiani is a great French singer and actor.
He had a great talent in singing nostalgic songs.
He has died not very long ago! RIP Serge!
Here he sings "Ma liberté" (my freedom) about someone who cherishes his freedom more than anything else...till the day he loses this freedom by marrying a girl.
Lyrics:
Ma liberté My freedom
longtemps je t'ai gardée I kept you for a long time
comme une perle rare. like a rare gem
Ma liberté, My freedom
c'est toi qui m'as aidé it's you who helped me
à larguer les amarres, to let my chains loose
pour aller n'importe où to go anywhere
pour aller jusqu'au bout to go up to the ends
des chemins de fortune, of fortune's paths
pour cueillir en rêvant to pick in a dream
une rose des vents a wind rose
sur un rayon de lune! on a moon's ray
Ma liberté My freedom
devant tes volontés before your wills
ma vie était soumise My life was submitted
ma liberté, my freedom
je t'avais tout prêté I had lent everything to you
ma dernière chemise My last shirt
Et combien j'ai souffert And how much I have suffered
pour pouvoir satisfaire in order to satisfy
toutes tes exigences! all your demands
J'ai changé de pays, I have changed country
j'ai perdu mes amis I have lost my friends
pour garder ta confiance! in order to keep your confidence
Ma liberté, My freedom
tu as su désarmer you knew how to disarm
mes moindres habitudes all my habits
ma liberté, my freedom
toi qui m'as fait aimer It's you who made me love
même la solitude. even solitude
Toi qui m'as fait sourire you who made me smile
quand je voyais finir une belle aventure, when I was seeing an beautiful adventure come to an end
toi qui m'a protégé you who protected me
quand j'allais me cacher When I was going hide myself
pour soigner mes blessures! to heal my wounds
Ma liberté, My freedom
pourtant je t'ai quittée Yet I forsook you
une nuit de décembre. On a december's night
J'ai déserté I deserted
les chemins écartés the isolated paths
que nous suivions ensembles, that we were following together
lorsque, sans me méfier, when without defiance
les pieds et poings liés feet and hands bound
je me suis laissé faire, I let myself be seduced
et je t'ai trahi and I betrayed you
pour une prison d'amour for a love prison
et sa belle geôlière! and her beautiful jailer
et je t'ai trahi and I betrayed you
pour une prison d'amour for a love prison
et sa belle geôlière! and her beautiful jailer
This song "mon petit garçon" (my little boy) is very moving.
It's about a man that his wife has left, and remains alone with his kid.
Lyrics:
Ce soir mon petit garçon Tonight my little boy
Mon enfant, mon amour My child, my love
Ce soir, il pleut sur la maison Tonight it rains over the house
Mon garçon, mon amour My boy, my love
Comme tu lui ressembles! How much you resemble her
On reste tous les deux We remain together
On va bien jouer ensemble We'll play together
On est là tous les deux We are there together
Seuls Alone
Ce soir elle ne rentre pas Tonight she doesn't come back
Je n'sais plus, je n'sais pas I know no more, I don't know
Elle écrira demain peut-être She'll write tomorrow may be
Nous aurons une lettre We'll have a letter
Il pleut sur le jardin It rains over the garden
Je vais faire du feu I'm gonna light a fire
Je n'ai pas de chagrin I have no sorrow
On est là tous les deux We are there together
Seuls Alone
Attend, je sais des histoires Wait, I know stories
Il était une fois There was once upon a time
Il pleut dans ma mémoire It rains in my memory
Je crois, ne pleure pas I believe, don't cry
Attends, je sais des histoires Wait, I know stories
Mais il fait un peu froid, ce soir But it's a little cold tonight
Une histoire de gens qui s'aiment A story of people who are in love with each other
Une histoire de gens qui s'aiment A story of people who are in love with each other
Tu vas voir You're gonna see
Ne t'en vas pas Don't go away
Ne me laisse pas Don't leave me
Je ne sais plus faire du feu I can no more light a fire
Mon enfant, mon amour My child, my love
Je ne peux plus grand-chose I can not much any more
Mon garçon, mon amour My boy, my love
Comme tu lui ressembles! How much you resemble her
On est là tous les deux We are there together
Perdus parmi les choses lost among things
Dans cette grande chambre In this big room
Seuls Alone
On va jouer à la guerre We'll play war
Et tu t'endormiras And you'll fall asleep
Ce soir, elle ne sera pas là Tonight she won't be there
Je n'sais plus, je n'sais pas I know no more, I don't know
Je n'aime pas l'hiver I don't like winter
Il n'y a plus de feu There is no more fire
Il n'y a plus rien à faire There is no more to do
Qu'à jouer tous les deux but playing together
Seuls Alone
Attends, je sais des histoires Wait, I know stories
Il était une fois There was once upon a time
Je n'ai plus de mémoire I have no more memory
Je crois, ne pleure pas I believe, don't cry
Attends, je sais des histoires Wait, I know stories
Mais il est un peu tard, ce soir But it's a little late tonight
L'histoire des gens qui s'aimèrent The story of people who loved each other
Et qui jouèrent à la guerre and who played war
Ecoute-moi Listen to me
Elle n'est plus là She is no more there
Non... ne pleure pas... ! No...don't cry
A very nostalgic song "Votre fille a vingt ans" (your daughter is twenty) about the time which passes too fast.
Lyrics:
Votre fille a vingt ans, que le temps passe vite You girl is twenty, how fast time goes by
Madame, hier encore elle était si petite Madam, yesterday she was still so little
Et ses premiers tourments sont vos premières rides And her first torments are your first wrinkles
Madame, et vos premiers soucis Madam, and your first troubles
Chacun de ses vingt ans pour vous a compté double Each of her twenty years for you counted twice
Vous connaissiez déjà tout ce qu'elle découvre You already knew everything that she discovers
Vous avez oublié les choses qui la troublent You have forgotten the things which confuse her
Madame, et vous troublaient aussi Madam, and were also confusing you
On la trouvait jolie et voici qu'elle est belle She was found to be cute, and now she is pretty
Pour un individu presque aussi jeune qu'elle For a guy almost as young as her
Un garçon qui ressemble à celui pour lequel A boy who looks like the one for whom
Madame, vous aviez embelli Madam, you had made yourself prettier
Ils se font un jardin d'un coin de mauvaise herbe They make a garden out of a place of weeds
Nouant la fleur de l'âge en un bouquet superbe knotting the flower of age into a superb bouquet
Il y a bien longtemps qu'on vous a mise en gerbes It's a long time ago that you were put into sprays
Madame, le printemps vous oublie Madam, spring forgets you
Chaque nuit qui vous semble à chaque nuit semblable Every night which looks like every night to you
Pendant que vous rêvez vos rêves raisonnables While you are dreaming reasonable dreams
De plaisir et d'amour ils se rendent coupables they make themselves guilty of pleasure and love
Madame, au creux du même lit Madam, in the same bed
Mais coupables jamais n'ont eu tant d'innocence But guilty ones never were so innocent
Aussi peu de regrets et tant d'insouciance So little regrets and so much carelessness
Qu'ils ne demandent même pas votre indulgence that they don't even ask for your forgiveness
Madame, pour leurs tendres délits Madam, for their tender offences
Jusqu'au jour où peut-être à la première larme Till the day that may be at the first tear
A la première peine d'amour et de femme At the first love and woman pain
Il ne tiendra qu'à vous de sourire Madame It will be up to you to smile madam
Madame, pour qu'elle vous sourie... madam, to make her smile
Jacques Brel is a great singer (Belgian of French expression) of the fifties, sixties, seventies.
He died of lung cancer in the seventies; RIP Jacques!
His song "Ne me quitte pas" 'don't leave me) is very famous and has been sung by foreign singers too.
Lyrics:
Ne me quitte pas Don't leave me
Il faut oublier You must forget
Tout peut s'oublier Everything can be forgotten
Qui s'enfuit déjà which already fades away
Oublier le temps to forget the time
Des malentendus of misunderstandings
Et le temps perdu and the lost time
A savoir comment to know how
Oublier ces heures to forget these hours
Qui tuaient parfois Which sometimes were killing
A coups de pourquoi by force of whys
Le coeur du bonheur the heart of happiness
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Moi je t'offrirai Me, I'll offer to you
Des perles de pluie drops of rain
Venues de pays coming from countries
Où il ne pleut pas in which it doesn't rain
Je creuserai la terre I'll dig the earth
Jusqu'après ma mort till after my death
Pour couvrir ton corps to cover your body
D'or et de lumière with gold and light
Je ferai un domaine I'll make a domain
Où l'amour sera roi where love will be king
Où l'amour sera loi where love will be law
Où tu seras reine where you'll be queen
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Je t'inventerai I'll invent for you
Des mots insensés senseless words
Que tu comprendras that you will understand
Je te parlerai I'll speak to you
De ces amants-là about these lovers
Qui ont vu deux fois who saw twice
Leurs coeurs s'embraser their hearts set ablaze
Je te raconterai I'll tell you
L'histoire de ce roi the story of that king
Mort de n'avoir pas dead for not having
Pu te rencontrer been able to meet you
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
On a vu souvent One has often seen
Rejaillir le feu leap again the fire
D'un ancien volcan from an old volcano
Qu'on croyait trop vieux that was thought to be too old
Il est paraît-il there is, it is said,
Des terres brûlées burnt lands
Donnant plus de blé giving more wheat
Qu'un meilleur avril than a better april
Et quand vient le soir And when evening comes
Pour qu'un ciel flamboie so that the sky blazes
Le rouge et le noir don't red and black
Ne s'épousent-ils pas marry together
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Je ne vais plus pleurer I'll cry no more
Je ne vais plus parler I'll talk no more
Je me cacherai là I'll hide there
A te regarder looking at you
Danser et sourire dance and smile
Et à t'écouter and listening to you
Chanter et puis rire sing and laugh
Laisse-moi devenir let me become
L'ombre de ton ombre the shadow of your shadow
L'ombre de ta main the shadow of your hand
L'ombre de ton chien the shadow of your dog
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas don't leave me
Ne me quitte pas. don't leave me
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The song "les vieux amants" (the old lovers) relates the relationship of two lovers, for which the time has made replace love with tenderness.
