Tarek Ben Yakhlev, 2021
Serge Gainsbourg wrote both music and lyrics for “La Chanson de Prévert” in 1961 as a tribute to Jacque Prévert’s famous poem (“Les Feuilles Mortes”) that became a global song sensation performed by many artists like Yves Montand (covered here on this site).
It is worth comparing the two songs. Both songs reference a shared song about leaves that cemented the relationship of the protagonists and both songs have one refrain that repeats twice. The first line in both songs is exactly the same: “je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes” but the content in the songs is quite different. “Les Feuilles Mortes” by Prévert recalls a specific happy relationship and a shared song about dead leaves gathered in a shovel that are scattered by the north wind, just as life separates those who love each other.
Gainsbourg’s song is more about himself and has rather thin lyrics carried by a pleasing melody. He addresses a former lover whose favorite song was Prévert’s “Les Feuilles Mortes.” Hearing the song brings her to mind while his other loves continue to fade from monotony and indifference. As seasons pass, Prévert’s song passes as well. When memory of the song finally dies, his fading loves will have died as well.
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Oh, je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes, Cette chanson était la tienne, C'était ta préférée, je crois Qu'elle est de Prévert et Kosma. Et chaque fois Les Feuilles Mortes Te rappellent à mon souvenir, Jour après jour Les amours mortes N'en finissent pas de mourir. Avec d'autres bien sûr je m'abandonne, Mais leur chanson est monotone Et peu à peu je m'indiffère, A cela il n'est rien à faire. Car chaque fois Les Feuilles Mortes Te rappellent à mon souvenir, Jour après jour Les amours mortes N'en finissent pas de mourir. Peut-on jamais savoir par où commence Et quand finit l'indifférence? Passe l'automne, vienne l'hiver Et que la chanson de Prévert. Cette chanson, Les Feuilles Mortes, S'efface de mon souvenir Et ce jour là Mes amours mortes En auront fini de mourir. Et ce jour là Mes amours mortes En auront fini de mourir. |
Oh, I wish so much you could remember, This song was yours, It was your favorite, I think, It is by Prevert and Kosma. And each time the Dead Leaves Retrieve you to my memory, Day after day the dead loves never finish dying. With others, surely, I surrender but their song is monotone And bit by bit my indifference grows, About that, nothing can be done. For, every time, the Dead Leaves Retrieve you to my memory Day after day the dead loves never finish dying. Can one ever know where indifference begins And when it ends? Autumn passes, winter comes, Like the song by Prévert. This song, The Dead Leaves, Fades from my memory. And, on that day, My dead loves Will have finished dying. And, on that day, My dead loves Will have finished dying. |