So, as another American who speaks 6 languages, I would like to say that the above translations - more or less literal - fail to capture the passion that is expressed in the French original, which is why I would translate it (albeit more liberally), as follows:
Do not leave me.
One must forget
that which is bygone.
Everything can be forgotten -
Forget the instances
of misunderstandings
and of the moments lost.
Knowing how to
forget the hours
that sometimes killed
the very heart of happiness
with all their Why's.
Do not leave me. (4x)
I will offer you
pearls made of raindrops,
found in countries where it never rains.
I will traverse the Earth,
until after I'm gone,
only to cover your body
with gold and with sunlight.
I will establish a kingdom
where Love will be king,
where Love will rule,
and you will be Queen.
Do not leave me. (4x)
Do not leave me.
I will invent for you
nonsensical words
which only you will understand.
I will tell you stories
about the lovers
whose hearts have been
twice ablaze,
and of that king
who died for not having met you.
Do not leave me.
One has often seen
a fire erupting
out an ancient volcano,
thought to be extinct.
And it seems
that a scorched earth
could give more wheat
than in the best of springs.
And when the evening falls
do the red and the black not unite
in order for sky to be set aflame?
Do not leave me.
Do not leave me.
I will no longer cry.
I will no longer talk.
I will just hide where
I can look at you
dance and smile,
and listen to you
sing and then laugh.
Let me become
the shadow of your shadow
the shadow of your hand
the shadow of your dog.
Do not leave me. (4x)
Thanks Venus in Mohair - I agree with you.
So, as another American who speaks 6 languages, I would like to say that the above translations - more or less literal - fail to capture the passion that is expressed in the French original, which is why I would translate it (albeit more liberally), as follows:
Do not leave me. One must forget that which is bygone. Everything can be forgotten - Forget the instances of misunderstandings and of the moments lost. Knowing how to forget the hours that sometimes killed the very heart of happiness
I will offer you pearls made of raindrops, found in countries where it never rains. I will traverse the Earth, until after I'm gone, only to cover your body with gold and with sunlight. I will establish a kingdom where Love will be king, where Love will rule, and you will be Queen. Do not leave me. (4x)
Do not leave me. I will invent for you nonsensical words which only you will understand. I will tell you stories about the lovers whose hearts have been twice ablaze, and of that king who died for not having met you. Do not leave me.
One has often seen a fire erupting out an ancient volcano, thought to be extinct. And it seems that a scorched earth could give more wheat than in the best of springs. And when the evening falls do the red and the black not unite in order for sky to be set aflame? Do not leave me.
Do not leave me. I will no longer cry. I will no longer talk. I will just hide where I can look at you dance and smile, and listen to you sing and then laugh. Let me become the shadow of your shadow the shadow of your hand the shadow of your dog. Do not leave me. (4x)