Lyrics:
Bien sûr, nous eûmes des orages of course we had storms
Vingt ans d'amour, c'est l'amour fol twenty years of love, it's mad love
Mille fois tu pris ton bagage one thousand times you took your luggage
Mille fois je pris mon envol One thousand times I took off
Et chaque meuble se souvient And every piece of furniture remembers
Dans cette chambre sans berceau In this room without cradle
Des éclats des vieilles tempêtes chips of old storms
Plus rien ne ressemblait à rien nothing was looking like nothing any more
Tu avais perdu le goût de l'eau you had lost the taste of water
Et moi celui de la conquête and I the one of conquest
{Refrain:}
Mais mon amour But my love
Mon doux mon tendre mon merveilleux amour my sweet, my tender, my marvelous love
De l'aube claire jusqu'à la fin du jour from bright dawn to the end of day
Je t'aime encore tu sais je t'aime I still love you, you know, I love you
Moi, je sais tous tes sortilèges Me, I know all your spells
Tu sais tous mes envoûtements You know all my bewitchments
Tu m'as gardé de pièges en pièges you kept me from trap to trap
Je t'ai perdue de temps en temps I lost you from time to time
Bien sûr tu pris quelques amants Of course you took some lovers
Il fallait bien passer le temps you had to kill time
Il faut bien que le corps exulte the body must exult
Finalement finalement finally, finally
Il nous fallut bien du talent we needed much talent
Pour être vieux sans être adultes to be old without being adults
{Refrain}
Oh, mon amour Oh my love
Mon doux mon tendre mon merveilleux amour my sweet, my tender, my marvelous love
De l'aube claire jusqu'à la fin du jour From bright dawn to the end of day
Je t'aime encore, tu sais, je t'aime I still love you, you know, I love you
Et plus le temps nous fait cortège And the more time escorts us
Et plus le temps nous fait tourment and the more time torments us
Mais n'est-ce pas le pire piège but isn't it the worst trap
Que vivre en paix pour des amants that for lovers to live in peace
Bien sûr tu pleures un peu moins tôt Of course you cry a little less soon
Je me déchire un peu plus tard I tear apart a little later
Nous protégeons moins nos mystères we protect less our mysteries
On laisse moins faire le hasard We let less chance do
On se méfie du fil de l'eau we distrust the water stream
Mais c'est toujours la tendre guerre but it's always the tender war
{Refrain}
Oh, mon amour... Oh, my love
Mon doux mon tendre mon merveilleux amour my sweet, my tender, my marvelous love
De l'aube claire jusqu'à la fin du jour from bright dawn to the end of day
Je t'aime encore tu sais je t'aime. I still love you, you know I love you
Léo ferré is a great french singer with anarchist tendencies (let's forget these tendencies, only to retain the artist).
He died of cancer in the nineties; RIP Leo!
the song "Avec le temps" (with time) is a very nostalgic song about time which goes by.
Lyrics:
Avec le temps.. with time.
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
on oublie le visage et l'on oublie la voix we forget the face, and we forget the voice
le coeur, quand ça bat plus, c'est pas la peine d'aller the heart, when it beats no more, it's no worth going
chercher plus loin, faut laisser faire et c'est très bien looking further, one must let do, and it's all right
avec le temps... with time
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
l'autre qu'on adorait, qu'on cherchait sous la pluie the other one we were loving,the other one we were looking for under the rain
l'autre qu'on devinait au détour d'un regard the other one we could guess with a stare
entre les mots, entre les lignes et sous le fard between words, between lines and under the make-up
d'un serment maquillé qui s'en va faire sa nuit of a disguised oath which goes make its night
avec le temps tout s'évanouit with time, everything vanishes
avec le temps... with time
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
mêm' les plus chouett's souv'nirs ça t'as un' de ces gueules even the nicest souvenirs, they show an ugly face
à la gal'rie j'farfouille dans les rayons d'la mort In the exposition gallery, in the rays of death
le samedi soir quand la tendresse s'en va tout' seule saturday night, when tenderness goes away alone
avec le temps... with time
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
l'autre à qui l'on croyait pour un rhume, pour un rien the other one in whom we were believing, for a cold, for nothing
l'autre à qui l'on donnait du vent et des bijoux the other one to whom we were giving wind and jewels
pour qui l'on eût vendu son âme pour quelques sous for whom we would have sold our soul for some coins
devant quoi l'on s'traînait comme traînent les chiens before whom we were crawling like dogs crawl
avec le temps, va, tout va bien with time, goes, everything goes well
avec le temps... with time
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
on oublie les passions et l'on oublie les voix we forget passions and we forget voices
qui vous disaient tout bas les mots des pauvres gens which were telling you words of poor people
ne rentre pas trop tard, surtout ne prends pas froid don't come back too late, don't take a cold
avec le temps... with time
avec le temps, va, tout s'en va with time, goes, everything goes
et l'on se sent blanchi comme un cheval fourbu and we feel whitened like a tired horse
et l'on se sent glacé dans un lit de hasard and we feel freezed in some bed
et l'on se sent tout seul peut-être mais peinard and we feel alone may be but cushy
et l'on se sent floué par les années perdues- alors vraiment and we feel deceived by lost years - then really
avec le temps on n'aime plus with time, we love no more
Claude François is a popular French singer of the sixties, seventies.
He tragically died electrocuted in his bathtub in 1978; RIP Claude!
His song "Comme d'habitude" (as usual) has become "My way" after Paul Anka put English words on it.
So here is the original French version of "My way", by the one who composed the song.
Lyrics:
Je me lève et je te bouscule I get up and I shove you
Tu ne te réveilles pas comme d'habitude you don't wake up, as usual
Sur toi je remonte le drap on you I pull up the sheet
J'ai peur que tu aies froid comme d'habitude I'm afraid that you are cold, as usual
Ma main caresse tes cheveux My hand strokes your hair
Presque malgré moi comme d'habitude almost in spite of me, as usual
Mais toi tu me tournes le dos but you, you show me your back
Comme d'habitude as usual
Alors je m'habille très vite then I dress up very fast
Je sors de la chambre comme d'habitude I get out of the room, as usual
Tout seul je bois mon café all alone I drink my coffee
Je suis en retard comme d'habitude I am late, as usual
Sans bruit je quitte la maison without a noise I leave the house
Tout est gris dehors comme d'habitude everything is grey outside, as usual
J'ai froid, je relève mon col I am cold, I pull up my collar
Comme d'habitude as usual
Comme d'habitude, toute la journée as usual, all day long
Je vais jouer à faire semblant I'll play to pretend
Comme d'habitude je vais sourire as usual, I'll smile
Comme d'habitude je vais même rire as usual, I'll even laugh
Comme d'habitude, enfin je vais vivre as usual, at last I'll live
Comme d'habitude as usual
Et puis le jour s'en ira then day will go by
Moi je reviendrai comme d'habitude Me, I'll come back, as usual
Toi, tu seras sortie You, you'll be out
Pas encore rentrée comme d'habitude Not yet come back, as usual
Tout seul j'irai me coucher all alone, I'll go to bed
Dans ce grand lit froid comme d'habitude in that big cold bed, as usual
Mes larmes, je les cacherai my tears, I'll hide them
Comme d'habitude as usual
Comme d'habitude, même la nuit as usual, even at night
Je vais jouer à faire semblant I'll play to pretend
Comme d'habitude tu rentreras as usual, you'll come back
Comme d'habitude je t'attendrai as usual, I'll wait for you
Comme d'habitude tu me souriras as usual, you'll smile to me
Comme d'habitude as usual
Comme d'habitude tu te déshabilleras as usual, you'll undress
Comme d'habitude tu te coucheras as usual, you'll get in bed
Comme d'habitude on s'embrassera as usual, we'll kiss each other
Comme d'habitude as usual
Comme d'habitude on fera semblant as usual, we'll pretend
Comme d'habitude on fera l'amour as usual, we'll make love
Comme d'habitude on fera semblant as usual, we'll pretend
C. Jerome is a singer who startted in the late sixties.
He has died of cancer some time ago, RIP Jerome!
Here he is interpreting "Et tu danses avec lui" (and you dance with him), the song of a jealous lover who sees his girlfriend dance with someone else, and is jealous of this guy.
