Dang, that is a long time, and still, my French is far from perfect, and I do not write it at all.
Thankfully, the language of love is perfect in its imperfection.
Last night while we were having dinner at home, a song came on the radio. It was a French song, one I had heard before but never paid attention to the words. French Husband, between mouthfuls of potatoes and Brussels sprouts, says, "Oh, you know this song? When it came out, I was probably six, seven or eight years old, and I loved it," a smile familiar to childhood came across his face, "You know, probably because of this song I met you." I stopped chewing my avocado orange peel salad and tried to catch the words of the happy tune going by, "What? Why?"
The song is about a young man who wants to leave everything, "throw away the keys" because since he was born, America calls him:
"Mes amis, je dois m'en aller
Je n'ai plus qu'à jeter mes clés
Car elle m'attend depuis que je suis né
L’Amérique…"
1988
"That song was on my lips, "L'Amérique…"
French Husband started singing with it, which helped me understand the words, and made my heart melt:
"… J'abandonne sur mon chemin
Tant de choses que j'aimais bien
Cela commence par un peu de chagrin
L’Amérique
L'Amérique, l'Amérique, je veux l'avoir et je l'aurai
L'Amérique, l'Amérique, si c'est un rêve, je le saurai
Tous les sifflets des trains, toutes les sirènes des bateaux
M'ont chanté cent fois la chanson de l'Eldorado
De l'Amérique
Je devrais vous pleurer un peu
Pardonnez-moi si je n'ai dans mes yeux
Que l'Amérique
Je reviendrai je ne sais pas quand
Cousu d'or et brodé d'argent
Ou sans un sou, mais plus riche qu'avant
De l'Amérique
mais l'Amérique, l'Amérique, je veux l'avoir et je l'aurai
L'Amérique, l'Amérique, si c'est un rêve, je le saurai
Tous les sifflets des trains, toutes les sirènes des bateaux
M'ont chanté cent fois la chanson de l'Eldorado
De l'Amérique
L'Amérique, l'Amérique, si c'est un rêve, je rêverai
L'Amérique, l'Amérique, si c'est un rêve, je veux rêver."
(Click on the above to hear the song)
2015 photo via Alice
Now, if you translate the song word by word, not necessarily how it should be done, there is a verse that would say:
"Because she has been waiting for me since I was born… (North America)."
And that was a sweet Anniversary eve gift to receive.
Today marks 35 years.
Leave a Reply