The children who love one another
Kiss, standing up, against the doors of the night
And the passers-by are pointing their fingers at them
But the children who love one another
Are not present for anyone
And it's only their shadow
Which trembles in the night
Exciting the rage of the passers-by
Their rage, their contempt, their laugh and their envy
The children who love one another
Are not there for anyone
They are elsewhere way further than the night
Way higher than the day
In the blinding light of their first love
This is a very famous song that has already been translated several times (for example here). Even Yves Montand recited the first part in English here but you will find here a literal one (without the extra paragraph of the original poem):
It was originally written for the movie 'Les Portes de la Nuit' with Yves Montand as main actor.
Oh I would like so much for you to remember
the happy days of when we were friends
Back then, life was more beautiful
And the sun burning more than today
Dead leaves are shovelled up
You see, I did not forget
Dead leaves are shovelled up
Memories and regrets as well
And the north wind carries them away
In the dark night of oblivion
You see, I did not forget
The song you sang to me
It's a song that resembles us
You, you loved me and I loved you
And we were living both together
You who loved me, I who loved you
But life parts those who love each other
Slowly without making any noise
And the sea erases on the sand
The steps of the disunited lovers
But life parts those who love each other
Slowly without making any noise
And the sea erases on the sand
The steps of the disunited lovers
Another version:
Mouloudji's version:
Mouloudji's version is longer:
Dead leaves are shovelled up
Memories and regrets as well
But my love quiet and faithful
Still smiles and is thankful for life
I loved you so much, you were so pretty
How do you want me to forget you?
Back then, life was more beautiful
And sun more burning than today
You were my sweetest friend
But I don't care for regrets
And the song you were singing
Always, I'll always hear it
Original Title: "A l'enseigne de la fille sans coeur"
Text: Jean Villard
Year: 1946
The sky/evening is blue, the open sea wind
digs the sea quite prettily
Toward the harbor climbing to the attack
Galloping its white squadrons
It's an harbor all at the edge of the world
whose streets open on the infinite
But from there as the Earth is round
one can not see the United States.
Noone cares, there is happiness
There is a pub "At Rita the blond"
Noone cares, there is happiness
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
The accordion plays in major
The refrains of this vast world
There is Rita and her kiss curls
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
In that small pub, that's where she reigns
One sees her golden mane blaze
Her mouth is like a fruit that bleeds
But people say that her heart is dead
And yet the guys are there, all funny:
The little ones, the tough ones, the hefty fellows
who enter swaying their shoulders
There are some who came from Dakar.
There are some from Antwerp, some from Honfleur
Travelling around sometimes up to the poles
They look at her, it's all their happiness,
But not a single one knows her favors
The accordion plays in major
All the tunes: the sad ones, the funny ones
There is the beautiful blong, that blossoming rose
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
They loved her even more as she was tough
More her gaze was cruel
Set a hole in their belt
It was hell, it was heaven.
A smile and it was sunday
The boys said: "Drink with us"
They trembled in front of her white hand
pouring rhum and sweet wine.
Beer, coffee, good wines and liquors.
The owner rolled up his sleeves
The money flowed, it was a pleasure
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
The accordion plays in major
The opening of "The White Lady"
And some guys who gamble their happiness
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
The owner knew the tune:
He liked the sound of the crowns
He told his only daughter:
"Flee away from love, it's time lost!"
But one evening, the sea was raging
We saw one stranger enter
with beautiful azure eyes without clouds
That's when everything changed
He looked at the heartless heart
She was like a thunder sky
Someone said: "There is trouble"
We could hear the hearts beat
The accordion plays in minor
A song "In the wild wind"
There is a girl, the face covered with tears
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
He said: "It's you, my divine!"
She answered: "I am yours"
She cried against his chest
He hold her between his arms
The others then full of melancholy
Left with a sigh
The wind sang on the Atlantic Ocean
For that heart that just opened itself
They went off toward their big happiness
The owner had to close the shop
He has been seen drinking all of his liquors
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
Then the State, that monopolizer,
that never had the sense of comical
Installed the tax collector ofice
At the sign of the Heartless Girl!
