Translation of the song lyrics Tu penses à quoi ? - Léo Ferré

Tu penses à quoi ? (original)

Tu penses à quoi?
A la langueur du soir dans les trains du tiers monde?
A la maladie louche?
Aux parfums de secours?
A cette femme informe et qui pourtant s’inonde?
Aux chagrins de la mer planqués au fond des cours?
Tu penses à quoi?
A l’avion malheureux qui cherche un champ de blé?
A ce monde accroupi les yeux dans les étoiles?
A ce mètre inventé pour mesurer les plaies?
A ta joie démarrée quand je mets à la voile?
Tu penses à quoi?
A cette rouge gorge accrochée à ton flanc?
Aux pierres de la mer lisses comme des cygnes?
Au coquillage heureux et sa perle dedans
Qui n’attend que tes yeux pour leur faire des signes?
Tu penses à quoi?
Aux seins exténués de la chienne maman?
Aux hommes muselés qui tirent sur la laisse?
Aux biches dans les bois?
Au lièvre dans le vent?
A l’aigle bienheureux?
A l’azur qu’il caresse?
Tu penses à quoi?
A l’imagination qui part demain matin?
A la fille égrenant son rosaire à pilules?
A ses mains mappemonde où tremble son destin?
A l’horizon barré où ses rêves s’annulent?
Tu penses à quoi?
A ma voix sur le fil quand je cherche ta voix?
A toi qui t’enfuyais quand j’allais te connaître?
A tout ce que je sais et à ce que tu crois?
A ce que je connais de toi sans te connaître?
Tu penses à quoi?
A ce temps relatif qui blanchit mes cheveux?
A ces larmes perdues qui s’inventent des rides?
A ces arbres datés où traînent des aveux?
A ton ventre rempli et à l’horreur du vide?
Tu penses à quoi?
A la brume baissant son compteur sur ta vie?
A la mort qui sommeille au bord de l’autoroute?
A tes chagrins d’enfant dans les yeux des petits?
A ton coeur mesuré qui bat coûte que coûte?
Tu penses à quoi?
A ta tête de mort qui pousse sous ta peau?
A tes dents déjà mortes et qui rient dans la tombe?
A cette absurdité de vivre pour la peau?
A la peur qui te tient debout lorsque tout tombe?
Tu penses à quoi?
dis,
A moi?
des fois…
Je t’aime.

(translation)

What do you think?
In the evening languor on Third World trains?
To the shady disease?
Relief scents?
To this formless woman who yet inundates herself?
To the sorrows of the sea stashed at the bottom of the courtyards?
What do you think?
To the ill-fated plane looking for a field of wheat?
To this crouching world with its eyes in the stars?
To this meter invented to measure wounds?
Has your joy started when I set sail?
What do you think?
That robin clinging to your side?
To the stones of the sea smooth as swans?
To the happy shell and its pearl inside
Who is waiting for your eyes to make signs to them?
What do you think?
To the exhausted breasts of the mother dog?
To muzzled men who pull on the leash?
To the deer in the woods?
To the hare in the wind?
To the blessed eagle?
To the azure he caresses?
What do you think?
To the imagination that leaves tomorrow morning?
To the girl fingering her pill rosary?
In his hands the world map where his destiny trembles?
On the barred horizon where his dreams cancel each other out?
What do you think?
To my voice on the wire when I seek your voice?
To you who ran away when I was going to meet you?
All I know and what you believe?
What do I know about you without knowing you?
What do you think?
At this relative time that bleaches my hair?
To those lost tears that invent wrinkles?
To those dated trees where confessions linger?
To your full belly and to the horror of emptiness?
What do you think?
To the mist lowering its meter on your life?
To the death that slumbers by the side of the highway?
To your childish sorrows in the eyes of the little ones?
To your measured heart beating no matter what?
What do you think?
To your skull growing under your skin?
To your teeth already dead and laughing in the grave?
To this nonsense of living for the skin?
To the fear that holds you up when everything falls?
What do you think?
say,
To me?
sometimes…
I like you.