Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi

Subject: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 May 02 - 03:42 PM

I had this by Theo Bikel, great song, love song to an old guitar. In English it would go something like My guitar and I never leave each other, who plays whom none can tell, when I first met her all dust covered she was languishing in an antique shop, and I couldn't, just couldn't resist her broken strings and flaking paint, and as we left, they old guy didn't get it - she was already my guitar, my friend. Then there is the part I can't remember, something about you can love beasts, nature and people, without being a poet nor yet even a musician, and then something else I can't recall, but thanks to her, she knows it, my guitar and I never leave each other (repeat first verse). Beautiful - any francophones who can help, or Bikel fans with old liner notes?

Here are the lyrics I recall:

Ma guitarre et moi nous ne nous quittons pas
Qui joue de l'autre, personne ne le dira
Quand je l'ai recontrée couverte de poussière
Elle se morfondait chez un antiquaire
Et je n'ai pas pu, pas pu résister
A ses cordes cassées, sa peinture écaillée
Et partant tous les deux, le vieux n'a pas compris
Qu'elle était déjà ma guitarre, mon amie
(...)
On peut aimer les bêtes, la nature, les humains
Sans être poète, encore moins musicien
(...)Grâe à elle, elle le sait...
...?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Mrrzy
Date: 02 May 02 - 03:43 PM

That last should read Grâce à elle...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Hollowfox
Date: 02 May 02 - 05:20 PM

I'll see if I can scrounge up Bikel's book Folksongs And Footnotes; I think that song is in there.

Subject: Lyr Add: MA GUITARRE ET MOI (Golmann/Bikel)
From: masato sakurai
Date: 02 May 02 - 08:22 PM

It's in Folksongs and Footnotes by Theodore Bikel (Meridian Books, 1960, pp. 226-229; with music & chords).

MA GUITARRE ET MOI
Words and music by Stephane Golmann
Translated by Theodore Bikel

Ma guitarre et moi
Nous ne nous quittons pas,
Qui joue de l'autre,
Personne n'le dira.
Quand je l'ai recontrée,
Couverte de poussière,
Elle se morfondait
Chez un antiquaire;
Et je n'ai pas pu,
Pas pu résister
A ses cordes cassées,
Sa peinture écaillée.

Et partant
Tous les deux,
Le vieux n'a pas
Compris,
Qu'elle était déjà
Ma guitarre,
Mon amie.

On ne peut pas contenter
Tout le monde et son père,
Etre au four, au moulin,
Ou avoir quatre mains.
On peut aimer les bêtes,
La nature, les humains,
Sans être poète,
Encore moins musicien.
Mais c'est bien agréable
De pouvoir l'exprimer
Sans en être capable,
Grâce à elle, car elle sait

Ma guitare...

[English translation]

My guitar and I,
We do not part company;
No one can tell
Which of us plays the other.
When first I met her,
Covered in dust,
She was rotting away
In a junk shop.
Could not resist
Her broke strings,
Her chipped paint.
And when I took her
The old dealer did not understand
That she was already my guitar,
My friend.

One cannot please everybody
And his father.
One cannot be everywhere;
One has but two hands.
One can love animals, nature, people,
Without being a poet,
Much less a musician.
But it's nice, all the same,
To express it,
Though alone one couldn't;
But, thanks to her, one can,
For she knows...

My guitar and I...

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Amos
Date: 02 May 02 - 08:39 PM

Oh, ma foi fou, qu'c'est belle et doux!

Is there anywhere I could hear the tune? I never had that Bikel recording.

Thanks,

A

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Mrrzy
Date: 03 May 02 - 08:55 AM

THis is a great song, thanks guys! Amos, you might have to call me or something, I can sing it... but maybe someone can tape it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Ma Guitarre et Moi
From: Hollowfox
Date: 03 May 02 - 07:44 PM

Masato, you're a wonder! I picked up Bikel's book at the main library to copy out the lyrics, and there you have them. Well done!