Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?

Subject: RE: Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?
From: Bert
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 06:09 AM

Forget the translation, I'd settle for a transcription of "Y vous voulez bien ecoutez, un chant d'amour"

Subject: RE: Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 08:00 AM

The results of my modest research: French lyrics by Jacques Prévert, English lyrics by Johnny Mercer, music by Joseph Kosma.
And the French lyrics:

Oh! je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes
Des jours heureux oû nous êtions amis.
En ce temps là la vie etait plus belle
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent a la pelle
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié.
Les feuille mortes se ramassent a la pelle
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Et le vent du Nord les emporte
Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié
La chanson que tu me chantais.

C'est une chanson
Qui nous qui nous ressemble
Toi tu m'aimais
Et je t'aimais,
Et nous vivions
Tous deux ensemble
Toi qui m'aimais
Moi qui t'aimais.
Mais la vie separe
Ceux qui s'aiment
Tout doucement
Sans faire de bruit,
Et la mer efface sur le sable
Les pas des amants desunis.

And my attempt at translation (not to loose; but if anyone can tell me what la pelle means ..?)

Oh! I'd so like you to recall the happy days when we used to be friends.
Back then, life used to be very beautiful, and the sun shone brighter than it does now.
The dead leaves piled up on the lawn[?] …
You see, I haven't forgotten:
The dead leaves piled up on the lawn,
Memories and regrets as well,
And the North Wind blew them away in the cold night of forgetfulness.
You see, I haven't forgotten the song you used to sing me …

It's a song that resembles us-- you, who used to love me; I, who used to love you--
And we lived, the two of us, as one: you, who used to love me; I, who used to love you.
But life separates those who love each other, very gently, without fuss,
And the sea washes away from the sand the footsteps of disunited lovers.

Isn't that sweet? And sad, of course ... oû sont les amies d'antan?

Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?
From: M.Ted
Date: 26 Sep 01 - 05:35 PM

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, one of the last remaining beat poets, publisher, and owner of City Lights Bookstore, has done some wonderful translations of Jacques Prévert--he has the knack remaining true both the imagery and the scansion--so many translators rewrite with a wordy sort of floridness that violates the mood and intent of the original--worst of all making translated songs unsingable--

Subject: RE: Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?
From: GUEST,Genie
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 02:15 AM

Steve,
Thanks for correcting "mon Francais." I realized some of my mistakes soon after I posted.

Here, for what it's worth, is my "singable translation" of the French lyrics:

The two of us are like a love song,
I loving you, you loving me.
Along the sand we strolled together,
I, who loved you, you, who loved me,
But life can separate without a sound
Those who love with all their hearts,
And the sea will wash away the footprints
Of lovers now torn apart.

Genie

Subject: RE: Help: Any Francophone Trenet/Piaf fans?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 27 Sep 01 - 03:26 AM

That's pretty good, Genie (whoops--litotes!). I may have to broaden my repertoire. I suppose you don't know what la pelle menas, do you?

Steve

Subject: Lyric translation: correction!
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 28 Sep 01 - 05:01 AM

Aha! Found my frenzied Dick & Harry: "la pelle"="shovel". So, it's The dead leaves piled up on the shovel.

Steve