Madam, you don't have to
go by without seeing me,
no, it's not a drama
that I'm going to play tonight,
I've only a few words to say.
I'm going to say them without delay,
but first I want a smile,
very well, you're going to know it all.
From you I got to know
about wild caresses,
about very sweet moments
filled up with tenderness.
From you I got to know
your disturbing body,
your young go-getter's eyes,
your pretty teeth.
And from you I got to know
all the raptures,
all the dates
and all the expressions.
You can see, Madam,
that it isn't all forgotten:
me, I still think of you.
I remember the shop
where we met one evening
and I see again the magic nights
when our two hearts were beating,
beating filled by hope.
When people have known
the same euphorias
and no longer love each other,
there is tenderness.
You see, Madam,
that it isn't all forgotten:
me I still think of you.
And from you I got to know
burnt soups,
too sweet stews,
salty tarts.
For a yes, a no,
you would jump from the balcony.
Quietly, I would let you
fall from street level1.
And from you I got to know
plates that flew,
evenings of wrath
when you were mad.
You can see, Madam,
that it isn't all forgotten:
me, I still think of you.
I remember the kitchen
where nicely side by side
were the pepper and the mothballs,
the sugar, the mustard, the milk, the chicory2!
When people have known the same euphorias
and no longer love each other, but
there is tenderness,
you can see, Madam,
that it isn't all forgotten:
me, I still think... of you,
me, I still think,
me, I still think,
me, I still think of you.
1. "first floor" in AmE, but not in BrE.2. ambiguous:"chicorée" can mean either "chicory" or "endive" (as could "chicory" in AmE but not in BrE).