I was feeling a bit nostalgic about my childhood when on Sunday afternoons my Mom would play some records that were from my parents time. A lot of the music were from French artists since my family were from the islands. One of my Mom's favorite artists was Mireille Mathieu. She's a French singer born July 22, 1946, the oldest of 14 children in a town named Avignon. She truly is the story of rising from rags to riches. The family lived in poverty for many years and she worked various odd jobs to make ends meet. She starting singing at age 4 and started singing at a local contest in 1962. She lost twice before winning in 1964 singing a song by another famous French singer Edit Pilaf. From there she worked her way up and went through her own ups and downs on her journey to being a world-wide musical sensation.
My Mom had several of Mireille's albums. One of my favorite albums to listen to was her album J'étais si jeune, which translates to "I Was So Young". Weren't we all? It especially became my favorite since the album was released in 1972, the year of my birth.
My Mom would translate the songs for us to try and better understand. I did appreciate the effort but always felt bad because I would later forget. I hate thinking that my Mom's efforts were in vain. They weren't though and what I couldn't forget was the amazing melodies themselves. Music indeed is the universal language that evokes feelings no matter the language. I remembered enjoying listening to them and the memories of seeing the joy in my Mom's face when it played. She would lovingly sing along to the music. They were happy times and it makes me miss my Mom.
This is why I wanted to take this time to translate the songs from Mireille's J'étais si jeune album. I have to give credit to the Lyrics Translate website for the translates. I'm so grateful that translations are so easily available today. Without further ado, here is the translations of Mireille's album.
Song 1 - J'étais Si Jeune
Verse 1:
I was sixteenThe promises were beautiful
The days passed as if in a dream
When I saw him so grand in the sun
The fire of love flaired in me
Refrain:
I was so young for my first love
I was so young but it was my turn
It was my dream come true
I forgot everything when he held me tight
The sky all around danced
I could have died in his arms
So much did I already love him
Verse 2:
We gave ourselves all the joys of life
A marvelous passion
But he was a prisoner of his past
Another love waited for his return...
Refrain 2:
I was so young for my first love
I was so young, goodbye to my most precious days
It was my dream that shattered without a sound
I will never forget, throughout my life,
Those days passed close with him -
And the scars in the depths of my heart
Reminds me of my happiness
Outro:
I was so young for my first love
I was so young, but I think about it all the time
I was so young for my first love
I was so young, but I think about it all the time
My thoughts: First off the song in English definitely does not sound as good. I wouldn't change a thing about it though. I do now remember my Mom telling me this song was about a first love. I was young back then so didn't really understand that kind of love. But I only had to live life to learn the same lessons that Mireille sang so beautifully. I had to grow into love though. I don't think I ever truly fell heads over heels with anyone. I definitely fell in lust initially but I grew to love in time. Such a beautiful song and a great way to start the album.
Song 2 - Le Chemin Du Ciel
Refrain:
To You
To You
To You
Verse 1:
To you the soldier of a fight you who had no other weapon or goal other than love
(To you)
To you the whole world runs to forget its tragedies and live better here below
Repeat Refrain
Verse 2:
To you the humiliated, the offended who fight under the weight of the burden of your cross
(To you)
To you a burning world turns and proclaims the right to have faith
Bridge:
All roads lead us to you
You are light and joy
All roads lead us to you
Listen to our voices
On this Earth as in a desert
Man is lost without you
It's your sun that will open it to him
The path to heaven
Repeat Refrain
Verse 3:
To you legions of twenty years throw to the four winds the echoes of their songs
(To you)
To you millions of unbelievers will seek a creed for a new world
Repeat Bridge
Repeat Refrain
My thoughts: My mind is blown. I never knew this song was a dedication to Jesus Christ. Now that I think about it, when I hear the men in the background chant "to you", they did sound like a marching song. And Jesus truly was a soldier who died on the cross for our sins. Now that I know the meaning, I'll never think of the song in the same vein again.
Song 3 - Corsica
Verse 1:
Your own love is your country
Your island is sunny day after day
For your life is the same color as the sky
Everything is finished
I won't come back and tonight,
We fall in love for the very last time
Refrain:
Goodbye Corsica, it's over
The love of your life was not me
Corsica, I'm leaving tonight
The love of your life is your country
Verse 2:
You love your big skies
And your plants in bloom and in your eyes
I see flames of so many pleasures
You think about them, and then you forget about me
I won't come back and tonight,
We will live to fall in love for the very last time
Repeat Refrain
Outro:
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
Repeat Refrain
My thoughts: This song is so short and sweet. I didn't know what Corsica was growing up but now I know it's an island not far from Tuscany, Italy. Clearly in the refrain you can hear the Italian influence in the melody. In short it sounds like a song about a country that is no longer home for the singer in question as they leave to chart off on new adventures.
