What do these sentences mean ?

[Clio]

My fate is on the wind,

The king of hearts, the joker's wild,

But we don't say goodbye

 

 

I am not a native speaker so I need a translation, please

 

 

Thanks a lot

[celinedion1983]

My fate is on the wind,

The king of hearts, the joker's wild,

But we don't say goodbye

 

 

I am not a native speaker so I need a translation, please 

 

 

Thanks a lot     

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

This is a poetic way of saying that the fate of Céline could go any way (being blown by the wind)

 

The King of Hearts, the Joker's wild (references a card game to how her future will play out - it could be good, could be bad, it's down to luck.)

 

But what ever happens, Céline and her lover don't say goodbye (as they will be together forever - being immortal and all.....)

 

Hope this helps. It's my interpretation anyway.

 

One of the most beautiful Celine songs!

[Clio]

wow, thank you. You're so kind !!!!

[Alex_Incognito]

The Beegees are FAMOUS for phrases that don't really make sense!

 

It was the same on Barbra Streisand's GUILTY album "no truth is ever a lie."

[Mozinha]

Thank you. We really need a thread like this. The most beautiful lyrics have some sentences I can't really understand.

 

The hardest Celine song for me to understand was Refuse to Dance. I still can't get the whole meaning.

[Celinemaniac]

What do you say about

 

Sometimes the sweatest sorrow--------------------------

-----------------is the saddest fate (If I Were You)... ?

 

 

It's like an "X structure" (Chiaston, chiasme):

sweatest <=> fate,

saddest <=> sorrow

 

 

I can't really get the meaning!

How do you understand this one?

And, at any way, does this can help somebody to see life in a different way?

[celinedrop]

What do you say about

 

Sometimes the sweatest sorrow--------------------------

-----------------is the saddest fate (If I Were You)...  ?

 

 

It's like an "X structure" (Chiaston, chiasme):

sweatest <=> fate, 

saddest <=> sorrow

 

 

I can't really get the meaning!

How do you understand this one?

And, at any way, does this can help somebody to see life in a different way?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Well, that interpretation is very interesting indeed, but may be quite far from a total agreement; and what I mean by this is that if each person told the others what they understand from those phrases, probably there wouldn't be a consensus at the end.

So here goes my personal understanding of the phrases you mentioned...

"Sometimes the sweetest sorrow

Is the saddest fate "

 

I believe all the lyrics from the song "If I were you" say that you can make big mistakes in life, things that you may be regretful about in the future.

 

"Take a step back

Don't lose your ground

Remember how you felt before

And if you care about her

Show her that you're sure"

 

That is, the listener is told to remember how he felt before and tell her that he loves her, before it's too late. It's a sort of advice ( "If I were you"), since it tries to persuade the listener to act in order to keep his lover.

 

However, if the listener doesn't follow those pieces of advice, that will make his lover suffer. In that case, the listener is told that it would be even better if the girl/woman left him:

 

"Maybe she'll go

Maybe she'll stay

But she'd rather go than fade away

Sometimes the sweetest sorrow

Is the saddest fate "

 

This part comes exactly to justify the statement that she'd better leave him than suffer by his side.

In other words, by his side she would only experience sorrow, in spite of this sadness being somehow sweet (since she loves him). Her fate, her destiny would be, therefore, sad.

So even "the sweetest sorrow" may be, afterwards,"the saddest fate".

[celinedion1983]

The whole point of any song is that it down to the individual listener's interpretation. The music and words are designed to evoke emotions rather than a specific meaning.

 

Each song is a musical story if you like.

 

But to help ease understanding (especially for non native english speakers) I think a thread like this would be good.

 

Refuse to Dance is one of my faves so here goes:

 

 

Got your invitation to the dance

Wear your party dress

Maybe I was just an innocent

But I confess

I never even knew the song

The orchestra was playing

 

(Sets the scene for the song.

Céline portrays herself as an innocent

Not noing why she has been invited to the party.

