| Ma mère me disait:
| My mother used to tell me:
|
| «Si mes cheveux sont blancs,
| "If my hair is white,
|
| Si, sur mon front, tu vois marqué le temps,
| If on my forehead you see time marked,
|
| Tu m’as donné ces rides, mon enfant.»
| You gave me those wrinkles, child."
|
| Ma mère me disait:
| My mother used to tell me:
|
| «Mes yeux se font plus gris
| "My eyes are getting grayer
|
| A chaque nuit où je n’ai pas dormi.
| Every night I haven't slept.
|
| J’ai tant veillé quand tu étais petit.»
| I watched so much when you were little."
|
| (Refrain)
| (Chorus)
|
| J’ai vu ce matin en m'éveillant
| I saw this morning when I woke up
|
| Mon premier cheveu blanc.
| My first white hair.
|
| Ma mère me disait:
| My mother used to tell me:
|
| «Tu crois cueillir la fleur d'éternité
| "You think you're picking the flower of eternity
|
| Mais, dans ta main, elle meurt
| But in your hand it dies
|
| Et tant de choses sont mortes dans mon coeur.»
| And so many things died in my heart."
|
| Ma mère me disait:
| My mother used to tell me:
|
| «Te restera l’amour
| "You will be left with love
|
| Il faut donner sans attendre en retour
| You have to give without expecting in return
|
| Tout ton amour. | All your love. |
| Tu le verras un jour.»
| You will see it one day."
|
| (au Refrain) | (at Chorus) |