Song 4 - Une Passerelle
Verse 1:
A gangway and there you are on a plane, the plane waiting
A footbridge that is removed you leave and I see you leaving
A caravel went up there, my head is upside-down in the sky
And I stay there, I who believed that nothing was ever going to separate us
Refrain:
It all went away in one day, all this love, so strong, so sweet, yes
Everything went away our clear mornings when the Earth only turned for us
Verse 2:
Where will our honeymoons go if you never come back
Wherever you call me from, I leave everything immediately to go to you
Forget our quarrels, I will rush to throw myself into your arms
It was sunny and I stood there in despair, shivering but it wasn't the cold
Repeat Refrain several times
My thoughts: I don't remember this being a song I particularly liked. And now that I see the lyrics in English, I can understand why. Poor Mireille was pretty much a doormat in this song. It's definitely not something to aspire to. She lived her life only for her love and would drop everything, even to the detriment of her own well-being. But I do get that. When you are in love, you do silly things. I will say I've done my share of "silly" for some guys but thankfully I woke up and smelled the coffee not too long afterwards. Or I had a Eugene or Sally telling me the errors of my ways...repeatedly. Till it sunk...LOL.
Song 5 - La Chanson Du Depart
Verse 1:
Never say no, never "goodbye"
The departure song, it's a "see you again"
Never say no, never "goodbye"
Into a drink with friends who are here tonight
Bridge 1:
They are coming to tell you goodbye
We are going to sing of love and hope
And pretend to believe
Verse 2:
We love each other and tomorrow you leave
The departure song, it's a "see you again"
Never say no, never "goodbye"
Think about us sometimes when you are happy
Bridge 2:
I would have wanted to sleep in your arms
And to forget that love had gone
Tomorrow for you and me
Verse 3:
If sometimes I close my eyes
Don't believe I will cry, it's better to see you
Never say no, never "goodbye"
The departure song, it's a "see you again"
It's a "see you again", nothing but a "see you again"
It's a "see you again", nothing but a "see you again"
Outro:
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh ,oooh, oooh
Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh
My thoughts: I loved the melodies and harmonies of this song. I do love this song is almost similar to the previous song except it doesn't give a sense that she's a doormat this time. It's more like not wanting things to end but knowing that it has to. But it'll be a happy memory when you think of that person again. I do hear the slight Italian influences similar to Corsica. I definitely enjoy listening to this on repeat.
Song 6 - En Frappant Dans Nos Mains
Verse 1:
All together, we are there
The night is grand,
Populated joy,
Some people play
On their guitar
Then suddenly start a song
That the crowd resumes
Refrain:
Clapping our hands, we wait for the morning
We're ready to live, this life that we love
Clapping our hands, we forget our sorrows
We dream elsewhere, on a world of the best day
Verse 2:
Your eyes are blue
Mine are black
What is your God?
I want to know
All is magic around us
Everything seems easy and crazy
And the sky is at us
Repeat Refrain
Bridge:
I watch you and my heart beats
You're beautiful, I love you, I love
We're together and the happiness is there
My life starts with you
Verse 3:
We leave from the day
Across the horizon
And our love
To our friends
Cries 'thank you'
For grand and happy night
Who reunites us
Repeat Refrain
La, la, la, la, la, la...
My thoughts: This song seemed like a good camp song. Now that I see the words translated, it does seem like my sentiments fit here. The best part is near the end where Mireille's accompanied by an unnamed singer who effortlessly repeats her every line until the end of the song. This continues to be one of my favorite songs and was a good way to end "side one"...back when we had to flip the record over to continue hearing an album...LOL.
Song 7 - Adieu Je T'aime
Verse 1:
I'm getting married tomorrow
Say goodbye to me
And then get out
There's no more time
To tell me you love me
I'm getting married tomorrow
Say goodbye to me
This evening, you and I
No longer have the right
To say "I love you" to each other
I'm getting married tomorrow
And you come back
It's too late
In our story
There's nothing left
But a little love
A little choice
In a blow of heartache
It's too late, you see
To say, "I love you"
Verse 2:
I'm getting married tomorrow
And yet, you know
If you wanted
We could have left
Both of us, together
I'm getting married tomorrow
You don't say anything
You don't want any other duties
But a little pleasure
That we took together
And then you'll leave
It's no longer you
It will never again be you
Who will hold me
In the hollows of your arms
Bridge:
So get out
There's no more time
To say "I love you"
I'm getting married tomorrow
Good bye, I love you
I'm getting married tomorrow
Good bye, I love you
I'm getting married tomorrow
Good bye, I love you
My thoughts: This song always had a twinge of sadness in it. It's quite a sad way to start the second half of a record. In fact I thought of this song in recent years as a farewell song to my Mom, especially the ending where it's sung "Good bye, I love you". Obviously now that I know the song is about a guy who lost his chance at a love for procrastinating and not expressing his feelings, the song takes on a different meaning. Yes guy, she's getting married tomorrow. Did you hear her? She repeats it several times over. However I choose to remember the sentiment I had on the song prior to the translation. I love and miss my Mom so much. Such a beautiful and sad song.
