| Je faisais partie
| I was part
|
| Du cercle des amis
| From the circle of friends
|
| Qui se tenait le vendredi
| Who stood on Friday
|
| Quand le couvert était mis, était mis
| When the table was set, was set
|
| Nous parlions de Chopin
| We were talking about Chopin
|
| De son curieux destin
| Of his curious fate
|
| Et des autres salons voisins
| And other nearby lounges
|
| A l’ennui trop malsain, trop malsain
| To boredom too unhealthy, too unhealthy
|
| Et le jeune pianiste jouait
| And the young pianist was playing
|
| Tout ce qu’il voulait
| All he wanted
|
| Sauf l’envolée des walkyries
| Except the flight of the Valkyries
|
| Qui faisait trop de bruit, trop de bruit
| That made too much noise, too much noise
|
| Il y avait là
| There was there
|
| Quelques femmes du monde
| Some women of the world
|
| Et un peintre parfois connu
| And a painter sometimes known
|
| Qui faisait rire son monde, rire son monde
| Who made his world laugh, his world laugh
|
| On aimait les cartes des jeux
| We liked the game cards
|
| Entre nous bien entendu
| Between us of course
|
| Et l’on ne trichait plus
| And we weren't cheating anymore
|
| Chacun se croyait heureux, croyait heureux
| Everyone thought they were happy, thought they were happy
|
| Et le jeune pianiste jouait
| And the young pianist was playing
|
| Tout ce qu’il pouvait
| All he could
|
| Sauf le Prélude Attristant
| Except the Sad Prelude
|
| Qui navrait trop de gens, trop de gens
| That hurt too many people, too many people
|
| Il y avait toujours
| There was always
|
| Quelque chose à fêter
| something to celebrate
|
| Tout au long de l’année
| Throughout the year
|
| Les occasions étaient bonnes, étaient bonnes
| Chances were good, were good
|
| L’alcool était meilleur
| Alcohol was better
|
| La maison était chaude
| The house was warm
|
| Nous partions pour ailleurs
| We were leaving for somewhere else
|
| Dans le matin souillé, matin souillé
| In the filthy morning, filthy morning
|
| Et le jeune pianiste dormait
| And the young pianist was sleeping
|
| La tête sur son clavier
| Head on his keyboard
|
| Surpris par le sommeil
| Surprised by sleep
|
| Au crépuscule des dieux, des dieux, des dieux | In the twilight of the gods, gods, gods |