On a wing and a prayer Posted by Tim Hildreth on Jul 31, 2018 in Culture, Music, Vocabulary
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about contemporary musicals in France. One of the songs featured got me thinking about the word ailes (wings) and all the things that fly – or don’t! – with wings.
Aile (wing)
Before we get to the song, a few examples of the different ways the word aile can be used (along with some useful vocabulary for things that have ailes).
| Français | English |
|---|---|
| une aile Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode. | a wing |
| ailes Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode. | wings |
| avion Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode. | airplane |
| voler Requested file could not be found (error code 404). Verify the file URL specified in the shortcode. | to fly |
J’aime bien voler en avion. [I love flying in planes.]
| Je sais ce que je laisse | I know what I leave (behind) |
| C’est à contre cœur | Unwillingly (lit. against my heart) |
| Mais un ailleurs m’appelle envers et contre tout | But another place (lit. elsewhere) calls towards and against all |
| Je sais ceux que je blesse, je vois leur douleur | I know who I’m hurting, I see their pain |
| Mais j’en ferais une force qui me suivra partout | But I will use that as a power to follow me everywhere |
| Comme un pont-levis qui s’ouvre à la vie | Like a draw bridge that opens on to life |
| On ne va loin que jusqu’au bout | We only go far if we go all the way |
| Bien plus qu’un pari, et même un défi | Much more than a bet, and even (more than) a dare |
| Si je reviens ce sera debout | If I come back (make it back) it will be standing (upright) |
| Mais il faut s’en aller quand il le faut | But you have to go when you have to |
| Croire en son étoile pour toucher le ciel | Believe in your (lit. his/her) star to touch the sky |
| Et moi je veux voler, voler plus haut | And I want to fly, fly higher |
| De mes propres ailes, voler | On my own wings, fly |
| De mes propres ailes | On my own wings |
| De mes propres ailes, voler | On my own wings, fly |
| De mes propres ailes | On my own wings |
| Je sais que la jeunesse est faite d’erreurs | I know that youth is made of errors/mistakes |
| Qu’on en paye un jour les revers et contrecoups | That we pay for one day in reversals and backlash |
| Mais à quoi sert qu’on naisse, à quoi sert qu’on meurt | But what good is being born, what point in dying |
| Sans avoir vécu ses* rêves, même les plus fous | Without having lived your dreams, even the most insane/craziest |
| Quand un pont-levis vous ouvre à l’envie | When a drawbridge opens you to desire |
| On ne va loin que jusqu’au bout | You only go far if you go all the way |
| Qu’importe ce qu’on dit | No matter what others say |
| Et de tous les avis | And all the opinions |
| Je ne crains rien, plus rien du tout | I’m not afraid of anything, no, nothing |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Sans vous oublier(er) | Without forgetting you |
| Sans ne jamais rien regretter | With no regrets |
| Partir pour tout commencer | Leave so that everything can begin |
| Oh oh | Oh oh |
| Sans vous oublier(er) | Without forgetting you |
| Sans ne jamais me retourner | And never turning back |
| Partir là où tout peut arriver | Go to where anything can happen |
| Oh oh | Oh oh |
| Refrain | Chorus |
| Oh oh | Oh oh |
| De mes propres ailes, voler | With my own wings, fly |
| Pour toucher le ciel | To touch sky |
* ses generally means his/hers in the plural. In English, in this specific case, we would be more likely to say your or yours. Its really a stylistic choice of translation.
** Can you hear the similarity between the word aile(s) and elle(s)? I’m reading a great book right now that I got last summer in France called Un avion sans elle. The title, which means A plane without her, is a play on Un avion sans ailes (A plane without wings).
Image of airplane from www.pexels.com [CC0 license].
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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.