Monday, June 18, 2012

A Lovely French Song


Thanks to Mister Bijou, I've been alerted to a lovely French song sung by Zaz, a popular French singer. This song not only has a pleasing melody, but also has beautifully poetic lyrics. I've tried to give an English rendition of the lyrics. Hopefully the poetic element is not all lost in translation!


La Pluie  (By Zaz) French Lyrics :-
 
Le ciel est gris la pluie s'invite comme par surprise
Elle est chez nous et comme un rite qui nous enlise
Les parapluies s'ouvrent en cadence
Comme une danse,
Les gouttes tombent en abondance
Sur douce France.

Tombe tombe tombe la pluie
En ce jour de dimanche de décembre
à l'ombre des parapluies
Les passants se pressent se pressent sans attendre

On l'aime parfois elle hausse la voix elle nous bouscule
Elle ne donne plus de ses nouvelles en canicule
Puis elle revient comme un besoin par affection
Et elle nous chante sa grande chanson
L'inondation

Tombe tombe tombe la pluie
En ce jour de dimanche de décembre,
à l'ombre des parapluies
Les passants se pressent se pressent sans attendre

Tombe tombe tombe la pluie
En ce jour de dimanche de décembre
à l'ombre des parapluies
Les passants se pressent se pressent sans attendre
Et tombe et tombe et tombe, tombe
Et tombe et tombe et tombe...
 
My English Rendition of the Lyrics :-
 
The sky is grey, the rain invites herself as if by chance
She’s in our home, and consumes us like in a rite
Umbrellas open up in rhythm as in a dance
Raindrops fall in abundance
Over gentle France

Fall, fall, fall the rain
On this day a Sunday in December
In the shade of umbrellas
Passers-by hurry, hurry, without delay

One loves her when she shouts, pushing us around
She gives nothing more than news of a heat wave
Then she comes back as if in need of affection
And she sings us her great song
Of inundation

Fall, fall, fall the rain
On this day a Sunday in December
In the shade of umbrellas
Passers-by hurry, hurry, without delay

Fall, fall, fall the rain
On this day a Sunday in December
In the shade of umbrellas
Passers-by hurry, hurry, without delay

And fall, and fall, and fall, fall…
And fall, and fall, and fall




2 comments:

Carmen said...

Hi, I left message before and I would like to have interview with you to talk about your book land and the ruling class in hong kong for a master degree dissertation. The interview will be fully academic. Could you please reply me with email.
(cacamajor@yahoo.com.hk)

Carmen
Bartlett School of Planning
University College London

Alice Poon said...

Hi Carmen,

I've just read your comment and your earlier one left on my blog. Thank you for your interest in my book.

Regrettably, I have to decline your request for an interview as I am resident in Canada and have no immediate plans to visit Hong Kong in the summer.

Best,
Alice