A Song for Europe

I feel this is much more than a song about a sadly ended love affair. That is one level, and very powerful indeed, on that level. But I feel it is also : "A Song For Europe" !! About the old Europe, glorious, beautiful, romantic, center of art, etc. etc. This classic Europe was destroyed by two world wars and the march of time, along with overpopulation. To wit:

I remember All those moments Lost in wonder That we'll never Find again

And on and on. The parallels are many. I do feel that the song is an incredible masterpiece on both levels, and I never tire of it, even after 35 years or so.

A person in a Cafe reflecting on a relationship and how great it was.

there is something about a song with a foreign verse, that makes a good sone great

Top song, very dramatic

Also a bit of a piss-take of the whole Eurovision song contest!

A man who reflects on his life and loves and looks back with regret because he'll never be able to experience those things again.

The title gives it away. The singer is lamenting the loss of the Europe that he loves.

When Paul Thompson comes in after the first few lines - pounding like a heart overwhelmed with melancholy - thunderously nostalgic - this song is like dark reflections passing under the bridge of time...

The Latin and French really bring in a primordial element of romance and sorrow.

Reminds me of Baudelaire's poem " le Balcon"

Mère des souvenirs, maîtresse des maîtresses, Ô toi, tous mes plaisirs! ô toi, tous mes devoirs! Tu te rappelleras la beauté des caresses, La douceur du foyer et le charme des soirs, Mère des souvenirs, maîtresse des maîtresses!

Les soirs illuminés par l'ardeur du charbon, Et les soirs au balcon, voilés de vapeurs roses. Que ton sein m'était doux! que ton coeur m'était bon! Nous avons dit souvent d'impérissables choses Les soirs illuminés par l'ardeur du charbon.

Que les soleils sont beaux dans les chaudes soirées! Que l'espace est profond! que le coeur est puissant! En me penchant vers toi, reine des adorées, Je croyais respirer le parfum de ton sang. Que les soleils sont beaux dans les chaudes soirées!

La nuit s'épaississait ainsi qu'une cloison, Et mes yeux dans le noir devinaient tes prunelles, Et je buvais ton souffle, ô douceur! ô poison! Et tes pieds s'endormaient dans mes mains fraternelles. La nuit s'épaississait ainsi qu'une cloison.

Je sais l'art d'évoquer les minutes heureuses, Et revis mon passé blotti dans tes genoux. Car à quoi bon chercher tes beautés langoureuses Ailleurs qu'en ton cher corps et qu'en ton coeur si doux? Je sais l'art d'évoquer les minutes heureuses!

Ces serments, ces parfums, ces baisers infinis, Renaîtront-ils d'un gouffre interdit à nos sondes, Comme montent au ciel les soleils rajeunis Après s'être lavés au fond des mers profondes? – Ô serments! ô parfums! ô baisers infinis!

The song is obviously about Europa Univesalis abstinence, he's been playing multiplayer with his friends, maybe as a some french country. He can't play with them anymore since there's an exam period coming up.

These cities may change But there always remains My obsession

For a poetic thrill, listen to this while watching Notre Dame burn in slow-mo!

This thread has some thought provoking comments from contributors who in my opinion have over analysed Ferry’s lyrics concluding the song was a lament to ‘the destruction of the Europe he once knew’ , an interesting interpretation but in actuality somewhat misguided. He wrote it as a ‘final closure’ outlet in coming to terms with European glamour model Amanda Lear ‘breaking up’ with him. She was an elite model back in 1973 at arguably her peak and whether there was anyone else involved or whether she wouldn’t commit to a serious long term relationship I do not know but those were halcyon days in the music and fashion industry where the Rock ‘n Roll fashionista’s indulged in the glamour of the endless de riguer drug fuelled party circuit , many crashed and burned, others split completely but some came through it such as a certain David Bowie. I mention him in this thread as it occurred to me whilst writing this that he requested Amanda Lear for the femme fatale role in his ill fated ‘1984 Floor Show Review’ and when viewing the archive footage on You Tube one senses a certain sexual chemistry. However be that as it may returning to ‘Song For Europe’ Ferry refers to the romantic memories of Paris and Venice when they were an item “all those moments lost in wonder that we’ll never find again”. He was hardly going to title the recording “Ode To Amanda” or “Song For Amanda” as Bowie did in 1969 equally heartbroken by his then true love (who called time on their relationship because of his other dalliances) and wrote his lament ‘Letter to Hermione”

I hear Celtic Café. Not an empty café