Les Cloches De Notre-Dame Lyrics in English by Léo Ferré
Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Les Cloches De Notre-Dame by Léo Ferré from French to English.
Cloches de Notre Dame à Paris
Bells of Notre Dame in Paris
Qui sonnez les glas et les carillons
That ring the death knells and the carillons
Qui sonnez la joie et la peine
That ring the joy and the sorrow
Cloches de Notre Dame à Paris
Bells of Notre Dame in Paris
Vous êtes vieilles comme le monde
You are old as the world
Vous êtes pauvres comme la Seine
You are poor as the Seine
Vous êtes tendres comme le bronze
You are tender as the bronze
Cloches de notre Dame à Paris
Bells of Notre Dame in Paris
Cessez vos glas et vos carillons
Cease your death knells and your carillons
Et penchez vous un peu du côté d'Aubervilliers ou des Lillas
And lean a little towards Aubervilliers or Les Lilas
Et chantez le bonheur de ceux qui n'en auront jamais
And sing the happiness of those who will never have any
Cloches de Notre Dame à Paris
Bells of Notre Dame in Paris
Qui sonnez chaque mort d'évêque
You who ring each death of a bishop
Sonnez un jour une nuit au hasard comme ça toutes seules
Ring one day one night at random, just like that, all by yourselves
Ça mettras les gens en bas de leur lits
That will get people out of their beds
De leur lits douillets à Paris
From their cozy beds in Paris
Et ça fera peut-être peur
And that will perhaps scare
Aux imbéciles
The imbeciles
Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN
Léo FERRE
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douillets — cozy / snug
Douillets translates to "cozy" or "snug." It's an interesting word because it evokes a sense of comfort and warmth, often associated with a safe, intimate space.
In the context of the song, Léo Ferré uses it to describe "lits douillets" (cozy beds) in Paris. He contrasts this comfort with the harsh realities faced by others, suggesting that the bells should disturb the complacent peace of those in their snug beds, perhaps to awaken them to the suffering of others.
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