Écoutez d'où ma peine vient [English translation]

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

They all say I look sharp

That I have a keen nose for everything

But of life, of life I know nothing

Is it the TGV1, gone so quickly

Or the laziness of the Express, of times past?

Is it like 87 years

The slippers in the kitchen

Or the poor little 27 years

Of Janis Joplin?

Is life long or short?

Is it stupid or heavy?2

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

They all say I look sharp

That I have a keen nose for everything

But of love, of love I know nothing

Is it the long distance, and the lingering touches

Or are we there for the short haul?

Is it like the ringing bells, the king size hats

Or like Paris Hilton and Tequila Sunrise?

Is love long or short?

Is it stupid or heavy?

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

Polar bears are looking at us, with their funny eyes

Is a Hard Rain gonna fall?

Is it long? short?

Stupid or heavy?

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

Listen to where my sorrow comes from

1. France's intercity high-speed rail service.2. "Long et court" / "Con et lourd" is a contrepèterie, or spoonerism.