11 February 2009

Mylord - English Translation

Since I seem to be on a roll with translating Edith Piaf's songs, I thought I'd do the honours for one of my favourites. I mentioned a while ago that I've always enjoyed singing Mylord during broody moments.

Basically this song tells the story of a young girl from more seedy areas of some French port who falls in love with a high society gentleman or lord (my lord = mylord with a French accent!) She has probably stalked him enough but he's never really payed any attention to her. One day, the man's heart is broken when his equally well-bred lady leaves the port to never return. This is our young girl's opportunity to cheer up Mylord and hint to her infatuation without any hope for anything in return.

I love this song because it hints to quiet, unrequited love and yearning. It also highlights the girl's complete self-oblivion in tending to her lord's broken heart with scant attention to her own.

Here it is!

Mylord by Edith Piaf

Alez, venez, Milord!
Vous asseoir à ma table;
Il fait si froid, dehors,
Ici c'est confortable.
Laissez-vous faire, Milord
Et prenez bien vos aises,
Vos peines sur mon coeur
Et vos pieds sur une chaise

Come along Milord!
Take a seat at my table;
It is so cold outside,
It's cosier in here.
Just relax Milord
And be sure to make yourself comfortable,
Let my heart share your pains,
And place your feet up on a chair.


Je vous connais, Milord,
Vous n'm'avez jamais vue
Je ne suis qu'une fille du port,
Qu'une ombre de la rue...

I know about you, Milord,
But you, you've never seen me.
I'm only a girl from the port,
A shadow in the streets...


Pourtant j'vous ai frolé
Quand vous passiez hier,
Vous n'étiez pas peu fier,
Dame! Le ciel vous comblait:
Votre foulard de soie
Flottant sur vos épaules,
Vous aviez le beau role,
On aurait dit le roi...
Vous marchiez en vainqueur
Au bras d'une demoiselle
Mon Dieu!... Qu'elle était belle...
J'en ai froid dans le coeur...

Yet I brushed past you
When you were passing by yesterday,
You were not just a little proud,
Hell! The heavens had blessed you:
Your silk scarp
Floated on your shoulders,
You were in the limelight, (literally "you had the best role")
One would have mistaken you for a king...
You walked like a conqueror,
A young lady under your arm
My God!....How beautiful she was...
It gives my heart such a chill...


Allez, venez, Milord!
Vous asseoir à ma table;
Il fait si froid, dehors,
Ici c'est confortable.
Laissez-vous faire, Milord,
Et prenez bien vos aises,
Vos peines sur mon coeur
Et vos pieds sur une chaise


Come along Milord!
Take a seat at my table;
It is so cold outside,
It's cosier in here.
Just relax Milord
And be sure to make yourself comfortable,
Let my heart share your pains,
And place your feet up on a chair.


Je vous connais, Milord,
Vous n'm'avez jamais vue
Je ne suis qu'une fille du port
Qu'une ombre de la rue...

I know about you, Milord,
But you, you've never seen me.
I'm only a girl from the port,
A shadow in the streets...


Dire qu'il suffit parfois
Qu'il y ait un navire
Pour que tout se déchire
Quand le navire s'en va...
Il emmenait avec lui
La douce aux yeux si tendres
Qui n'a pas su comprendre
Qu'elle brisait votre vie
L'amour, ca fait pleurer
Comme quoi l'existence
Ça vous donne toutes les chances
Pour les reprendre après...

And to think that often
All it takes is a ship
For everything to be ruined
When the ship leaves...
It takes away with it
The sweet one with eyes so tender
Who could not understand
That she was breaking your heart.
Love, it makes us cry
Such that one's existence
Gives one all the chances
Only to take them away afterwards...


Allez, venez, Milord!
Vous avez l'air d'un mome!
Laissez-vous faire, Milord,
Venez dans mon royaume:
Je soigne les remords,
Je chante la romance,
Je chante les milords
Qui n'ont pas eu de chance!
Regardez-moi, Milord,
Vous n'm'avez jamais vue...
...Mais... vous pleurez, Milord?
Ça... j'l'aurais jamais cru!...

Come along Milord!
You look like a kid!
Just relax Milord
Come into my kingdom:
I heal all remorse,
I sing all romances,
I sing for those milords
Who never had any chance!
Look at me Milord,
You have never seen me...
...But...You are crying, Milord?
That...I would never have believed it!...


Eh ben, voyons, Milord!
Souriez-moi, Milord!
...Mieux qu' ca! Un petit effort...
Voilà, c'est ca!
Allez, riez, Milord!
Allez, chantez, Milord!
La-la-la...
Mais oui, dansez, Milord!
La-la-la... Bravo Milord!
La-la-la... Encore Milord!... La-la-la...

Well then Milord!
Smile at me Milord!
...Better than that! A little effort...
There you go, that's it!
Come on laugh Milord!
Come on and sing Milord!
La-la-la...
Yes, dance Milord!
La-la-la...Bravo Milord!
La-la-la...One more Milord!...La-la-la...

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