Not knowing the song being played seems to suggest

she doesn't quite know what the score is with the man who invited her.

What does he want, what is he like?

 

See the cuties in their party clothes

Oh it's getting warm

Off the shoulder cut into the hip

Like a uniform

Did you think I'd want to tow the line

Well now the line is broken

 

Céline is looking round, noticing this man noticing these girls

It's getting warm (Céline is seeing that she is 'just another' for this man

Like a uniform adds to the suggestion that he sees her as one of a string of women. (So she thinks anyway)

Did you think....means to me she believes the man expected her to fall into line, submitting to his every whim

like all the other girls there, doting on him

The line is broken - to me this means his long line of conquests is broken

As Céline won't be one of them.

 

(Chorus)

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

 

In my eyes this is Céline telling herself, and perhaps the other girls,

to refuse to dance with this man. There is also another connotation

which you can think about for yourselves.

 

You said you're such a pretty thing

You could make a mark

I'll teach you all the steps you'll need

Guide you through the dark

Suddenly I tought I knew the song

The orchestra was playing

 

This man is saying all the right things

But he is arrogant, suggesting all Céline needs to do is stick with him and she'll be fine.

Suddenly, Céline gets the idea of what type of man this is, and what he wants.....

 

(Repeat Chorus)

 

See how they follow

You say jump. They jump

You say turn. They turn

Look back in sorrow

I won't be there

 

She looks back at all the other girls who are asking how high when he says jump,

She is either looking back at them in sorrow out of pity

or telling him to look back in sorrow to find out

She won't be one of them.

 

(Repeat Chorus to fade)

 

 

This is how I see it anyway - you might think about it completely different I guess.

[Celinemaniac]

Well, that interpretation is very interesting indeed, but may be quite far from a total agreement; and what I mean by this is that if each person told the others what they understand from those phrases, probably there wouldn't be a consensus at the end.

 

I never tried to impose an opinion! By the way, I've never formuled a specific one... What I did was to remark this "X stucture", that you are interpretating so well! Your interpretation is what I had in my mind too!

So, we agree that:

sweatest sorrow=to be separated

and saddest fate=a life together, but unhappy

 

 

celinedion1983, your interpetation for Refuse To Dance matches pretty well the impression I about the song.

 

I think this topic must remain a lot of time in action! The exposed interpretations can be very helpful for each other!

[lauracd]

Well, thanks for the interpretations! They're great!

[celinedrop]

I never tried to impose an opinion! By the way, I've never formuled a specific one... What I did was to remark this "X stucture", that you are interpretating so well! Your interpretation is what I had in my mind too!

So, we agree that:

sweatest sorrow=to be separated

and saddest fate=a life together, but unhappy

 

I know you never tried to impose that opinion. I never said so... All I said is that I was going to give my personal opinion about the subject, and there could be people who disagreed with me. But you're right about the fact we both agree regarding to the lyrics we're analyzing.

 

I think this topic must remain a lot of time in action! The exposed interpretations can be very helpful for each other!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Oh, I think the same!

Besides being helpful to everyone, it's a great oportunity for us to share feelings and ideas that we get from Celine's material, and that's pretty enriching. Sometimes we just like the song and say "ok, no biggy if I'm not getting its meaning entirely...". But in my opinion, we can have extra pleasure in understanding Celine's lyrics in order to like them even better and cherish more their significance to us! So to sum up, yes, I do like this thread and I think we should keep it open for a long time.

And it would be great if people exposed their doubts and curiosities about the lyrics, as well as their interpretation of those, so we all can share and gain.

 

However, when analyzing lyrics, we can't forget the French songs. On those exist profoundness and poetry indeed! Although, it can be hard to understand exaclty what all those metaphors mean in the context.

What do you all think about it? Is there a song in French that confuses you?

[Elaine]

However, when analyzing lyrics, we can't forget the French songs. On those exist profoundness and poetry indeed! Although, it can be hard to understand exaclty what all those metaphors mean in the context.