Song 8 - Ils S'en Vont Tous Un Jour
Verse 1:
Don't cry Fanny
Do not cry
It's not yet today
That your love Fanny will come back to you
His beautiful journey is not finished
Refrain:
They all go away one day that we love and nothing can ever hold them
They all go away one day that we love they have that day their most beautiful smile
Is it the mountain or is it the sea or the sky that comes to us take them one morning
They all go away one day that we love neither you nor I will we never be able to do anything
Verse 2:
Don't stay Fanny
There on the port
It's starting to get cold outside
Long is the wait
We don't get used to it
I knew her just like you
Repeat Refrain
My thoughts: I just remembered the intro to the song breaking me out of the somber left from the previous song. I will say the translation seems a bit weird. I feel sorry that there are folks with the name "Fanny". But maybe "Fanny" is the girl in the song "Une Passerelle" (song 4) who stays out in the cold too long when Mireille sings in Verse 2 to not stay out in the port in the cold. I hope you listened Fanny. I do love the beat of the song if nothing else.
Song 9 - Emporte-Moi
Verse 1:
Take me aboard a great love
In a long-term dream all around the Earth
Take me between sky and water
Towards new countries bursting with light
I stayed on this platform too long
To watch from other hearts on a cruise
Come take my hands in your dreams
And let our love show us the way
Verse 2:
Take me aboard a great love
In a long-term dream all around the Earth
Take me everyday of your life
Every hour of your days in each of your dreams
I want to love you like we no longer love each other
How afraid we are to love today
When we love I want to love you like you only love once
And build this love with you every day
Bridge:
We must remember the dreams before they end
Let time take them away
I closed the door to dream with you
Repeat Verse 2
My thoughts: The Italian influence is strong in this song as well. I like the sentiment of the song. It's mostly fantasy obviously but it's nice to dream grandiose thoughts when being with the one you love.
Song 10 - Quand J'entends Cet Air-Là
Verse 1:
When I hear that tune
Love is good, close to you
When I hear that tune
This is the signal that you are home
As I live below I hear this tune when you play it
When everything is asleep I will see you without making noise
Refrain:
Beating heart I join you
My parents don't know anything about it
In your arms until the morning under the roofs
We are so good
Verse 2:
When I hear that tune
Love is good, close to you
How to go back down
It's a long day without you
When I hear that tune
Everything is changed, I dance with joy
It's night and it's time
On the stairs I tremble and I'm afraid
Refrain 2:
In your room we are hidden
And without fear we can love each other
Under the roofs we see the sky
And sometimes the Eiffel Tower
Verse 3:
When I hear that tune
Love is good, close to you
One day we will be taken
And without fanfare we will get married
As I only think about that
Everytime my heart beats
When I hear that tune
Love is good, my love
La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la
My thoughts: I liked the melody of this song and who wouldn't love a guy who has a room with the view of the Eiffel Tower. Dom and I talk about going to Paris one day to see it. He has been years back but not with anyone he loves. I do hope we get to see the Eiffel Tower in person one day. Yes that's what I got out of this song...LOL.
Song 11 - Dieu Te Garde
Refrain:
God bless you, oh my love
God keep you, until I return
God saves you from the bad days
I have to leave my love
Verse 1:
When time tells you (forget)
When the wind tells you (forget)
And when day after day you will remain alone
All alone in life
When your heart tells you (forget)
When the night tells you (forget)
And when it gets cold
That winter will come bringing the rain
Repeat Refrain
Verse 2:
When boredom tells you (forget)
When love tells you (forget)
And that adventure
Will open arms to that nostalgia
Repeat Refrain twice
My thoughts - The song starts with a rock type of beat which is catchy. And I'm laughing at the word "forget". In French the backing singers say "oublie". All these years I thought they were singing "Ooh Wee"...LOL. From the mind of babes. I never corrected myself till now. It reminds me how for the longest time when SWV sang Downtown (and what a departure from Mireille...LOL) I thought they were talking about going downtown shopping. It wasn't till years later I realized they were talking about oral sex. Even Coko admitted in an interview she thought it was about shopping at first. I'll choose to sing "forget" as "ooh wee" thank you very much.
Last Song - Pleure Mon Coeur
Verse 1:
Cry my heart - cry my heart
Cry, cry, my heart
You who were made to sing
The joy of life - cry, my heart
What makes the bird fall from the sky?
What does the wounded bird do?
He no longer can fly
He cannot even sing anymore
Like the bird, I'm cold - I'm scared
You can cry, cry, my heart
Bridge:
My heart, you remember
He had taught me everything - it was beautiful - it was good
He knew how to take me away
On mad trips to sunny islands
The world was mine
For a moment of joy in the clasp of his arms
You, my heart, you beat
And you laughed and you sang
Verse 2:
Cry my heart - cry my heart
Cry, cry, my heart
You who were made to sing
The joy of life - cry, my heart
What does the child that you abused do?
What does the lost child do?
He does not know why
But he knows that you do not love him
Like the child, I'm cold - I'm scared
You can cry, cry, my heart
I love him -
I love him -
I love him -
I love him -
I love him -
I love him -
My thoughts: This song always spooked me as a kid. When I started watching horror movies, the movie Jason theme reminded me of this song. I remember that Mom would always start this side of the album first and then the other side which was the first half. And now I know why. What a sad tragic song to end the album on. It is hauntingly beautiful especially the ending where she repeats "I love him..." till you barely hear her over the louder and louder music, the Jason horror ending.
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