Quelqu'un M'a Dit

here's a better translation:

I’m told that our lives aren’t worth much, They pass like an instant, like wilting roses. I’m told that time slipping by is a bastard Making its coat of our sorrows. Yet someone told me…

That you still loved me Someone told me… That you still loved me. Well ? Could that be possible?

I’m told that fate makes fun of us, That it gives us nothing and promises everything, When happiness seems to be within our reach, We reach out and find ourselves like fools. Yet someone told me…

That you still loved me Someone told me… That you still loved me. Well ? Could that be possible?

Well ? Could that be possible?

So who said that you still loved me? I don’t remember any more, it was late at night, I can still hear the voice, but I can no longer see the face, “He loves you, it’s secret, don’t tell him I told you.” You see, someone told me

That you still loved me Did someone really tell me? That you still loved me Well, could that be possible?

I’m told that our lives aren’t worth much, Passing in an instant, like wilting roses, I’m told that time slipping by is a bastard, Making its coat of our sadnesses.

That you still loved me Someone told me… That you still loved me. Well ? Could that be possible?

I

I always thought it was sung by someone who was depressed after a breakup, and her friends are giving her platitudes in an attempt to help, and then she wakes up after a blurry night with this memory of someone saying this thing, but she's not entirely sure she didn't dream the whole thing, but it gives her the hope that they might get back together. It's probably a false hope, however somebody told her... etc.

Translation:

They tell me that our lives are not worth much They pass in an instant as roses wither They tell me that Time that slips by is a bastard, That of our problems he makes coats However, someone told me...

That you still love me It was someone who told me that you still love me Could it be possible then?

They tell me that destiny makes fun of us, That it gives us nothing and promises all It seems that happiness is within reach, so you reach out and find yourself mad However, someone told me...

(chorus)

But who was it who told me that you still loved me? I don't remember, it was late at night, I can still hear the voice, but can't see the features any more, "He loves you, it's a secret, don't tell him I told you!" You see, someone told me...

That you still love me. Did someone really tell me... That you still love me, so could it really be possible?

They tell me that our lives are not worth much, They're over in an instant, as roses wither. Someone told me that Time that slips by is a bastard, that from our sadnesses he makes coats. However, someone told me...

for the longest time i had no interest in finding an english translation of this song. i assumed i would just be disappointed with the lyrics (after all, it's a model trying her hand at a music career) and never be able to hear the song the same way again. eventually, though, my curiosity got the better of me, and i went in search of some translations. the two translations found above are fairly indicative of the other ones posted elsewhere on the internet (even though i did find a couple others out there in cyberspace that i liked somewhat better). of the two found here, i'm more partial to the one posted by ooominhooo because that translation shares the same sensibility as the other one, but comes across as much less clumsy and awkward-sounding. anyhow, the lyrics aren't first rate or anything--though i'm sure there's something that gets lost in the translation--but i was pleasantly surprised by them nonetheless.

the basic trend i've noticed from the user comments on this site is that people generally think just about every song is written in reference to one of three things: love/relationships, drugs, or some combination of those two. this song has the word love in it quite a few times so most people immediately took off running with that idea and steered right into relationship territory (though i would love to see someone try and interpret this song as being about drugs). i'll admit i could be totally wrong, but from the way i processed the lyrics, i see the main theme of this song actually being hope. the lyrics outline how bleak life really is and imply that we should really all be cynics and/or nihilists--we're born only to die, happiness seems always just out of reach, our lives aren't worth anything and ultimately they're essentially meaningless in the grand scheme of things anyway. and yet...we always find something to reach for; we continue to hope. that sentiment may be completely irrational but it's what keeps us going. we know we're fated to die yet we choose to try and keep focus on possibilities--maybe, just maybe we can be happier, or find someone that loves us, or score some really great drugs (just kidding). so i don't really see this song being about the subject of love. i see the idea of love merely being used as one of those beacons of hope for which we are constantly on the lookout.

this song expresses a really interesting sentiment by, in my opinion, describing the human condition, but it's the musical aspects of it that actually strike a chord within me (hey, i liked this song long before i knew one word of it). truth be told, i don't find carla bruni to be an impressive vocalist by any means--she really has no range to speak of--but her voice has a great smoky, sexy quality to it. plus it doesn't hurt that the french language just sounds great to begin with (to me anyway). but it's the stringed instruments on this track that make it stellar. the acoustic guitars are given a great treatment and the orchestral strings float beautifully in the background, punctuating certain moments with great accents. i really love how the different guitar tracks weave and interact with each other, especially the dueling guitars during the solo section. the album credits state that it was the albums producer who not only laid down all the guitar tracks, but also arranged the guitars and strings for the song (wow!). so as usual, it's the man behind the curtain who's mainly responsible for the great creation yet doesn't get any of the deserved accolades.

Her voice is so beautiful. Everything flows so well. My favourite of her songs for sure. < 3

How has no one commented on this? It's beautiful:)

It has just been edited, that's why it has not been commented on! Carla Bruni's sweet yet beautiful voice perfectly fits with the lyrics and the melody of this song. She had a good idea when she decided she could sing and not only be a model!

You don't need to be able to speak the language to get something out of this song. which is what makes it fantastic, the words are just a bonus.

I get a picture in my head when I listen to this song. The heroine is drunk at a party and someone equally inebriated says something inconsequential; that the girl's ex was stupid to end their relationship or that he still loves her no matter what he said or something like that.

The song is sung during the ensuing hangover. Lives aren't worth much, fate mocks us and our wishes, we think we can reach luck and it slips from our reach... she thought that man was The One but he's gone. It goes to reaffirm her pessimism. Somehow the idea that he still loves her, carelessly pushed forward by a mutual friend, is something that keeps her together.

If "tu m'aimais encore," how could the world be bleak? That's the point of the song. What if? What if it's not all lost?

Anyone got a full english translation?

Thank you so much for the translation! The song is of course beautiful on its own but it has so much more depth to me now. I can't stop listening to this album.