Édith Piaf (1915–1963)

I was entirely ignorant of Piaf until recently I saw a French movie of a few years ago depicting her life. It had subtitles which meant for the first time I took notice of the English meaning of her lyrics.

I do hope the following are adequate translations.

My God

My God! My God! My God!
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
my lover!
One day, two days, eight days...
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
with me

The times of adoring each other
of saying it to him
the times of making up
memories
My God! Oh yes... my God!
Let him stay with me
and fill my life
a little bit

My God! My God! My God!
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
my lover!
Six months, three months, two months...
Let him stay with me
for only
one month...

The times to start
or to finish
the times of lightening
or of suffering
My God! My God! My God!
Even if I’m mistaken
let him stay with me
a little bit
even if I’m mistaken
let him stay with me
longer


and

I Don't Regret Anything

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Neither the good that's been done to me,
Nor the bad;
It's all the same to me!

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
It's been payed for,
swept (away),
Forgotten.
I don't care about the past!

With my memories
I have lit the fire!
My disappointments, my pleasures,
I no longer need them.
Swept away are the loves
with their trembling,
swept away forever!
I start again at zero.

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Neither the good that's been done to me,
Nor the bad;
It's all the same to me!

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Because my life,
because my joy,
today
begins with you!
… (plus d'informations)

I was entirely ignorant of Piaf until recently I saw a French movie of a few years ago depicting her life. It had subtitles which meant for the first time I took notice of the English meaning of her lyrics.

I do hope the following are adequate translations.

My God

My God! My God! My God!
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
my lover!
One day, two days, eight days...
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
with me

The times of adoring each other
of saying it to him
the times of making up
memories
My God! Oh yes... my God!
Let him stay with me
and fill my life
a little bit

My God! My God! My God!
Let him stay with me
a little bit longer
my lover!
Six months, three months, two months...
Let him stay with me
for only
one month...

The times to start
or to finish
the times of lightening
or of suffering
My God! My God! My God!
Even if I’m mistaken
let him stay with me
a little bit
even if I’m mistaken
let him stay with me
longer


and

I Don't Regret Anything

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Neither the good that's been done to me,
Nor the bad;
It's all the same to me!

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
It's been payed for,
swept (away),
Forgotten.
I don't care about the past!

With my memories
I have lit the fire!
My disappointments, my pleasures,
I no longer need them.
Swept away are the loves
with their trembling,
swept away forever!
I start again at zero.

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Neither the good that's been done to me,
Nor the bad;
It's all the same to me!

No, nothing at all,
No, I don't regret anything!
Because my life,
because my joy,
today
begins with you!
… (plus d'informations)

I was brought up on artists like Piaf, and have long thought she had an amazing voice. It seems that it is one that people tend to either love or hate. I dressed as Piaf for a French evening event at college. Knowing my interest, someone bought me a copy of the dvd 'La Vie en Rose' based on her life, but it sat in my drawer for ages waiting for me to get round to it. I did a few weeks ago. I hadn't realised it was in French - my French is VERY rusty - but subtitles made it watchable. I was left unsatisfied - the story jumped around in time and left a lot unexplained. So naturally, I thought I'd be better off with a book.
Sadly, this volume left me equally unsatisfied. It is superficial and sanitised. I cannot say I learned all that much about the woman from either the movie or the autobiography. It has made me curious about the story behind the story, so I've borrowed a biography from the library. I'm hoping it will prove more enlightening.… (plus d'informations)