Hi, I have created a singable English translation. I tried to keep true to the meaning of the text, while also respecting the rhyme scheme.
The effect of retaining the rhyme scheme is most evident in my version of the lines:
"C'est payé, balayé, oublié
Je me fous du passé"
Obviously, there are no four rhyming words in English with those meanings. So I searched for four words that, together, could give the general sense of those lines.
I also took liberties with the rhythm. I prefer to change the number of syllables in a given line (and therefore, the details of the rhythm) rather than distort the English in order to match another language's pattern of syllables. In other words, I prefer translations that are singable and give mostly the same sense as the original, to those that try to keep the exact syllable count as in the original. To each our own priorities, huh?
You can hear the rhythms I intend on a video of me singing the song (with my English lyrics shown on-screen). It's a birthday gift to my wife, here:
Hi, I have created a singable English translation. I tried to keep true to the meaning of the text, while also respecting the rhyme scheme.
The effect of retaining the rhyme scheme is most evident in my version of the lines:
"C'est payé, balayé, oublié Je me fous du passé"
Obviously, there are no four rhyming words in English with those meanings. So I searched for four words that, together, could give the general sense of those lines.
I also took liberties with the rhythm. I prefer to change the number of syllables in a given line (and therefore, the details of the rhythm) rather than distort the English in order to match another language's pattern of syllables. In other words, I prefer translations that are singable and give mostly the same sense as the original, to those that try to keep the exact syllable count as in the original. To each our own priorities, huh?
You can hear the rhythms I intend on a video of me singing the song (with my English lyrics shown on-screen). It's a birthday gift to my wife, here:
pamsbirthday.com
Here are the lyrics:
No, nothing at all I regret nothing at all Not the praise I’ve received, nor the blame It’s now all the same!
No, nothing at all I regret nothing at all It’s left behind, it’s out of mind, poured-out wine; To the past I’m now blind!
My old pleasures and pains, I no longer require; My old memories and thoughts, I throw into the fire.
Swept away, my old loves With our unsteady hearts, Swept away for all time Now I make a clean start!
No, nothing at all I regret nothing at all Not the praise I’ve received, nor the blame It’s now all the same!
No, nothing at all I regret nothing at all ‘Cause my joys, my life, too: On this day are beginning with you!
Doug Lipman (StoryDynamics.com)