Prévert is one of my favourites!
Les Feuilles Mortes is a poem written by Jacques Prévert that was adapted into the famous song of the same name. The origins of the poem begin with an instrumental melody called Les Feuilles Mortes, composed by Joseph Kosma for the 1945 ballet Le Rendez-vous, the plot of which was written by Prévert. Based on this melody, Prévert wrote his poem, partly with the intention of it being made into a song, as the director Marcel Carné wanted to adapt Le Rendez-vous into a film.
In 1946, the song Les Feuilles Mortes was featured in Carné’s film adaptation of Le Rendez-vous, with lyrics attributed to Prévert, although portions of the poem were omitted. The film – Les Portes de la Nuit – was a flop, but the song became a hit and has since been sung in many languages. The most famous French renditions of Les Feuilles Mortes have been performed by Yves Montand and Édith Piaf, and the most famous English versions (titled “Autumn Leaves”) by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Indeed, the song has also enjoyed enduring popularity in the English-speaking world.
Les Feuilles Mortes
Oh, je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes,
Des jours heureux quand nous étions amis,
Dans ce temps là, la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu’aujourd’hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Tu vois je n’ai pas oublié.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi,
Et le vent du nord les emporte,
Dans la nuit froide de l’oubli.
Tu vois, je n’ai pas oublié,
La chanson que tu me chantais.
C’est une chanson, qui nous ressemble,
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais.
Nous vivions, tous les deux ensemble,
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais.
Et la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit.
Et la mer efface sur le sable,
Les pas des amants désunis.
The Dead Leaves
Oh, how I would like for you to remember,
The happy days when we were friends,
Back then, life was more beautiful,
And the sun burned brighter than today.
Dead leaves are collected with a shovel,
You see, I have not forgotten.
Dead leaves gather in their hundreds,
As do memories and regrets.
And the North Wind carries them away,
Through the cold night of oblivion.
You see, I have not forgotten,
The song that you would sing to me.
It’s a song that now reminds me of us,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
We were living, with one another,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
But life separates those who love each other,
Very gently, without making a sound.
And the sea washes away on the sand,
The footprints of lovers since separated.
In 1946, the song Les Feuilles Mortes was featured in Carné’s film adaptation of Le Rendez-vous, with lyrics attributed to Prévert, although portions of the poem were omitted. The film – Les Portes de la Nuit – was a flop, but the song became a hit and has since been sung in many languages. The most famous French renditions of Les Feuilles Mortes have been performed by Yves Montand and Édith Piaf, and the most famous English versions (titled “Autumn Leaves”) by Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole. Indeed, the song has also enjoyed enduring popularity in the English-speaking world.
Les Feuilles Mortes
Oh, je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes,
Des jours heureux quand nous étions amis,
Dans ce temps là, la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brûlant qu’aujourd’hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Tu vois je n’ai pas oublié.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi,
Et le vent du nord les emporte,
Dans la nuit froide de l’oubli.
Tu vois, je n’ai pas oublié,
La chanson que tu me chantais.
C’est une chanson, qui nous ressemble,
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais.
Nous vivions, tous les deux ensemble,
Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais.
Et la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment,
Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit.
Et la mer efface sur le sable,
Les pas des amants désunis.
The Dead Leaves
Oh, how I would like for you to remember,
The happy days when we were friends,
Back then, life was more beautiful,
And the sun burned brighter than today.
Dead leaves are collected with a shovel,
You see, I have not forgotten.
Dead leaves gather in their hundreds,
As do memories and regrets.
And the North Wind carries them away,
Through the cold night of oblivion.
You see, I have not forgotten,
The song that you would sing to me.
It’s a song that now reminds me of us,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
We were living, with one another,
You who loved me, me who loved you.
But life separates those who love each other,
Very gently, without making a sound.
And the sea washes away on the sand,
The footprints of lovers since separated.
22-25, F
