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| Neil Larsen on two instruments, Roscoe Beck & Leonard Cohen (video screenshot) |
August 16, 2012
During his World Tour 2008-2010, Leonard Cohen often closed his concerts in French speaking locales by reciting from "À La Claire Fontaine", I've Loved You So Long.
Opening night in Ghent on August 12, LC recited lines from this classic French kids song during the song "I Can't Forget", conveying this sentiment:
So long I've been loving you,I couldn't make out all the French words. (My Canadian French is getting rusty.) So I asked Maarten Massa to help me out. Maarten kindly sent the words LC spoke during the song along with a website with the full lyrics here. Thank you, Maarten.
I will never forget you.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
Jamais je ne t'oublieraiÀ la claire fontaine,Il y a longtemps que je t'aime
M'en allant promener
Jamais je ne t'oublierai
So long I've been loving you
I will never forget you
At the clear spring
As I was strolling by
So long I've been loving you
I will never forget you
Leonard Cohen Gent 12-08-2012 I Can't Forget (hrjgr) cued to start at 3.23
Very observant, Arlene, and great coverage. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Marie. I enjoyed doing it.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI'm french and I was in Ghent on 14th août !
I clearly recognized the chorus of this song Traditional French rocked my childhood, his title is "A la claire fontaine" and here are the French lyrics of the whole song and then in English (but Google translation ... )
FANFAN
À la claire fontaine
M’en allant promener
J’ai trouvé l’eau si belle
Que je m’y suis baigné
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.
Sous les feuilles d’un chêne,
Je me suis fait sécher.
Sur la plus haute branche,
Le rossignol chantait.
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.
Chante, rossignol, chante,
Toi qui as le cœur gai.
Tu as le cœur à rire…
Moi je l’ai à pleurer.
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.
J'ai perdu mon amie
Sans l'avoir mérité.
Pour un bouquet de roses
Que je lui refusai…
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.
Je voudrais que la rose
Fût encore au rosier,
Et que ma douce amie
Fût encore à m'aimer.
Il y a longtemps que je t’aime,
Jamais je ne t’oublierai.
A la claire fontaine
Me from walking
I found the water so beautiful
I am bathed
Long ago that I love you,
I will never forget you.
Under the leaves of an oak,
I dried.
On the highest branch,
The nightingale was singing.
Long ago that I love you,
I will never forget you.
Sing, nightingale, sing,
Thou hast the heart gay.
You have the heart to laugh ...
I have to cry.
Long ago that I love you,
I will never forget you.
I lost my friend
Without deserving.
A bouquet of roses
I refused him ...
Long ago that I love you,
I will never forget you.
I would like the pink
Was still rose,
And my sweet friend
Was still loving me.
Long ago that I love you,
I will never forget you.
Thank you, FANFAN for taking the time to write this all out in detail. Your effort is much appreciated.
DeleteI'm very happy to share all of Leonard Cohen with all fans Arlene !
ReplyDeleteFanfan