Lyrics
Tu n'as jamais dansé aussi bien que ce soir Yoy never danced as well as this evening
Je regarde briller tes cheveux blonds dans le noir I watch your blond hair shine in the dark
Tu n'as jamais souris si tendrement je crois You never smiled so tenderly, I believe
Tu es la plus jolie tu ne me regardes pas You are the prettiest one, you don't look at me
Et tu danses avec lui la tête sur son épaule And you dance with him, your head on his shoulder
Tu fermes un peu les yeux c'est ton plus mauvais rôle You shut a little your eyes, it's your worst role
Et tu danses avec lui abandonnée heureuse And you dance with him, surrendered, happy
Tu as toute la nuit pour en être amoureuse You have all your night long to be happy
Je suis mal dans ma peau j'ai envie de partir I'm bad in my skin, I feel like leaving
Il y a toujours un slow pour me voler ton sourire There's always a slow to rob your smile from me
Et tu flirtes avec lui moi tout seul dans mon coin And your flirt with him, me alone in my corner
Je n'sais plus qui je suis je ne me souviens plus de rien I remember no more who I am, I remember nothing any more
Et tu danses avec lui la tête sur son épaule And you dance with him, your head on his shoulder
Tu fermes un peu les yeux c'est ton plus mauvais rôle You shut a little your eyes, it's your worst role
Et tu danses avec lui abandonnée heureuse And you dance with him, surrendered, happy
Tu as toute la nuit pour en être amoureuse You have all your night long to be happy
Et tu danses avec lui, et tu danses avec lui And you dance with him, and you dance with him
Et tu danses avec lui, et tu danses avec lui and you dance with him, and you dance with him
Avec lui ! with him
Lui ! him
Françoise Hardy is a very classy French singer who started in the sixties.
Here is a lovely song she sings "Des ronds dans l'eau" (circles in water).
Lyrics:
Tu commenças ta vie Your life began
Tout au bord d'un ruisseau along a river
Tu vécus de ces bruits you lived from these noises
Qui courent dans les roseaux which run in reeds
Qui montent des chemins which rise from paths
Que filtrent les taillis that thickets are filtering
Les ailes du moulin the wings of the windmill
Les cloches de midi the bells of noon
Soulignant d'un sourire underlining with a smile
La chanson d'un oiseau the song of a bird
Tu prenais des plaisirs you took pleasures
A faire des ronds dans l'eau in making circles in water
Aujourd'hui tu ballottes today you swing
Dans des eaux moins tranquilles in less still waters
Tu t'acharnes et tu flottes you strive and you float
Mais l'amour, où est-il ? but love, where is it
L'ambition a des lois ambition has laws
L'ambition est un culte ambition is a cult
Tu voudrais que ta voix I would like your voice
Domine le tumulte to dominate the tumult
Tu voudrais que l'on t'aime You wish you would be liked
Un peu comme un héros a little like a hero
Mais qui saurait quand même but who would still know
Faire des ronds dans l'eau how to make circles in water
S'il y a tous ces témoins If there are all these witnesses
Que tu veux dans ton dos that you want in your back
Dis-toi qu'ils pourraient bien tell yourself that they might
Devant tes ronds dans l'eau before your circles in water
Te prendre pour l'idiot take you for an idiot
L'idiot de ton village your village's idiot
Qui lui est resté là who stayed there
Pour faire des ronds dans l'eau making circles in water
Pour faire des ronds dans l'eau making circles in water
Another song of Françoise Hardy she sings in duet with another French singer Michel Delpech.
Lyrics:
Beaucoup de mes amis sont venus des nuages Many of my friends have come from the clouds
Avec soleil et pluie comme simples bagages with sun and rain as a simple luggage
Ils ont fait la saison des amitiés sincères they have made the season of sincere friendships
La plus belle saison des quatre de la terre the most beautiful season of the four of the earth
Ils ont cette douceur des plus beaux paysages They have that sweetness of the most beautiful landscapes
Et la fidélité des oiseaux de passage and the fidelity of the passing birds
Dans leurs coeurs est gravée une infinie tendresse in their hearts is engraved an infinite tenderness
Mais parfois dans leurs yeux se glisse la tristesse but sometimes in their eyes appears sadness
Alors, ils viennent se chauffer chez moi then they come warm themselves up by me
Et toi aussi tu viendras and you too, you will come
Tu pourras repartir au fin fond des nuages you can leave for the far end of clouds
Et de nouveau sourire à bien d'autres visages and again smile to many other faces
Donner autour de toi un peu de ta tendresse give around you a little of your tenderness
Lorsqu'un autre voudra te cacher sa tristesse when another one wants to hide you his sadness
Comme l'on ne sait pas ce que la vie nous donne As we don't know what life gives us
Il se peut qu'à mon tour je ne sois plus personne it may be that I am at my turn nobody
S'il me reste un ami qui vraiment me comprenne If I have a friend left who understands me
J'oublierai à la fois mes larmes et mes peines I'll forget both my tears and my sorrows
Alors, peut-être je viendrai chez toi Then, may be, I'll come to your house
Chauffer mon coeur à ton bois warm my heart up with your wood
Another lovely song of Françoise Hardy "le premier bonheur du jour" the first happiness of the day).
Lyrics:
Le premier bonheur du jour The first happiness of the day
C'est un ruban de soleil it's a ribbon of sun
Qui s'enroule sur ta main which rolls around your hand
Et caresse mon épaule and strokes my shoulder
C'est le souffle de la mer it's the breathe of the sea
Et la plage qui attend and the beach which waits
C'est l'oiseau qui a chanté it's the bird who has sung
Sur la branche du figuier on the branch of the fig tree
Le premier chagrin du jour the first sorrow of the day
C'est la porte qui se ferme it's the door which is shut
La voiture qui s'en va it's the car which goes away
Le silence qui s'installe the silence which settles
Mais bien vite tu reviens But very quickly you come back
Et ma vie reprend son cours and my life resumes again
Le dernier bonheur du jour the last happiness of the day
C'est la lampe qui s'éteint it's the lamp which is switched off
A last success of Françoise Hardy "La maison où j'ai grandi" (the house in which I grew up)
Lyrics:
Quand je me tourne vers mes souvenirs, When I turn to my souvenirs
je revois la maison où j'ai grandi. I can see again my house in which I grew up
Il me revient des tas de choses: I remember many things
je vois des roses dans un jardin. I see roses in a garden
Là où vivaient des arbres, maintenant Where trees were living, now
la ville est là, the town is there
et la maison, les fleurs que j'aimais tant, and the house and flowers I was so much loving
n'existent plus. don't exist any more
Ils savaient rire, tous mes amis, They could laugh, all my friends
ils savaient si bien partager mes jeux, They knew how to share my games
mais tout doit finir pourtant dans la vie, But everything must come to an end in life
et j'ai dû partir, les larmes aux yeux. And I had to leave with tears in my eyes
Mes amis me demandaient: "Pourquoi pleurer?" My friends were asking me: "Why do you cry?"
et "Couvrir le monde vaut mieux que rester. and "running through the world is better than staying
Tu trouveras toutes les choses qu'ici You'll find all the things that here
on ne voit pas, you can't see
toute une ville qui s'endort la nuit A whole town which falls asleep at night
dans la lumière." in the light"
Quand j'ai quitté ce coin de mon enfance, When I have left that corner of my childhood
je savais déjà que j'y laissais mon coeur. I already knew I was leaving here my heart
Tous mes amis, oui, enviaient ma chance, All my friends were envying my luck
mais moi, je pense encore à leur bonheur., But me, I still think of their happiness
à l'insouciance qui les faisait rire, and the frivolity which was making them laugh
et il me semble que je m'entends leur dire: And I can figure hearing me say them
"Je reviendrai un jour, un beau matin "I'll come back on some morning
parmi vos rires, among your laughs,
oui, je prendrai un jour le premier train yes, one day I'll take the first train
du souvenir." of the souvenir".
La temps a passé et me revoilà Time has passed by, and here I am
cherchant en vain la maison que j'aimais. vainly looking for the house I was loving
Où sont les pierres et où sont les roses, where are the stones and where are the roses
toutes les choses auxquelles je tenais? where are all the things I was caring about
D'elles et de mes amis plus une trace, Of them and of my friends I can see no track
d'autres gens, d'autres maisons ont volé leurs places. Other people, other houses have robbed their places
Là où vivaient des arbres, maintenant Where once trees were living, now
la ville est là, the town is there
et la maison , où est-elle, la maison And the house, where is it, the house
où j'ai grandi? in which I grew up?
Je ne sais pas où est ma maison, I don't know where my house is,
la maison où j'ai grandi. the house in which I grew up
Où est ma maison? Where is my house
Qui sait où est ma maison? Who knows where my house is?
Ma maison, où est ma maison? My house, where is my house?
Qui sait où est ma maison? ... Who knows where my house is?
A song which has been also interpreted abroad: "Comment te dire adieu" (how to say you farewell).
Lyrics
Sous aucun prétexte je ne veux Under no pretext, I don't want
Avoir de réflexes malheureux to have unhappy reflexes
Il faut que tu m'expliques un peu mieux You should explain me a little better
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
Mon coeur de silex vite prend feu My silex heart quickly takes fire
Ton coeur de pyrex résiste au feu Your pyrex heart resists to fire
Je suis bien perplexe je ne veux I'm quite perplexed, I don't want
Me résoudre aux adieux To accept the farewell
Je sais bien qu'un ex amour I well know that an old love
N'a pas de chance ou si peu Has quite no chance or so little
Mais pour moi But for me
Une explication vaudrait mieux An explanation would be better
Sous aucun prétexte je ne veux Under no pretext, I don't want
Devant toi surexposer mes yeux Before you overexpose my eyes
Derrière un Kleenex je saurais mieux Behind a Kleenex I would know better
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
Tu as mis à l'index You put me aside
Nos nuits blanches My sleepless nights
Nos matins gris-bleu my grey-blue mornings
Mais pour moi But for me
Une explication vaudrait mieux an explanation would be better
Sous aucun prétexte je ne veux Under no pretext, I don't want
Devant toi surexposer mes yeux Before you overexpose my eyes
Derrière un Kleenex je saurais mieux Behind a kleenex, I would know better
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
Comment te dire adieu How to say you farewell
a French singer Pierre Vaissiliu, and a romantic song he sings; "Anour, Amitié" (Love, friendship).
