L'âme des poètes [English translation]

A long, long time after

The poets have disappeared

Their songs still run through the streets

The crowd sings them a bit absent-mindedly

Ignorant of the author's name,

Not knowing who his heart was beating for.

Sometimes they change a word, a phrase

And when they're short of ideas

They sing la la la la la la

La la la la la la.

A long, long time after

The poets have disappeared

Their songs will still run through the streets.

One day maybe, after I've gone,

One day they will sing

This tune to sooth a sorrow

Or some happy prospect.

Will it keep an old beggar alive

Or send a child to sleep?

Or somewhere by the water

In spring, will they play it on a gramophone?

A long, long time after

The poets have disappeared

Their light soul still runs through the streets.

Their light soul, their songs

That bring happiness, or bring sadness

To girls and boys,

To householders, artists

Or vagabonds.

A long, long time after...

La la la la la la