Barbara

Yves Montand

English translation

23 translations

Also performed by:

Gérard Vermont Jacques Prévert

Proofreading requested info

Original lyrics

French

Translation

English

Barbara

Rappelle-toi Barbara

Il pleuvait sans cesse sur Brest ce jour-là

Et tu marchais souriante

Épanouie ravie ruisselante

Sous la pluie

Rappelle-toi Barbara

Il pleuvait sans cesse sur Brest

Et je t'ai croisée rue de Siam

Tu souriais

Et moi je souriais de même

Rappelle-toi Barbara

Toi que je ne connaissais pas

Toi qui ne me connaissais pas

Rappelle-toi

Rappelle-toi quand même ce jour-là

N'oublie pas

Un homme sous un porche s'abritait

Et il a crié ton nom

Barbara

Et tu as couru vers lui sous la pluie

Ruisselante ravie épanouie

Et tu t'es jetée dans ses bras

Rappelle-toi cela Barbara

Et ne m'en veux pas si je te tutoie

Je dis tu à tous ceux que j'aime

Même si je ne les ai vus qu'une seule fois

Je dis tu à tous ceux qui s'aiment

Même si je ne les connais pas

Rappelle-toi Barbara

N'oublie pas

Cette pluie sage et heureuse

Sur ton visage heureux

Sur cette ville heureuse

Cette pluie sur la mer

Sur l'arsenal

Sur le bateau d'Ouessant

Oh Barbara

Quelle connerie la guerre

Qu'es-tu devenue maintenant

Sous cette pluie de fer

De feu d'acier de sang

Et celui qui te serrait dans ses bras

Amoureusement

Est-il mort disparu ou bien encore vivant

Oh Barbara

Il pleut sans cesse sur Brest

Comme il pleuvait avant

Mais ce n'est plus pareil et tout est abimé

C'est une pluie de deuil terrible et désolée

Ce n'est même plus l'orage

De fer d'acier de sang

Tout simplement des nuages

Qui crèvent comme des chiens

Des chiens qui disparaissent

Au fil de l'eau sur Brest

Et vont pourrir au loin

Au loin très loin de Brest

Dont il ne reste rien.

Barbara

Remember, Barbara,

it rained ceaaselessly on Brest that day

and you walked, smiling,

flowing, delighted, blossoming

in the rain.

Remember, Barbara,

it rained incessantly on Brest that day

and we saw each other in Siam Street,

you were smiling,

and likewise I was smiling.

Remember, Barbara,

you whom I didn't know,

you who didn't know me,

remember,

anyway remember that day,

don't forget.

A man was sheltering in a doorway

and he called your name,

Barbara,

and you ran towards him,in the rain,

blossoming, delighted, flowing

and threw yourself into his arms.

Remember that, Barbara,

and don't resent me calling you "tu",

I say "tu" to everyone I like

even if I've only seen them once.

I say "tu" to eveyone who is in love,

even if I'don't know them at all.

Remember, Barbara,

don't forget

that wise and happy rain

on your happy face

on that happy town,

that rain on the sea,

on the naval dockyard,

on the Ushant boat.

Oh Barbara,

what idiocy war is,

what have you become now

under this rain of iron,

of fire of steel or blood,

and he who held you in his arms

lovingly

is he dead, missing, or perhaps still alive?

Oh Barbara,

it's raining incessantly on Brest

just as it was raining before,

but it's not the same any more and all is ruined,

it's a rain of dreadful and desolate grief,

it isn't any more even the storm

of iron of steel of blood

but nothing more than clouds

which pass away like dogs,

dogs which disappear

in the current over Brest

and go to decompose far away,

far away from Brest

of which nothing is left.

Song details

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