Lyrics:
Mais elle a eu un seul amant But she has had a single lover
Et ne se souvient plus du tout And doesn't remember at all
Du goût du baiser dans le cou the taste of the kiss on her neck
Elle me demande de l'embrasser She asks me to kiss her
Je ne sais plus si c'est déplacé I know no more if it's indecent
Et je suis bien embarrassé And I'm quite embarrassed
Même juste comme ça un baiser even if just for a kiss
REFRAIN:
Amour amitié Love, friendship
Je ne sais pas si par dépit ou par pitié I know no more if out of spite or out of pity
Je franchirai cet océan I'll cross that ocean
Qui va de l'ami à l'amant which goes from the friend to the lover
Elle pose la main sur ma joue She lays her hand on my cheek
Et ma pudeur en prend un coup And my pudor is affected
C'est fou elle pense surtout It's mad, she almost thinks
Que parfois on ferme les yeux that sometimes one closes his eyes
J'y vois de petits vaisseaux bleus I can see little blue vessels
Qui houlent et naviguent sans cesse which swing and unceasingly navigate
Gonflés d'amour et de tendresse inflated with love and tenderness
play REFRAIN
Il fait très chaud depuis une heure It has been very hot for one hour
Mais elle a gardé son manteau but she has kept her coat
De peur que je lui voie la peau out of fear I could see her skin
Ce qu'elle demande est redoutable What she asks is dreadful
Car parfois la bouche est capable for sometimes the mouth is able
De faire frissonner et bien plus to make shiver and much more
Car elle ne s'en souvient plus for she can remember no more
play REFRAIN
Mais elle a eu un seul amant But she had had a single lover
Et ne se souvient pas encore du corps And does not remember any more the body
Qui se plie et se tord who bends over and twists
Si elle a oublié de cet amour raté if she has forgotten this missed love
Du reste elle se souvient par ailleurs By the way she remembers besides
Du coup de couteau dans le coeur the knife stab in the heart
play REFRAIN
Qui va de l'ami à l'amant which goes from the friend to the lover
Michel Fugain is also a talented French artist.
He here sings one of his successes: "C'est un beau roman, c'est une belle histoire" (It's a beautiful romance, it's a beautiful story).
Lyrics:
C'est un beau roman, c'est une belle histoire It's a beautiful romance, it's a beautiful story
C'est une romance d'aujourd'hui It's a romance of today
Il rentrait chez lui, là-haut vers le brouillard He was coming back home, up there in the fog
Elle descendait dans le midi, le midi She was coming down in the south, the south
Ils se sont trouvés au bord du chemin They met on the side of the road
Sur l'autoroute des vacances on the motorway of holidays
C'était sans doute un jour de chance That was probably a lucky day
Ils avaient le ciel à portée de main They had the sky within reach
Un cadeau de la providence a gift of providence
Alors pourquoi penser au lendemain so why think about tomorrow
Ils se sont cachés dans un grand champ de blé they hid in a big wheat field
Se laissant porter par les courants letting themselves be carried by the streams
Se sont racontés leur vies qui commençaient told to each other their lives which were beginning
Ils n'étaient encore que des enfants, des enfants They still were nothing but children
Qui s'étaient trouvés au bord du chemin who had met on the side of the road
Sur l'autoroute des vacances on the motorway of holidays
C'était sans doute un jour de chance that probably was a lucky day
Qui cueillirent le ciel au creux de leurs mains they picked the sky in the hollow of their hands
Comme on cueille la providence like one picks the providence
Refusant de penser au lendemain refusing to think about the morrow
C'est un beau roman, c'est une belle histoire It's a beautiful romance, it's a beautiful story
C'est une romance d'aujourd'hui A romance of today
Il rentrait chez lui, là-haut vers le brouillard He was coming back home, up there in the fog
Elle descendait dans le midi, le midi She was coming down in the south, the south
Ils se sont quittés au bord du matin They left each other on the morning
Sur l'autoroute des vacances On the motorway of holidays
C'était fini le jour de chance Their lucky day was over
Ils reprirent alors chacun leur chemin They resumed then each one their road
Saluèrent la providence en se faisant un signe de la main saluted the providence by waving to each other
Il rentra chez lui, là-haut vers le brouillard He came back home, up there in the fog
Elle est descendue là-bas dans le midi She went down there in the south
C'est un beau roman, c'est une belle histoire It's a beautiful romance, it's a beautiful story
C'est une romance d'aujourd'hui It's a romance of today
Barbara is a French singer who specialized in romantic and nostalgic songs.
She died in the nineties; RIP Barbara!
Here she sings "Ma plus belle histoire d'amour" (My most beautiful love story).
Lyrics:
Du plus loin, que me revienne, As far as I can remember
L'ombre de mes amours anciennes, The shadow of my old loves
Du plus loin, du premier rendez-vous, the farthest, the first rendez-vous
Du temps des premières peines, In the time of my first sorrows
Lors, j'avais quinze ans, à peine, Then I was only fifteen
Coeur tout blanc, et griffes aux genoux, full white heart and scars on my knees
Que ce furent, j'étais précoce, That it was, I was precocious
De tendres amours de gosse, a tender child's love
Ou les morsures d'un amour fou, or the bites of a mad love
Du plus loin qu'il m'en souvienne, As far as I can remember
Si depuis, j'ai dit "je t'aime", if since then, I said "I love you"
Ma plus belle histoire d'amour, c'est vous, My most beautiful love story, it's you
C'est vrai, je ne fus pas sage, It's true, I did not behave
Et j'ai tourné bien des pages, and I turned many pages
Sans les lire, blanches, et puis rien dessus, without reading them, white, and nothing on them
C'est vrai, je ne fus pas sage, It's true, I didn't behave
Et mes guerriers de passage, and passing warriors
A peine vus, déjà disparus, hardly seen, already disappeared
Mais à travers leur visage, But through their faces
C'était déjà votre image, It was already your image
C'était vous déjà et le coeur nu, it was you already and the naked heart
Je refaisais mes bagages, I was packing again
Et poursuivais mon mirage, And I was pursuing my mirage
Ma plus belle histoire d'amour, c'est vous, My most beautiful love story, it's you
Sur la longue route, On the long road
Qui menait vers vous, Which was leading to you
Sur la longue route, On the long road
J'allais le coeur fou, I was going with a mad heart
Le vent de décembre, The wind of december
Me gelait au cou, was freezing my neck
Qu'importait décembre, What did December matter
Si c'était pour vous, If it was for you
Elle fut longue la route, It was long, the road
Mais je l'ai faite, la route, But I did it, the road
Celle-là, qui menait jusqu'à vous, That one which was leading to you
Et je ne suis pas parjure, And I am not perjury
Si ce soir, je vous jure, If this evening I swear to you
Que, pour vous, je l'eus faite à genoux, That for you I would have done it on my knees
Il en eut fallu bien d'autres, It would have needed much more
Que quelques mauvais apôtres, than some bad apostles
Que l'hiver ou la neige à mon cou, than the winter or the snow on my neck
Pour que je perde patience, to make me lose my patience
Et j'ai calmé ma violence, and I appeased my violence
Ma plus belle histoire d'amour, c'est vous, My most beautiful love story, it's you
Les temps d'hiver et d'automne, the times of winter and autumn
De nuit, de jour, et personne, of night, of day, and nobody
Vous n'étiez jamais au rendez-vous, you never were at the rendez-vous
Et de vous, perdant courage, And against you, losing my courage
Soudain, me prenait la rage, suddenly I was angered
Mon Dieu, que j'avais besoin de vous, My god, I was needing you
Que le Diable vous emporte, may devil take you away
D'autres m'ont ouvert leur porte, other ones opened their doors to me
Heureuse, je m'en allais loin de vous, Happy, I was going away from you
Oui, je vous fus infidèle, yes, I was unfaithful to you
Mais vous revenais quand même, But was coming back to you anyway
Ma plus belle histoire d'amour, c'est vous, My most beautiful love story, it's you
J'ai pleuré mes larmes, I cried my tears
Mais qu'il me fut doux, But how it was sweet to me
Oh, qu'il me fut doux, Oh, how it was sweet to me
Ce premier sourire de vous, That first smile from you
Et pour une larme, and for a teardrop
Qui venait de vous, which was coming from you
J'ai pleuré d'amour, I cried of love
Vous souvenez-vous ? do you remember
Ce fut, un soir, en septembre, It was an evening in september
Vous étiez venus m'attendre, You had come to wait for me
Ici même, vous en souvenez-vous ? Here exactly, do you remember
A vous regarder sourire, Waching you smile
A vous aimer, sans rien dire, loving you, without saying anything
C'est là que j'ai compris, tout à coup, That's then that I understood all of a sudden
J'avais fini mon voyage, I had ended my travel
Et j'ai posé mes bagages, and I put down my luggage
Vous étiez venus au rendez-vous, You had come to the rendez-vous
Qu'importe ce qu'on peut en dire, What does matter what people may say about it
Je tenais à vous le dire, I was wanting to tell it to you
Ce soir je vous remercie de vous, This evening I thank you for you
Qu'importe ce qu'on peut en dire, What does matter what people may say about it
Je suis venue pour vous dire, I have come to tell you
Ma plus belle histoire d'amour, c'est vous... My most beautiful love story, it's you
Barbara composed the song "L'aigle noir" (the black eagle) as a tribute to Lawrence of Arabia.
