La vie en rose - and English translations

La vie en rose

This is a good example of two different approaches to song translation. Both are singable to the original melody. The first version (Bob Brozman) is very close to the original in meaning. This version uses less rhyme than the original, which makes it easier to stick to the original ideas in English. The second version is almost a new song from start to finish. The basic theme "la vie en rose" is maintained along with a few echos of the original declaration of love. This version is even more romantic in tone than the original, but probably well-suited to Edith Piaf's sensibilities.

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par Edith Piaf

Des yeux qui font baisser les miens
Un rir' qui se perd sur sa bouch'
Voilà le portrait sans retouche
De l'homme auquel j'appartiens

Quand il me prend dans ses bras
Il me parle tout bas
Je vois la vie en rose

Il me dit des mots d'amour
Des mots de tous le jours
Et ça m'fait quelque chose

Il est entré dans mon coeur
Une part de bonheur
Dont je connais la cause

C'est lui pour moi
Moi pour lui dans la vie
Il me l'a dit l'a juré pour la vie

Et dès que je l'aperçois
Alors je sens en moi
Mon coeur qui bat

Des nuits d'amour à en mourir
Un grand bonheur qui prend sa place
Les ennuis, les chagrins s'effacent
Heureux, heureux pour mon plaisir

English version by singer/songwriter Bob Brozman, (steel guitar virtuoso, bluesman, and very funny)

When you take me in your arms
Honey, and you speak so soft and low
I see my life in shades of rose.

And you tell me words of love,
Words of all our days
Mama, it does so many things for me

I can feel it in my heart
A little piece of happiness
And honey I know the reason why

It's you for me and me for you for all of our days,
You told me you swore yourself to me for always....

And as I see you, my love
Right now I feel in me
The rhythm of my heart.

English version by ?, sung by Edith Piaf and Louis Armstrong

Hold me close and hold me fast
The magic spell you cast
This is la Vie en Rose

When you kiss me heaven sighs
And though I close my eyes
I see la Vie en Rose

When you press me to your heart
I'm in a world apart,
A world where roses bloom

And when you speak, angels sing from above
Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me
And life will always be
La Vie en Rose

I thought that love was just a word
They sang about in songs I heard
It took your kisses to reveal
That I was wrong and love is real