What do you all think about it? Is there a song in French that confuses you?

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pour que tu m'aimes encore is one of my favorite french songs, but as I'm still learning French I get very confused with this sentence:

 

"J'irai chercher ton cœur si tu l'emportes ailleurs Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure..."

 

That really confuses me!

[celinedion1983]

nd when translated can sound extremely funny or nonsensical for a foreign listener,

 

This is because the lyrics are borne of the culture of France and French speaking countries and not just the literal language.

 

I am interested in translations of Céline's French language songs into something that English speaking audiences can recognise the full meaning.

 

This will no doubt sometimes mean the literal words are changed completely from their original.

 

Any native French speakers out there feel free to post any translations and interpretations of your own.

 

Some of you may remember Thomas Boij's translations and interpretations which were excellent.....

 

Merry Christmas one and all. Joyeux Noels no matter where/who you are...

 

Nic xxx

[puffa]

The whole point of any song is that it down to the individual listener's interpretation. The music and words are designed to evoke emotions rather than a specific meaning.

 

Each song is a musical story if you like.

 

But to help ease understanding (especially for non native english speakers) I think a thread like this would be good.

 

Refuse to Dance is one of my faves so here goes:

 

 

Got your invitation to the dance

Wear your party dress

Maybe I was just an innocent

But I confess

I never even knew the song

The orchestra was playing

 

(Sets the scene for the song.

Céline portrays herself as an innocent

Not noing why she has been invited to the party.

Not knowing the song being played seems to suggest

she doesn't quite know what the score is with the man who  invited her.

What does he want, what is he like?

 

See the cuties in their party clothes

Oh it's getting warm

Off the shoulder cut into the hip

Like a uniform

Did you think I'd want to tow the line

Well now the line is broken

 

Céline is looking round, noticing this man noticing these girls

It's getting warm (Céline is seeing that she is 'just another' for this man

Like a uniform adds to the suggestion that he sees her as one of a string of women. (So she thinks anyway)

Did you think....means to me she believes the man expected her to fall into line, submitting to his every whim

like all the other girls there, doting on him

The line is broken - to me this means his long line of conquests is broken

As Céline won't be one of them.

 

(Chorus)

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

Refuse to dance

 

In my eyes this is Céline telling herself, and perhaps the other girls,

to refuse to dance with this man. There is also another connotation

which you can think about for yourselves.

 

You said you're such a pretty thing

You could make a mark

I'll teach you all the steps you'll need

Guide you through the dark

Suddenly I tought I knew the song

The orchestra was playing

 

This man is saying all the right things

But he is arrogant, suggesting all Céline needs to do is stick with him and she'll be fine.

Suddenly, Céline gets the idea of what type of man this is, and what he wants.....

 

(Repeat Chorus)

 

See how they follow

You say jump. They jump

You say turn. They turn

Look back in sorrow

I won't be there

 

She looks back at all the other girls who are asking how high when he says jump,

She is either looking back at them in sorrow out of pity

or telling him to look back in sorrow to find out

She won't be one of them.

 

(Repeat Chorus to fade)

 

 

This is how I see it anyway - you might think about it completely different I guess.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

 

 

this is a very good interprtation for the music ... I do the same, but to my ...

[celinedrop]

However, when analyzing lyrics, we can't forget the French songs. On those exist profoundness and poetry indeed! Although, it can be hard to understand exaclty what all those metaphors mean in the context.

What do you all think about it? Is there a song in French that confuses you?

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pour que tu m'aimes encore is one of my favorite french songs, but as I'm still learning French I get very confused with this sentence:

 

"J'irai chercher ton cœur si tu l'emportes ailleurs Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure..."

 

That really confuses me!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I also love PQTME! It's probably my favorite ever.

But regarding to the phrase you mentioned, I must say it's not very clear to me either.