Lyrics:
Un beau jour, ou peut-être une nuit, Some day, or may be some night
Près d'un lac je m'étais endormie, Near a lake, I had fallen asleep
Quand soudain, semblant crever le ciel, When suddenly, seeming burst from the sky
Et venant de nulle part, And coming from nowhere
Surgit un aigle noir, Appeared a black eagle
Lentement, les ailes déployées, slowly, with spread wings
Lentement, je le vis tournoyer, slowly, I saw him wheel
Près de moi, dans un bruissement d'ailes, Near me, in a buzz of wings
Comme tombé du ciel, like fallen from the sky
L'oiseau vint se poser, the bird came land
Il avait les yeux couleur rubis, He had ruby colored eyes
Et des plumes couleur de la nuit, and night colored feathers
A son front brillant de mille feux, On his forehead shining with thousand fires
L'oiseau roi couronné, the crowned king bird
Portait un diamant bleu, was wearing a blue diamond
De son bec il a touché ma joue, With his beak he touched my cheek
Dans ma main il a glissé son cou, in my hand he put his neck
C'est alors que je l'ai reconnu, That's then that I recognized him
Surgissant du passé, Leaping from the past
Il m'était revenu, He had come back to me
Dis l'oiseau, ô dis, emmène-moi, Say the bird, oh say, take me away
Retournons au pays d'autrefois, Let's come back to the land of the past
Comme avant, dans mes rêves d'enfant, Like before, in my child's dreams
Pour cueillir en tremblant, to pick shivering
Des étoiles, des étoiles, stars, stars
Comme avant, dans mes rêves d'enfant, Like before, in my child's dreams
Comme avant, sur un nuage blanc, like before, on a white cloud
Comme avant, allumer le soleil, like before, light the sun
Etre faiseur de pluie, be rain maker
Et faire des merveilles, and do marvels
L'aigle noir dans un bruissement d'ailes, The black eagle in a buzz of wings
Prit son vol pour regagner le ciel, flew away to reach the sky
Quatre plumes couleur de la nuit Four night colored feathers
Une larme ou peut-être un rubis A teardrop or may be a ruby
J'avais froid, il ne me restait rien I was cold, I had nothing left
L'oiseau m'avait laissée The bird had left me
Seule avec mon chagrin Alone with my sorrow
Un beau jour, ou peut-être une nuit, Some day, or may be some night
Près d'un lac, je m'étais endormie, Near a lake I had fallen asleep
Quand soudain, semblant crever le ciel, When suddenly, seeming burst from the sky
Et venant de nulle part, and coming from nowhere
Surgit un aigle noir, appeared a black eagle
Un beau jour, une nuit, some day, some night
Près d'un lac, endormie, near a lake, fallen asleep
Quand soudain, when suddenly
Il venait de nulle part, he was coming from nowhere
Il surgit, l'aigle noir... he appeared, the black eagle
Charles Aznavour is one of our greatest French artists.
He is worldly known.
Here is a song he composed for a French film of 1970 "Mourir d'aimer" (To die of love) relating the story of a woman who falls in love with a boy younger than her, but that the boy's parents send to jail, because the boy is considered to be a minor; in fact the boy was eighteen, but at that time, that age was still not the age of majority (which then was 21); in jail the woman, desperate, commits suicide.
Lyrics:
Les parois de ma vie sont lisses The faces of my life are slippy
Je m'y accroche mais je glisse I cling to them but I slide
Lentement vers ma destinée slowly toward my destiny
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Tandis que le monde me juge While the world is judging me
Je ne vois pour moi qu'un refuge I can see for me only one shelter
Toute issue m'étant condamnée Any way out being shut to me
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
De plein gré s'enfoncer dans la nuit Willingly sinking into the night
Payer l'amour au prix de sa vie paying the love at the price of one's life
Pécher contre le corps mais non contre l'esprit Committing sin against the body but not against the mind
Laissons le monde à ses problèmes Let's leave the world with its problems
Les gens haineux face à eux-mêmes Heinous people faced to themselves
Avec leurs petites idées with their little mean ideas
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Puisque notre amour ne peut vivre Since our love cannot live
Mieux vaut en refermer le livre Let's better shut its book
Et plutôt que de le brûler and rather than burning it
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Partir en redressant la tête Leaving with a raised head
Sortir vainqueur d'une défaite getting out as a victor from a defeat
Renverser toutes les données throwing over all the data
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Comme on le peut de n'importe quoi As you can of anything
Abandonner tout derrière soi leaving everything behind us
Pour n'emporter que ce qui fut nous, qui fut toi to take only what was us, what was you
Tu es le printemps, moi l'automne You are the spring, I'm the autumn
Ton coeur se prend, le mien se donne your heart is to be taken, mine to be given
Et ma route est déjà tracée and my road is already laid out
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
Mourir d'aimer Dying of love
This song is about someone who has lost his love, and says that even a romantic town like Venice has no more taste when one has lost his love.
Lyrics:
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Au temps des amours mortes In the time of dead loves
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Quand on ne s'aime plus When we love no more each other
On cherche encore des mots We still look for words
Mais l'ennui les emporte But boredom takes them away
On voudrais bien pleurer We would like to cry
Mais on ne le peut plus But we can no more
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Lorsque les barcarolles When the barcaroles
Ne viennent souligner only come underline
Que des silences creux hollow silences
Et que le coeur se serre And that the heart sinks
En voyant les gondoles in seeing the gondolas
Abriter le bonheur shelter the happiness
Des couples amoureux of loving couples
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Au temps des amours mortes in the time of dead loves
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Quand on ne s'aime plus When we love no more each other
Les musées, les églises The museums, the churches
Ouvrent en vain leurs portes vainly open their doors
Inutile beauté useless beauty
Devant nos yeux déçus before our deceived eyes
Que c'est triste Venise How it's sad, Venice
Le soir sur la lagune The evening on the lagoon
Quand on cherche une main When we look for a hand
Que l'on ne vous tend pas Which is not stretched out to you
Et que l'on ironise And that we ironize
Devant le clair de lune Before the moonlight
Pour tenter d'oublier To try to forget
Ce qu'on ne se dit pas What we don't tell to each other
Adieu tout les pigeons Farewell all the pigeons
Qui nous ont fait escorte who escorted us
Adieu Pont des Soupirs farewell bridge of sighs
Adieu rêves perdus farewell lost dreams
C'est trop triste Venise It's too sad, Venice
Au temps des amours mortes in the time of dead loves
C'est trop triste Venise it's too sad, Venice
Quand on ne s'aime plus When we love no more each other
This song "La mamma" is about an italian mamma who is about to die; all her family is gathered around her to assist her in her last moments.
Lyrics:
Ils sont venus They all came
Ils sont tous là they all are there
Dès qu'ils ont entendu ce cri as soon as they heard that shout
Elle va mourir, la mamma she is gonna die, the mamma
Ils sont venus They all came
Ils sont tous là they all are there
Même ceux du sud de l'Italie Even those from the south of Italy
Y a même Giorgio, le fils maudit There's even Giorgio, the cursed son
Avec des présents plein les bras With his arms full of gifts
Tous les enfants jouent en silence All the children silently play
Autour du lit ou sur le carreau around the bed or on the tiled floor
Mais leurs jeux n'ont pas d'importance but their games don't matter
C'est un peu leurs derniers cadeaux it's a little their last gifts
A la mamma to the mamma
On la réchauffe de baisers She is warmed up with kisses
On lui remonte ses oreillers Her pillows are drawn up
Elle va mourir, la mamma She is gonna die, the mamma
Sainte Marie pleine de grâces Holy mary full of graces
Dont la statue est sur la place whose statue is on the square
Bien sûr vous lui tendez les bras Of course you are stretching out your arms to her
En lui chantant Ave Maria singing her the Ave Maria
Ave Maria Ave Maria
Y a tant d'amour, de souvenirs There is so much love, souvenirs
Autour de toi, toi la mamma Around you, you the mamma
Y a tant de larmes et de sourires There are so many tears and smiles
A travers toi, toi la mamma through you, you the mamma
Et tous les hommes ont eu si chaud And all the men were so warm
Sur les chemins de grand soleil on the sunny paths
Elle va mourir, la mamma She is gonna die, the mamma
Qu'ils boivent frais le vin nouveau May they drink the new fresh wine
Le bon vin de la bonne treille the good wine from the good grape
Tandis que s'entrassent pêle-mêle While are stacked in disorder
Sur les bancs, foulards et chapeaux on the benches, scarves and hats
C'est drôle on ne se sent pas triste It's funny, one doesn't feel sad
Près du grand lit et de l'affection Near the big bed and affection
Y a même un oncle guitariste There is even a guitarist uncle
Qui joue en faisant attention Who plays while caring
A la mamma about the mamma
Et les femmes se souvenant And the women remembering
Des chansons tristes des veillées sad songs of evenings
Elle va mourir, la mamma she is gonna die, the mamma
Tout doucement, les yeux fermés quite slowly, with shut eyes
Chantent comme on berce un enfant sing like to rock a child
Aprés une bonne journée after a good day
Pour qu'il sourie en s'endormant to make him smile while he falls asleep
Ave Maria Ave Maria
Y a tant d'amour, de souvenirs There is so much love, souvenirs
Autour de toi, toi la mamma Around you, you the mamma
Y a tant de larmes et de sourires There are so many tears and smiles
A travers toi, toi la mamma Through you, you the mamma
Que jamais, jamais, jamais that never, never
Tu nous quitteras... You will leave us
"La chanson d'hélène" (Helen's song) is the theme of a film which has been shot in 1970, "Les choses de la vie" (the things of life), in which as someone is about to have an accident, in which he will lose his life, he remembers in his last moments as a flashback all the events of his life, his quarrels, his loves.
