Je chante doucement [English translation]

I sing softly

to forget my sorrow.

I sing softly

to forget my sorrow.

I hate this long journey

that, despite myself, drags me down

because I left behind

all those I love.

Well! I needed to leave

and, despite my grief,

I closed my suitcases

as the day dawned.

And down there in the station

where the train waited for me,

I tried to hold back

my tears in vain.

Oh! My heart is unhappy,

I sing softly

the song of goodbye

and I promised myself

to return someday—

some beautiful spring day

to this country where I have lived

for such a long time.

Oh! Now I am alone

and I have no more friends

to whom I can confide my sorrows

or my sadness.

I have only this refrain

to banish my trouble

because it speaks to me

about the happiness of my country.

Oh! And when I think of my family

who remained there.

Oh! If my heart is sad,

I begin to sing.

That gives me the strength

to wait and to hope

for the happy day when I can

embrace them.

Oh! I sing softly

to forget my sorrow.

Yeah! I sing softly

to forget my sorrow.

I hate this long journey

that despite myself drags me down

because I left behind

all those I love—

because I left behind

all those I love.