YVES MONTAND - Les Feuilles Mortes

This song “Les Feuilles Mortes“ was wrote by the french surrealist poet Jacques Prévert. In 1945, Prévert wrote the film script “Les Portes de la Nuit“ (a film of Marcel Carné - 1946), from a ballet “Le Rendez-Vous“ created by Roland Petit in 1945. The two first verses of a song give the title : “Les enfants qui s’aiment s’embrassent debout/contre les Portes de la Nuit“. Jean Gabin and Marlene Dietrich had acepted to play the two characters, but at last, they changed for another movie : “Martin Roumagnac“. A young french singer presented by Edith Piaf : Yves Montand plays this very pessimist film and sung “Les Feuilles Mortes“. The music was created, before, by Joseph Kosma for the ballet “Le Rendez-Vous“ in 1945, and Prévert wrote, after, the words for the movie. The poem was published, after the death of Jacques Prévert, in the book “Soleil de Nuit“ in 1980. Thanks PAM! Oh, je voudais tant que tu te souviennes Des jours heureux où nous étions amis En ce temps-là la vie était plus belle Et le soleil plus brûlant qu’aujourd’hui. Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle Tu vois, je n’ai pas oublié Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi. Et le vent du Nord les emporte, Dans la nuit froide de l’oubli. Tu vois je n’ai pas oublié, La chanson que tu me chantais... Les feuilles mortes se ramassent à la pelle Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi, Mais mon amour silencieux et fidèle Sourit toujours et remercie la vie. Je t’aimais tant, tu étais si jolie, Comment veux-tu que je t’oublie? En ce temps-là la vie était plus belle Et le soleil plus brûlant qu’aujourd’hui. Tu étais ma plus douce amie Mais je n’ai que faire des regrets. Et la chanson que tu chantais, Toujours, toujours je l’entendrai. C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble, Toi tu m’aimais, moi je t’aimais Et nous vivions, tous deux ensemble, Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais. Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment, Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit Et la mer efface sur le sable Les pas des amants désunis. C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble, Toi tu m’aimais et je t’aimais Et nous vivions tous deux ensemble, Toi qui m’aimais, moi qui t’aimais. Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s’aiment, Tout doucement, sans faire de bruit Et la mer efface sur le sable Les pas des amants désunis Oh! I would like as much as you remember The happy days where we were friends. In this time the life was more beautiful, And the sun more burning than today. The dead leaves collected with the shovel. You see, I did not forget... The dead leaves collected with the shovel, The memories and the regrets also And the wind of North carries them In the cold night of the lapse of memory. You see, I did not forget The song that you sang me. [ Refrain: ] This is a song which resembles to us. You, you loved me and I loved you And we lived both together, You who loved me, me who loved you. But the life separate those which love themselves, All softly, without making noise And the sea erases on the sand The Steps of divided lovers. The dead leaves collected with the shovel, The memories and the regrets also But my quiet and faithful love Smiles always and thanks the life I loved you so much, you was so pretty. Why do you want that I forget you ? In this time, the life was more beautiful And the sun more burning than today. You were my softer friend But I don’t have only to make regrets And the song than you sang, Always, always I will hear it !