A very moving song.
Lyrics:
{Sung:}
Ce soir nous sommes septembre et j'ai fermé ma chambre This evening we are september and I have locked my room
Le soleil n'y entrera plus The sun will get in no more
Tu ne m'aimes plus You love me no more
Là-haut un oiseau passe comme une dédicace Up there a bird passes like a tribute
Dans le ciel in the sky
{Spoken:}
Je t'aimais tant Hélène I was so much loving you Helen
Il faut se quitter We must leave each other
Les avions partiront sans nous The planes will take off without us
Je ne sais plus t'aimer Hélène I know no more how to love you Helen
{Sung:}
Avant dans la maison j'aimais quand nous vivions Before in the house I was loving when we were living
Comme un dessin d'enfant like a child's drawing
Tu ne m'aimes plus You love me no more
Je regarde le soir tomber dans les miroirs I watch the evening fall in the mirrors
C'est la vie That's life
{Spoken:}
C'est mieux ainsi Hélène That's better that way Helen
C'était l'amour sans amitié Il va falloir changer de mémoire It was love without friendship, we'll have to change our memories
Je ne t'écrirai plus Hélène I'll write you no more Helen
{Sung:}
L'histoire n'est plus à suivre et j'ai fermé le livre The story is no more to follow and I have shut the book
Le soleil n'y entrera plus The sun will get in no more
Tu ne m'aimes plus You love me no more
Michel Legrand is a talented film music maker.
Here is the song he composed for the film "The Thomas Crown affair" with Steve Mac Queen"
.
Lyrics:
Comme une pierre que l'on jette dans l'eau vive d'un ruisseau Like a stone which is thrown into the water of a river
Et qui laisse derrière elle des milliers de ronds dans l'eau And which leaves behind it thousands of circles in water
Comme un manège de lune avec ses chevaux d'étoiles Like a moon manege with its star horses
Comme un anneau de Saturne, un ballon de carnaval, Link a ring of Saturne, a balloon of carnival
Comme le chemin de ronde que font sans cesse les heures Like the cyclic walk that the hours unceasingly do
Le voyage autour du monde d'un tournesol dans sa fleur the travel around the world of a sunflower in its flower
Tu fais tourner de ton nom tous les moulins de mon coeur You make turn with your name the windmills of my heart
Comme un écheveau de laine entre les mains d'un enfant Like a hank of wool between a child's hands
Ou les mots d'une rengaine pris dans les harpes du vent or the words of a tune taken in the harps of wind
Comme un tourbillon de neige, comme un vol de goélands, Like a flurry of snow, like a flight of gulls,
Sur des forêts de Norvège, sur des moutons d'océan, on forests of Norway, on white horses of ocean
Comme le chemin de ronde que font sans cesse les heures of the cyclic path that hours unceasingly do
Le voyage autour du monde d'un tournesol dans sa fleur the travel around the world of a sunflower in its flower
Tu fais tourner de ton nom tous les moulins de mon coeur You make turn with your name all the windmills of my heart
Ce jour-là près de la source Dieu sait ce que tu m'as dit On that day near the source, god knows what you told me
Mais l'été finit sa course, l'oiseau tomba de son nid But summer ends its course, the bird fell from his nest
Et voilà que sur le sable nos pas s'effacent déjà And now on the sand our steps already fade away
Et je suis seul à la table qui résonne sous mes doigts And I'm alone at the table which resounds under my fingers
Comme un tambourin qui pleure sous les gouttes de la pluie Like a tambourine which weeps under the raindrops
Comme les chansons qui meurent aussitôt qu'on les oublie Like the songs which die as soon as they are forgotten
Et les feuilles de l'automne rencontrent des ciels moins bleus And the autumn leaves meet less blue skies
Et ton absence leur donne la couleur de tes cheveux And your absence give them the color of your hair
Comme une pierre que l'on jette dans l'eau vive d'un ruisseau Like a drop which is thrown into the water of a river
Et qui laisse derrière elle des milliers de ronds dans l'eau And which leaves behind it thousands of circles in water
Aux vents des quatre saisons, tu fais tourner de ton nom In the winds of the four seasons, you make turn with your name
Tous les moulins de mon coeur All the windmills of my heart
Serge Lama is a French artist of the North.
Here is a song he has written the text of (music composed by Alice Dona), "Je suis malade" (I am ill), played with a strange video I have found on DailyMotion
Lyrics:
Je ne rêve plus je ne fume plus I dream no more, I smoke no more
Je n'ai même plus d'histoire I don't even have any more story
Je suis sale sans toi je suis laid sans toi I'm dirty without you, I'm ugly without you
Je suis comme un orphelin dans un dortoir I am like an orphan in a dormitory
Je n'ai plus envie de vivre ma vie I have no more taste for living my life
Ma vie cesse quand tu pars My life stops when you leave
Je n'ai plus de vie et même mon lit I have no more life and even my bed
Se transforme en quai de gare turns to a rail platform
Quand tu t'en vas when you go away
Je suis malade complètement malade I am ill, completely ill
Comme quand ma mère sortait le soir Like when my mother was getting out on evenings
Et qu'elle me laissait seul avec mon désespoir and was leaving me alone with my despair
Je suis malade parfaitement malade I am ill, perfectly ill
T'arrives on ne sait jamais quand You arrive one never knows when
Tu repars on ne sait jamais où You leave again one never knows where
Et ça va faire bientôt deux ans And it has been almost two years
Que tu t'en fous that you don't care
Comme à un rocher comme à un péché Like to a rock, like to a sin
Je suis accroché à toi I cling to you
Je suis fatigué je suis épuisé I am tired, I am exhausted
De faire semblant d'être heureux quand ils sont là to simulate happiness when they are there
Je bois toutes les nuits mais tous les whiskies I drink every night, but all the whiskies
Pour moi ont le même goût for me have the same taste
Et tous les bateaux portent ton drapeau and all the ships carry your flag
Je ne sais plus où aller tu es partout I don't know where to go, you are everywhere
Je suis malade complètement malade I am ill, completely ill
Je verse mon sang dans ton corps I pour my blood into your body
Et je suis comme un oiseau mort quand toi tu dors And I am like a dead bird when you, you sleep
Je suis malade parfaitement malade I am ill, perfectly ill
Tu m'as privé de tous mes chants You deprived me from all my songs
Tu m'as vidé de tous mes mots You emptied me from all my words
Pourtant moi j'avais du talent avant ta peau Yet me, I had talent before your skin
Cet amour me tue et si ça continue This love kills me, and it that goes on
Je crèverai seul avec moi I'll die alone with myself
Près de ma radio comme un gosse idiot near my radio like a stupid kid
Écoutant ma propre voix qui chantera Listening to my own voice which will sing
Je suis malade complètement malade I am ill, completely ill
Comme quand ma mère sortait le soir like when my mother was getting out on evenings
Et qu'elle me laissait seul avec mon désespoir and was leaving me alone with my despair
Je suis malade c'est ça je suis malade I am ill, that's it, I am ill
Tu m'as privé de tous mes chants You deprived me from all my songs
Tu m'as vidé de tous mes mots You emptied me from all my words
Et j'ai le coeur complètement malade and I have my heart completely ill
Cerné de barricades t'entends je suis malade surrounded with barricades, you hear, I am ill
Michel Delpech is a popular French singer.
He here sings a nostagic song about someone who remembers the time of his youth.
Lyrics:
À sa façon de nous app'ler ses gosses With her way to call us her kids
On voyait bien qu'ell' nous aimait beaucoup We could see she was much loving us
C'était chez ell' que notre argent de poche It was by her that our pocket money
Disparaissait dans les machines à sous was disappearing in the slot machines
Après les cours on allait boire un verre After school we were going drink a glass
Quand on entrait Laurette souriait When we were getting in, Laurette was smiling
Et d'un seul coup nos leçons nos problèmes And immediately our lessons, our problems
Disparaissaient quand ell' nous embrassait were disppearing when she was kissing us
C'était bien, chez Laurette that was cool by Laurette
Quand on faisait la fête When we had fun
Elle venait vers nous.. Lau - rette She was coming to us...Laurette
C'é tait bien, c'était chouette That was cool, that was great
Quand on était fauché When we were broke
Elle payait pour nous.. Lau - rette she was paying for us...Laurette
Et plus encore afin qu'on soit tranquille And still more so that we be at ease
Dans son café y avait un coin pour nous In her Café there was a spot for us
On s'y mettait pour voir passer les filles We were on it to see girls pass by
Et j'en connais qui nous plaisaient beaucoup And I know some that we liked a lot
Si par hasard on avait l'âme en peine If ever our souls were in sorrow
Laurette seule savait nous consoler Laurette only knew how to comfort us
Ell' nous parlait et l'on riait quand même She was speaking to us and making us laugh
En un clin d'oeil ell' pouvait tout changer In no time she could change everything
C'était bien chez Laurette That was cool by Laurette
On y retournera We'll come back there
Pour ne pas l'oublier Iaurette Not to forget her, Laurette
Ce s'ra bien ce s'ra chouette That will be cool, that will be great
Et l'on reparlera, And we'll talk again
Des histoir's du passé about the stories of the past
Chez Laurette By Laurette
Ce s'ra bien ce s'ra chouette That will be cool, that will be great
Et l'on reparlera, And we'll talk again
Des histoir's du passé About the stories of the past
Chez Laurette By Laurette
Nicolle croisille is a French singer who has wonderfully sung love songs.
