Tuesday, October 2, 2007

The nature of Love and 'Parole, Parole' in English

Near the end of June, I posted a video of 'Parole, Parole', one of my favourite songs, a popular duet by Alain Delon and Dalida. I only posted the original French lyrics. Today I realised I should have posted an English translation as well. It is such a wonderful, cynical and yet poignant love song. It is cleverly expressed as well.

There is always a problem in love. There are those who are compelled to speak their feelings, to attempt to describe them, to capture them in words. If not, there would be no great love poems or songs. On the other hand, there are those who fall in love with the idea of love and for whom, the expression of emotion in words is worth more than the actual reality of love.

Ultimately, the words of love are simple: 'I love you'. Nothing more, nothing less, and those words are meaningless if they are not founded on intention and action.

The woman in the song is weary of the dramatic expression of love without any real intention or action. The man glories in his depiction of romance and love without having any idea of what his 'beloved' actually feels. 'If you didn't exist, I'd have to invent you,' he declares.

No wonder she rejects his protestations... If only he simply had taken her in his arms and whispered his love while demonstrating the reality.

Nonetheless, being Alain Delon and Dalida, 'Paroles, Paroles' remains a very appealing 'love song'.

He: It's strange. I don't know what has come over me this evening. I look at you as for the first time.'

She: Words again, always words, the same words, nothing but words.

He: I don't know how to tell you but you are this beautiful story of love that I never stop reading:

You are yesterday and tomorrow,
Always my sole Truth.

She: Easy words, fragile words, too beautiful, Yes, very much too beautiful!
But the time of dreams is finished, the memories have withered also when one forgets them.

He: You are like the wind that makes the violins sing, and carries from far the perfume of roses.

She: Caramels, bonbons and chocolate.

He: At this moment, I do not understand you...

She: No thanks for me, but you can well offer them to another who loves the wind and the parfume of roses, For me, tender words enrobed in gentleness are placed next to my mouth but never my heart.

He: 'One more word'

She: Words, words, words

He: One more word

She: 'Words, words, words

He: Listen to me

She: Words, words, words

He: I beg you

She: Words, words, words

He: I swear to you

She: Words, words, words, again words that you cast on the winds.

He: Here is my destiny: to speak to you, to speak to you as for the first time.

She: Again words, always words, the same words, nothing but words

He: How I would love that you would understand me, that you would listen to me at least one time.

She: Magical words, tactical words, that sound false, yes, so false...

He: You are my forbidden dream, My only torment and my unique hope.

She: Nothing stops you once you start. If you only knew how I envy a little silence!

He: You are for me the only music that makes the stars dance on the dunes.

She: Caramels, bonbons and chocolates

He: If you did not exist, I would invent you!

She: No thanks for me, but you can well offer them to another who loves the stars on the dunes. For me tender words enrobed in sweetness, I place them on my mouth but never on my heart.

Words, words, words

He: One more word, only one word

She: Words, words, words

He: Listen to me

She: Words, words, words

He: I beg you

She: Words, words, words

He: I swear to you:

Oh how beautiful you are!

She: Words, words, words

He: Oh how beautiful you are!

She: Words, words, words, again words that you cast on the winds.

N.B. The actual song with lyrics in French is posted below.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Thank you for the translation. It's a beautiful music with such meaningful lyrics.