It was springtime,
the 60's were just starting
with their bandit's life.
I was 17 and said to myself
"You're old enough,
it's time you try to live a great love."
And you appeared near a
kiosk on Saint Germain 1,
we both ask for Salut les copains2
and between Françoise Hardy songs
I got to invite you out for a cup of tea in Le Paradis
and I talked to you about poetry,
about flesh and pleasure
and you about the malice aforethought
hidden inside women.
And you taught me how to live
and you taught me how to say
"J'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour avec toi." 3
You have not changed at all, perhaps
now there's a melancholic shadow in your eyes,
even if you keep that
virginal doll look,
like one of Chagall's Russian madonnas.
And you didn't just make me go crazy,
you turned my world upside down
when you said to me
"Je serai ta maitresse4"
that night, at Les Deux Magots5,
after we watched Truffaut's "The soft skin" 6.
And now I no longer go to the movies
and our skin isn't that soft anymore,
let me guess
you've got an unfaithful lover.
And you taught me how to live
and you taught me how to say
"J'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour avec toi." 3
And without us noticing,
like mercenaries
the 90's came along with no warning,
and now that at last I'm
some scars older
and you a woman
going trough lovesickness,
we meet again
but this time
I talk to you about the past
and you talk about your disappointment,
after you took
"400 blows"7,
we are far from l'amour fou8 now.
Just like all the poetry
about flesh and pleasure,
that was just a passing whim
and will never return.
And you taught me how to live
and you taught me how to say
"J'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour
j'aime, j'aime, j'aime
faire l'amour avec toi." 3
1. Parisian neighbourhood2. Literally "Hi, mates". Renowned French music variety magazine, very popular in the sixties.3. a. b. c. I love, I love, I love
making love,
I love, I love, I love
making love,
I love, I love, I love
making love with you.4. I'll be your mistress5. Famous Parisian café.6. Movie from 19647. Reference to the French New Wave movie.8. "Mad love"