French Music – Saying Goodbye to Summer Posted by Tim Hildreth on Sep 8, 2020 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
It’s only early September, but here in the northeastern United States, things are already sliding towards fall. It’s time to get back to school, to work, and to say …
Au revoir à l’été
La Madrague is a charming little chanson française that for years I thought was written for Brigitte Bardot by Serge Gainsbourg1Because somehow it made its way onto an album of Gainsbourg songs performed by famous French actresses.. … Turns out that was a mistake on my part.
La Madrague2‘madrague‘ is a term related to line fishing for large fish like tuna along the coast. (which is the name of Bardot’s famous home purchased in the 1950’s just outside Saint-Tropez) was written by Jean-Max Rivière to immortalize “les sentiments simples, joyeux, et nostalgiques que le lieu lui inspirait à travers” Bardot (the simple, joyous, and nostalgic feelings that the place inspired in him through).
| Sur la plage abandonnée | On the abandoned beach |
| Coquillages et crustacés | Shells and shellfish |
| Qui l’eût cru! Déplorent la perte de l’été | Who would have thought it? Deplore the loss of summer |
| Qui depuis s’en est allé | That has since gone away |
| On a rangé les vacances | We’ve put away vacation |
| Dans des valises en carton | In cardboard suitcases |
| Et c’est triste quand on pense à la saison | And it’s so sad to think back on the season |
| Du soleil et des chansons | Of sun and of songs |
| Pourtant je sais bien l’année prochaine | Even if I know well that next year |
| Tout refleurira, nous reviendrons | Everything will bloom, and we will come back |
| Mais en attendant je suis en peine | Until then I’m in pain |
| De quitter la mer et ma maison | Leaving the sea and my house |
| Le mistral va s’habituer | The mistral will have to get used to |
| À courir sans les voiliers | Running without the sailboats |
| Et c’est dans ma chevelure ébouriffée | And it is in my disheveled hair |
| Qu’il va le plus me manquer | That I will miss it the most |
| Le soleil mon grand copain | My dear friend the sun |
| Ne me brûlera que de loin | Will only burn me from afar |
| Croyant que nous sommes ensemble un peu fâchés | Believing that we’re both mad |
| D’être tous deux séparés | To be separated |
| Le train m’emmènera vers l’automne | The train will carry me towards the fall |
| Retrouver la ville sous la pluie | To find the city under the rain |
| Mon chagrin ne sera pour personne | I won’t share my sadness with anyone |
| Je le garderai comme un ami | I’ll keep it like a friend |
| Mais aux premiers jours d’été | But come the first days of summer |
| Tous les ennuis oubliés | All our troubles forgotten |
| Nous reviendrons faire la fête aux crustacés | We’ll come back to tease the shellfish |
| De la plage ensoleillée (x3) | On the sunny beach (x3) |
Click here to hear a newer version of the song by the French singer Angèle (et si vous l’aimez / and if you like it, be sure to check out some of her other songs … and see her very interesting videos! … like this one that spoofs familiar t.v. commercials or this one that takes on the bad behavior of certain males vis-a-vis women … or why not a duo for the musician in you.)
Photo by Travis Rupert from Pexels
- 1Because somehow it made its way onto an album of Gainsbourg songs performed by famous French actresses..
- 2‘madrague‘ is a term related to line fishing for large fish like tuna along the coast.
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.