We know anyway it's a metaphor that stands for the whole meaning of the song: the lover that has been far from her, and of which she wants to retrieve the love. In other words, the whole point of PQTME is to say that she'll do anything so that he will love her again, even if he apparently doesn't care about her anymore.

Now

"Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure"

Which means in English:

"Even if in your dances others dance your hours"

 

I believe "in your dances" means "in your life", "in your relationships".

 

Now the most important part, "others dance your hours"...

I think it means "others occupy(dance) your time(hours)".

 

That is, "even if in your dances, others dance your hours" is the same as saying "even if in your life, others fill your time up", which means that now he has other women in his life, but still she will seek his love and fight for it.

 

Well, that's my view...

And I agree with celinedion1983 when he says that posts from French-speakers here would be rather enriching.

Edited December 27, 2006 at 05:11 AM by celinedrop

[Elaine]

However, when analyzing lyrics, we can't forget the French songs. On those exist profoundness and poetry indeed! Although, it can be hard to understand exaclty what all those metaphors mean in the context.

What do you all think about it? Is there a song in French that confuses you?

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pour que tu m'aimes encore is one of my favorite french songs, but as I'm still learning French I get very confused with this sentence:

 

"J'irai chercher ton cœur si tu l'emportes ailleurs Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure..."

 

That really confuses me!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I also love PQTME! It's probably my favorite ever.

But regarding to the phrase you mentioned, I must say it's not very clear to me either.

We know anyway it's a metaphor that stands for the whole meaning of the song: the lover that has been far from her, and of which she wants to retrieve the love. In other words, the whole point of PQTME is to say that she'll do anything so that he will love her again, even if he apparently doesn't care about her anymore.

Now

"Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure"

Which means in English:

"Even if in your dances others dance your hours"

 

I believe "in your dances" means "in your life", "in your relationships".

 

Now the most important part, "others dance your hours"...

I think it means "others occupy(dance) your time(hours)".

 

That is, "even if in your dances, others dance your hours" is the same as saying "even if in your life, others fill your time up", which means that now he has other women in his life, but still she will seek his love and fight for it.

 

Well, that's my view...

And I agree with celinedion1983 when he says that posts from French-speakers here would be rather enriching.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pretty good interpretation!!! I knew the whole meaning of the song, but this sentence really didn't make any sense to me. Thank you so much!!!!

[angel_christ]

However, when analyzing lyrics, we can't forget the French songs. On those exist profoundness and poetry indeed! Although, it can be hard to understand exaclty what all those metaphors mean in the context.

What do you all think about it? Is there a song in French that confuses you?

 

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pour que tu m'aimes encore is one of my favorite french songs, but as I'm still learning French I get very confused with this sentence:

 

"J'irai chercher ton cœur si tu l'emportes ailleurs Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure..."

 

That really confuses me!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I also love PQTME! It's probably my favorite ever.

But regarding to the phrase you mentioned, I must say it's not very clear to me either.

We know anyway it's a metaphor that stands for the whole meaning of the song: the lover that has been far from her, and of which she wants to retrieve the love. In other words, the whole point of PQTME is to say that she'll do anything so that he will love her again, even if he apparently doesn't care about her anymore.

Now

"Même si dans tes danses d'autres dansent tes heure"

Which means in English:

"Even if in your dances others dance your hours"

 

I believe "in your dances" means "in your life", "in your relationships".

 

Now the most important part, "others dance your hours"...

I think it means "others occupy(dance) your time(hours)".

 

That is, "even if in your dances, others dance your hours" is the same as saying "even if in your life, others fill your time up", which means that now he has other women in his life, but still she will seek his love and fight for it.

 

Well, that's my view...

And I agree with celinedion1983 when he says that posts from French-speakers here would be rather enriching.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Pretty good interpretation!!! I knew the whole meaning of the song, but this sentence really didn't make any sense to me. Thank you so much!!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've always liked PQTME. Even now I'm listening to it while I'm typing this post. Anyway, I've never figured the meanings out of it. Thanks for the information!