French Language Blog
Menu
Search

Demander la Lune (To Ask for the Moon) Posted by on Sep 30, 2012 in Music, Vocabulary

Just as it’s the case in English, the French expression demander la lune means “to ask for the moon“, “to ask for too much”; “to ask for something impossible or nearly impossible to get.”

Now imagine if people demandaient la lune à la lune elle-même (asked the moon itself for the moon), how often can they get what they want?

The tempting answer would probably be: “once in a blue moon“!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dlTSBlHjwU

Compare the cover by Vox Angeli, the French kids who built up on the success of the French movie hit “Les Choristes“, with…

…the original song by veteran “New Wave” group Indochine:

 

J’AI DEMANDÉ À LA LUNE (I ASKED THE MOON):

 

J’ai demandé à la lune

I asked the moon

Et le soleil ne le sait pas

And the sun does not know it

Je lui ai montré mes brûlures

I showed it my burn marks

Et la lune s’est moquée de moi

And the moon made fun of me

Et comme le ciel n’avait pas fière allure

And as the sky didn’t cut a fine figure

Et que je ne guérissais pas

And I was not healing

Je me suis dis: quelle infortune!

I thought to myself: “What a misfortune!”

Et la lune s’est moquée de moi

And the moon made fun of me

J’ai demandé à la lune

I asked the moon

Si tu voulais encore de moi

If you still wanted me

Elle m’a dit: J’ai pas l’habitude

It told me: “I am not used

De m’occuper des cas comme ça

To take care of such cases”

Et toi et moi

And you and I

On était tellement sûrs

We were so sure

Et on se disait quelques fois

And we told each other sometimes

Que c’était juste une aventure

That it was only an adventure

Et que ça ne durerait pas

And that it would not last

Je n’ai pas grand chose à te dire

I don’t have much to tell you

J’ai pas grand chose pour te faire rire

I don’t have much to make you laugh

Que j’imagine toujours le pire

That I always imagine the worst

Et le meilleur me fait souffrir

And the best makes me suffer

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Keep learning French with us!

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Try it Free Find it at your Library
Share this:
Pin it