Mathilde

This is another example of Brel's uncanny ability to put feelings into words in ways that are surprising but so true that they hit you in the gut. His exhilaration and sometimes conflicted feelings about the return of his accursed Mathilde are just so palpable here.

This English translation is from lyricstranslate.com:

My mother, here, the time has come For you to pray for my salvation Mathilde's come back Bougnat, you can keep your wine Tonight I'll drink my grief Mathilde's come back You, the servant, you, the Maria It'd be worthy perhaps to change the sheets Mathilde's come back My friends, don't leave me, no Tonight I'm returning to the combat Accursed Mathilde, for you're here

My heart, my heart, don't go wild Act as if you didn't know That the Mathilde has come back My heart, stop repeating That she's more beautiful than before the summer The Mathilde that has come back My heart, stop shaking about Remind yourself that she tore you up The Mathilde that has come back My friends, don't leave me, no Tell me, tell me that it's not not necessary Accursed Mathilde, for you're here

And you, my hands, stay calm It's a dog that's coming back to us from the city Mathilde's come back And you my hands, don't thwack around All of this does not concern you Mathilde's come back And you my hands, do not tremble anymore Remind yourselves how I cried on you Mathilde's come back You my hands, do not open yourselves You my arms, do not stretch yourselves Sacred Mathilde, for you're here

My mother, stop your prayers Your Jacques is returning to hell Mathilde's come back to me Bougnat, bring us wine That of weddings and feasts Mathilde's come back to me You the servant, you the Maria Go change the sheets of my big bed Mathilde's come back to me Friends, don't count on me anymore I'm spitting on the heavens yet again My beautiful Mathilde, for you're here, you're here!