Here is one of her songs "Une femme avec toi" (a woman with you).
Lyrics:
Je fréquentais alors des hommes un peu bizarres I was then going out with a little weird men
Aussi légers que la cendre de leurs cigares As light as the ashes of their cigars
Ils donnaient des soirées au château de Versailles They were giving parties in the castle of Versailles
Ce n'étaient que des châteaux de paille But it was nothing but straw castles
Et je perdais mon temps dans ce désert doré And I was losing my time in that gilded desert
J'étais seule quand je t'ai rencontré I was alone when I met you
Les autres s'enterraient, toi tu étais vivant The other ones were digging themselves in, you, you were alive
Tu chantais comme chante un enfant You were singing like a child sings
Tu étais gai comme un italien You were merry like an italian
Quand il sait qu'il aura de l'amour et du vin when he knows he will have love and wine
Et enfin pour la première fois And at last for the first time
Je me suis enfin sentie: I felt at last:
Femme, femme, une femme avec toi woman, woman, a woman with you
Femme, femme, une femme avec toi woman, woman, a woman with you
Tu ressemblais un peu à cet air d'avant You were a little looking like this past tune
Où galopaient des chevaux tous blancs where full white horses were galloping
Ton visage était grave et ton sourire clair Your face was serious and your smile was bright
Je marchais tout droit vers ta lumière I was walking right toward your light
Aujourd'hui quoi qu'on fasse Today, whatever we do
Nous faisons l'amour we make love
Près de toi le temps parait si court Near you, time seems so short
Parce que tu es un homme et que tu es gentil Because you are a man and you are nice
Et tu sais rendre belle nos vies And you can make our lives beautiful
Toi tu es gai comme un italien You, you are merry like an Italian
Quand il sait qu'il aura de l'amour et du vin When he knows he will have love and wine
C'est toujours comme la première fois It's always like the first time
Quand je suis enfin devenue: When I at last became:
Femme, femme, une femme avec toi Woman, woman, a woman with you
Femme, oh ! femme, une femme avec toi Woman, oh Woman, a woman with you
Femme, femme, une femme avec toi. woman, woman, a woman with you
Here is another of her songs "L'amour sur ton visage" (love on your face) from the musical theme (composed by the French composer Francis Lai) of the movie "La course du lièvre à travers les champs" (the run of the hare through the fields) with Jean-Louis Trintignat and Robert Ryan.
Lyrics:
L'amour sur ton visage, Love on your face
l'amour triste et sauvage, Love, sad and wild
attend pour un voyage, Waits for a trip
en marge du temps. In the margin of time
L'amour sur mon visage, Love on your face
l'amour est bien plus sage, Love is much wiser
la vie tourne au passage Life turns as it passes by
les pages du temps the pages of time
J'ai maquillé ma vie en bleu I mave made up my life in blue
si dans mes yeux parfois il pleut if sometimes in your eyes it rains
c'est une averse au mois d'Avril It's a rain in April month
j'ai le bonheur un peu fragile. I have a little frail happiness
Les souvenirs à fleur de peau, My skin deep memories
mes vieux amis me tenaient chaud, My old friends were warming me up
toi tu dis "viens" et j'oublie tout, You, you say "come", and I forget everything
tous les secrets de l'amour fou. All the secrets of mad love
L'amour sur ton visage, Love on your face
l'amour triste et sauvage, Love, sad and wild
attend pour un voyage, waits for a trip
en marge du temps. in the margin of time
Je t'ai aimé de tout mon corps, I have loved you with all my body
de tout mon coeur je t'aime encore, with all my heart I still love you
s'il doit mourir l'amour soleil, if it must die, the sunny love
il doit mourir, mais en plein ciel. if it must die, but in full sky
L'amour sur mon visage, Love on your face
s'endort à plein orage, falls asleep in full storm
la vie tourne au passage, Life turns as it passes by
les pages du temps. the pages of time
Another song she sings, but I haven't found a performance of that song from her on YouTube, so I'll give a performance from another artist, although I much prefer the one of Nicole Croisille.
Lyrics:
Il me traite certains jours He treats me some days
Comme une reine Like a queen
Il m'a dit oeil de velours He told me velvet eye
Mais je t'aime but I love you
Et je suis heureuse avec lui And I'm happy with him
Il me parle aussi parfois He also talks to me sometimes
Comme à son chien like to his dog
Il me fait mal, il me bat He hurts me, he beats me
Mais je reviens But I come back
Car je suis heureuse avec lui Because I'm happy with him
Je ne suis que de l'amour I'm nothing but love
C'est ma seule vérité It's my only truth
Je n'ai plus de liberté qu'aimer I have no more freedom but loving
Je ne suis que de l'amour I am nothing but love
Je suis faite pour donner I am made to give
Je n'ai rien à demander I have nothing to ask
Je n'obéis qu'à sa loi I obey only his law
Qu'à son désir his desire
Je ferais n'importe quoi I would do anything
Pour son plaisir for his pleasure
Ce qui vient de lui : c'est ma vie Which comes from him: It's my life
Je ne suis que de l'amour I am nothing but love
Un instant d'éternité A moment of eternity
Il peut jouer à volonté de moi He can play at will with me
Je ne suis que de l'amour I am nothing but love
C'est ma seule vérité It's my only truth
Je n'ai plus de liberté qu'aimer I have no more freedom but loving
Je ne suis que de l'amour I am nothing but love
C'est ma seule vérité It's my only truth
Je n'ai plus de liberté qu'aimer I have no more freedom but loving
Je ne suis que de l'amour....... I am nothing but love
Dalida is a French singer of Egyptian origin.
This song is very special, because unlike many other songs she has sung, she is the only one who has sung it, and this song is really made for her, she made it totally hers.
This song once more proves that famous songs may begin in a very modest way.
In the seventies, young composers were presenting songs to Dalida.
At one moment, one said, I still have a song but I think it is not for you.
"Play it anyway" said Dalida.
Then the young composer started to sing the song, accompanying himself with the piano, thinking she would not like the song.
But much to the contrary, Dalida pinched her lips in a way which showed that she was really appreciating the song, and she made it a big hit, a very romantic song.
The title of the song is "Il venait d'avoir 18 ans" (he had just been eighteen) and relates the story of a young man of eighteen who seduces a woman who is twice his age.
Dalida committed suicide with an overdose of barbiturates; RIP Dalida!
Lyrics:
Il venait d'avoir He had just been
18 ans. eighteen
Il était beau comme un enfant, He was beautiful like a child
Fort comme un homme. strong like a man
C'était l'été, évidemment It was summer of course
Et j'ai compté, en le voyant, And I counted when I saw him
Mes nuits d'automne. my autumn nights
J'ai mis de l'ordre dans mes cheveux, I put order in my hair
Un peu plus de noir sur mes yeux. A little more black on my eyes
Ça l'a fait rire. that made him laugh
Quand il s'est approché de moi, When he came nearer me
J'aurais donné n'importe quoi I would have given anything
Pour le séduire. to seduce him
Il venait d'avoir 18 ans. He had just been eighteen
C'était le plus bel argument That was the most beautiful argument
De sa victoire. of his victory
Il ne m'a pas parlé d'amour. He didn't speak me of love
Il pensait que les mots d'amour He thought that the words of love
Sont dérisoires. are derisory
Il m'a dit : « J'ai envie de toi. » He said to me "I want you"
Il avait vu au cinéma He had seen in a cinema
"Le blé en herbe". "the corn bleaches on grass some"
Au creux d'un lit improvisé In the hollow of an improvised bed
J'ai découvert, émerveillée, I have discovered, filled with wonder
Un ciel superbe. A superb sky
Il venait d'voir 18 ans. He had just been eighteen
Ca le rendait presque insolent That was almost making him insolent
De certitude of certitude
Et pendant qu'il se rhabillait, And while he was putting back on his clothes
Déjà vaincue, je retrouvais Already vanquished, I was finding again
Ma solitude. my solitude
J'aurais voulu le retenir. I would have wanted to retain him
Pourtant je l'ai laissé partir However I let him go
Sans faire un geste. Without making a move
Il m'a dit : « C'était pas si mal. » He told me "that wasn't so bad"
Avec la candeur infernale with the hellish candor
De sa jeunesse. of his youth
J'ai mis de l'ordre dans mes cheveux, I have put order in my hair
Un peu plus de noir sur mes yeux, A little more black on my eyes
Par habitude. out of habit
J'avais oublié simplement I had just forgotten
Que j'avais deux fois 18 ans That I was twice eighteen
Mike Brant is a French singer from Israelian origin.
