Lyrics of L'adieu aux anciens - Rome

L'adieu aux anciens (original)

In this naked light
So close to madness
This orgy carried to bloodshed
The partisan on the rooftop
The fiddler in the steet
A piece of drunken excess in a freezing dawn
Speckled, white petals
The breeze struck chill to the bone
My hands numb
The athlete’s lotion
Their rebirth in distant martyrdom
Places a burden on the heart
Forever urging me on
In ceaseless motion
Things can never emerge from words
Things can never emerge from words
…nichts, nichts kann mich von euch trennen.
alles muss weitergehen.
die ewigkeit… die ewigkeit…
…et dont nous avons tous l’ordre de ne sortir que morts ou vainqueurs,
vous gonfliez vos âmes d’ardeur et de décision.
c’est à vous que je pense en
écrivant, à vous qui devrez mourir en acceptant le baptême de la mort avec la
sérénité de vos ancêtres, à vous qui devez passez par-dessus vos morts,
et par-dessus leurs tombaux en brandissant dans vos mains le drapeau
triomphant, en chantant «et si c'était à refaire, je referais ce chemin…

(translation)

In this naked light
So close to madness
This orgy carried to bloodshed
The partisan on the rooftop
The fiddler in the street
A piece of drunken excess in a freezing dawn
Speckled, white petals
The breeze struck chill to the bone
My hands numb
The athlete's lotion
Their rebirth in distant martyrdom
Places a burden on the heart
Forever urging me on
Inceaseless motion
Things can never emerge from words
Things can never emerge from words
…nichts, nichts kann mich von euch trennen.
alles muss weitergehen.
die ewigkeit… die ewigkeit…
...and from which we are all commanded to emerge either dead or victorious,
you swell your souls with ardor and decision.
it's you I'm thinking of
writing, to you who shall die accepting the baptism of death with the
serenity of your ancestors, to you who must pass over your dead,
and over their graves waving in your hands the flag
triumphant, singing "and if I had to do it again, I would do it again...