Bonheur de malheur [English translation]

I'm looking for dependable love,

loyal passion,

the kind of vows that are sworn1

In case love starts cracking up

I rise up like a deadly2 snake.

My bite is pure,

for it3 seeks ideal.

(chorus)

I'm afraid

I could wear down my smile

running after this blasted happiness4,

so afraid

I could wear down my sighs

faking love as the best5 is dying.

I'm afraid I could marry the worst6

and fake it all,

and so I lie

a lot7

while sacrificing my feelings.

My frights are persistent,

they nag at my flippancy,

My boldness only goes so far

as to stroke my grazes,

for our bitter

mothers8

taught us how to cry.

(chorus)

I've been told that's the way it is,

that's what happiness is,

like a self-evident vocation.

By seeking everlasting [love]9

I lost what matters most.

Yet again

well learned lessons

Yet again

the same old mistakes

Yet again

the illusion smashing to pieces

Yet again

this blasted happiness

(chorus)

In memory of our parents10

1. as if there was another kind...2. or maybe "fateful"3. yup, it's about the pure ideal-seeking bite of a deadly (or fateful) snake4. "de malheur" is a common equivalent to "blasted" or "damned". "bonheur"(happiness) and "malheur"(misfortune) have a common root (good-luck/bad-luck) but are not really antinomic, so the pun is pretty weak5. patience is a virtue...6. here we are: this spreads the keywords "meilleur" and "pire" across two sentences, to evoke "pour le meilleur et pour le pire", the traditional vow of marriage (for better, for worse...)7. This surpasses the famous pram-a-lot in awkwardness :D8. another rhyming nonsense9. "that which is eternal"10. possibly meant as "ancestors"