Sarko & Carla Bruni – love forever?

Europe’s current favorite love story between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and ex-model/singer Carla Bruni keeps the tabloids busy these days. An opportune time perhaps to go and see what Carla Bruni has to say about love in her best-known song (original French follows, an English version below) …

Quelqu’un m’a dit …

On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas grand chose,
Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses.
On me dit que le temps qui glisse est un salaud
Que de nos chagrins il s’en fait des manteaux.
Pourtant quelqu’un m’a dit…

Que tu m’aimais encore,
C’est quelqu’un qui m’a dit que tu m’aimais encore.
Serait-ce possible alors?

On me dit que le destin se moque bien de nous
Qu’il ne nous donne rien et qu’il nous promet tout.
Paraît qu’le bonheur est à portée de main,
Alors on tend la main et on se retrouve fou.
Pourtant quelqu’un m’a dit …

Mais qui est-ce qui m’a dit que toujours tu m’aimais?
Je ne me souviens plus, c’était tard dans la nuit,
J’entends encore la voix, mais je ne vois plus les traits.
“Il vous aime, c’est secret, lui dites pas que j’vous l’ai dit.”
Tu vois quelqu’un m’a dit…

Que tu m’aimais encore, me l’a t’on vraiment dit…
Que tu m’aimais encore, serait-ce possible alors ?

On me dit que nos vies ne valent pas grand chose,
Elles passent en un instant comme fanent les roses.
On me dit que le temps qui glisse est un salaud,
Que de nos tristesses il s’en fait des manteaux.
Pourtant quelqu’un m’a dit que…

Que tu m’aimais encore,
C’est quelqu’un qui m’a dit que tu m’aimais encore.
Serait-ce possible alors?

– Lyrics by Carla Bruni, from the album Quelqu’un m’a dit … (2002)

Someone told me …

I’ve been told that our lives don’t hold much power,
That they’re gone in an instant like a wilted flower.
I’ve been told that time slipping by is a bugger
Who gets off on dealing you blows like a slugger.
And yet someone told me …

That you still love me
There was someone who told me you still love me.
Can this or can it not be?

I’ve been told that destiny is a big joke,
Promises everything, then leaves you broke.
It looks like happiness is so close at hand,
Then you reach out and are left with nothing but sand.
And yet someone told me …

That you still love me
Someone told me you still love me.
Can this or can it not be?

But who was it who told me your love was still true?
It was late at night, but I don’t have a clue.
I still hear the voice but the face has gone cold.
“He loves you. It’s a secret. Don’t tell him I told.”
So there – someone told me …

That you still love me, was I really told
That you still love me, or can it not be?

I’ve been told that our lives don’t hold much power,
That they’re gone in an instant like a wilted flower.
I’ve been told that time slipping by is a bugger
Who gets off on dealing you blows like a slugger.
And yet someone told me …

That you still love me
Someone told me you still love me.
Can this or can it not be?

– English version by Johannes Beilharz (copyright 2008)