"Laisse moi t'aimer" (let me love you) is one of his best songs.
Sadly, he committed suicide by jumping from a window; RIP Mike!
Lyrics:
Laisse-moi t'aimer Let me love you
Toute une nuit A whole night long
Laisse-moi Let me
Toute une nuit A whole night long
Faire avec toi make with you
Le plus long, le plus beau voyage the longest, the most beautiful travel
Veux-tu le faire aussi? Do you want to make it too?
Une hirondelle fait mon printemps A swallow makes my spring
Quand je te vois when I see you
Mon ciel devient plus grand My sky becomes bigger
Je prends ta main I take your hand
Alors je sens que j'ai pour toi Then I feel I have for you
L'amour au bout des doigts Love at the end of my fingers
La feuille qui grandit a besoin de lumière The leaf which grows needs light
Et le poisson meurt sans l'eau de la rivière and the fish dies without the river's water
Aussi vrai que nos corps sont nés de la poussière As true as our bodies were born in the dust
Toi tu es mon soleil et mon eau vive You, you are my sun and my living water
Laisse-moi t'aimer Let me love you
Rien qu'une nuit just for one night
Laisse moi, rien qu'une nuit Let me, just for one night
Voir dans tes yeux see in your eyes
Le plus merveilleux paysage the most marvelous landscape
Oh oui si tu le veux Oh yes, if you want it
Laisse-moi t'aimer Let me love you
Laisse-moi t'aimer, toute ma vie Let me love you, my whole life long
Laisse-moi, laisse-moi t'aimer Let me, let me love you
Faire avec toi le plus grand de tous les voyages Make with you the greatest of all the travels
Laisse-moi, laisse-moi t'aimer, t'aimer Let me, let me love you, love you
The group "Il était une fois" (there was once upon a time) was a group of young singers.
Sadly the female singer of the group (Joelle) died from drug abuse.
Here they sing a beautiful song "J'ai encore révé d'elle" (I have dreamed about her again)
Lyrics:
J'ai encore rêvé d'elle I have dreamed about her again
C'est bête, elle n'a rien fait pour ça That's stupid, she did nothing for that
Elle n'est pas vraiment belle She is not really pretty
C'est mieux, elle est faite pour moi That's better, she is made for me
Toute en douceur All in sweetness
Juste pour mon coeur Just for my heart
Je l'ai rêvée si fort I have dreamed so strong about her
Que les draps s'en souviennent That the sheets remember her
Je dormais dans son corps I was sleeping in her body
Bercé par ses "Je t'aime". rocked by her "I love you"
Si je pouvais me réveiller à ses côtés If I could wake up on her side
Si je savais où la trouver If I knew where to find her
Donnez-moi l'espoir Give me hope
Prêtez-moi un soir Lend me one evening
Une nuit, juste, pour elle et moi One night, just for her and me
Et demain matin, elle s'en ira And tomorrow she'll go away
Boy: J'ai encore rêvé d'elle I have dreamed about her again
Girl: Je rêve aussi I also dream
Boy: Je n'ai rien fait pour ça I have done nothing for that
Girl: J'ai mal dormi I have badly slept
Boy: Elle n'est pas vraiment belle She is not really pretty
Girl: J'ai un peu froid I am a little cold
Boy: Elle est faite pour moi She is made for me
Girl: Réveille-toi. Wake up..
Boy:Toute en douceur All in sweetness
Boy:Juste pour mon coeur Just for my heart
Boy: Si je pouvais me réveiller à ses côtés If I could wake up on her side
Girl: Ouvre tes yeux, tu ne dors pas Open your eyes, you don't sleep
Boy: Si je savais où la trouver If I knew where to find her
Girl: Regarde-moi Look at me
Boy: Donnez moi l'espoir Give me hope
Girl: Je suis à toi I am yours
Boy: Prêtez-moi un soir Lend me one evening
Girl: Je t'aime I love you
Boy: Une nuit, juste pour elle et moi One night, just for her and me
Boy: Et demain, enfin je vais me réveiller And tomorrow, I'll wake up
Girl: Je t'attendais, regarde-moi I was waiting for you, look at me
Boy: A ses côtés, c'est sûr je vais la retrouver On her side, that's sure, I'll meet her
Girl: Ouvre tes bras Open your arms
Boy: Donnez moi un soir Give me an evening
Girl: Je suis à toi I am yours
Boy: Laissez-moi y croire Let me believe in it
Une vie juste pour toi et moi A life for you and me
Et demain matin, tu seras là... And tomorrow, you'll be here
A song of jeanne Manson; "Avant de nous dire adieu" (Before saying farewell to each other")
Lyrics
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu Let's make love before saying farewell to each other
Avant de nous dire adieu Before saying farewell to each other
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux Let's make love since it's over with us
Puisque c'est fini nous deux Since it's over with us
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois Let's make love like it was the first time
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va One time more, you and me, since love goes away
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu Let's make love before saying farewell to each other
Avant de nous dire adieu Before saying farewell to each other
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux Let's make love since it's over with us
Puisque c'est fini nous deux Since it's over with us
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois Let's make love like it was the first time
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va One time more, you and, me, since love goes away
Je peux tout te pardonner I can forget you everything
Et faire semblant d'oublier And pretend to forget
Je veux bien fermer les yeux I accept to close my eyes
Et faire tout ce que tu veux And make everything you want
Je veux bien te partager I accept to share you
Et je veux te supplier And I accept to pray you
Mais reste encore But don't leave
Je me ferai si petite I'll make myself so small
Que tu ne me verras pas That you won't see me
Et je me ferai si tendre And I'll make myself so tender
Que demain tu m'aimeras That tomorrow you will love me
Je serai toute d'amour And I'll be all love
Et je serai toute à toi And I'll be all yours
Mais reste encore but don't leave
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu Let's make love before saying farewell to each other
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux Let's make love since it's over with us
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois Let's make love like it was the first time
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va One time more, you and me, since love goes away
Faisons l'amour avant de nous dire adieu Let's make love before saying farewell to each other
Avant de nous dire adieu Before saying farewell to each other
Faisons l'amour puisque c'est fini nous deux Let's make love since it's over with us
Puisque c'est fini nous deux Since it's over with us
Faisons l'amour comme si c'était la première fois Let's make love like it was the first time
Encore une fois toi et moi puisque l'amour s'en va One time more, you and me, since love goes away
Adieu Farewell
And I now present you with a moving song about the jewish holocaust.
"Comme toi" (Like you) is from a jewish French singer, Jean-Jacques Goldmann, and is about a man who talks to a little girl about another little girl of her age, but who lived in Varsaw in Hitler's time, and that Hitler sent to a concentration camp.
The song says that this little girl was a girl exactly like the girl he is talking to, but who just had the bad luck of living in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A very moving song.
Lyrics:
Elle avait les yeux clairs et la robe en velours She had bright eyes and a velvet skirt
À côté de sa mère et la famille autour Beside her mother and the family around
Elle pose un peu distraite au doux soleil de la fin du jour She poses a little distracted at the sweet sun of the end of the day
La photo n'est pas bonne mais l'on peut y voir The photograph is not good, but one can see in it
Le bonheur en personne et la douceur d'un soir Happiness in person and the sweetness of an evening
Elle aimait la musique surtout Schumann et puis Mozart She was loving music, especially Schumann and Mozart
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi que je regarde tout bas Like you that I watch discreetly
Comme toi qui dort en rêvant à quoi Like you who are sleeping, dreaming what of
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Elle allait à l'école au village d'en bas She was going to school in the village down there
Elle apprenait les livres elle apprenait les lois She was learning the books, she was learning the laws
Elle chantait les grenouilles et les princesses qui dorment au bois She was singing the frogs, and the princesses who sleep in the woods
Elle aimait sa poupée elle aimait ses amis She was loving her doll, she was loving her friends
Surtout Ruth et Anna et surtout Jérémie Especially Ruth and Anna and also Jeremy
Et ils se marieraient un jour peut-être à Varsovie And they would marry one day may be in Varsaw
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi que je regarde tout bas Like you I'm watching discreetly
Comme toi qui dort en rêvant à quoi Like you who are sleeping, dreaming what of
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
{Violin}
Elle s'appelait Sarah elle n'avait pas huit ans Her name was Sarah, and she was not yet eight
Sa vie c'était douceur rêves et nuages blancs Her life was only sweetness and white clouds
Mais d'autres gens en avaient décidé autrement But other people had decided otherwise
Elle avait tes yeux clairs et elle avait ton âge She had your bright eyes and she was your age
C'était une petite fille sans histoire et très sage It was a little girl who behaved
Mais elle n'est pas née comme toi ici et maintenant But she was not born like you here and now
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Comme toi que je regarde tout bas Like you I'm watching discreetly
Comme toi qui dort en rêvant à quoi Like you who are sleeping, dreaming what of
Comme toi comme toi comme toi comme toi Like you, like you, like you, like you
Israel's anthem sung by Enrico Macias:
Here is a song which doesn't need any translation, since it is just hummed: "Concerto pour une voix" (concerto for one voice) of Saint-Preux.
Here is the theme of the music of the film "Love story" (composed by the French composer Francis Lai), sung by an American artist, Shirley Bassey:
And to end that loving tour, I'll present you with a sentimental journey on a music of Francis Lai:
