At the age of 5, her family left for Paris. When she was 19, she decided to stop studying art and architecture, to become a full-time model.
She was a very successful fashion model until 1998. Since then she has devoted herself to chanson. Her debut album, Quelqu'un m'a dit, on which she sings in French (despite her Italian origin), was released in 2002. To date it has sold over a million copies across Europe. Her second album, No Promises (this time in English, with songs inspired by famous English-language poets), was released in January 2007.
She married then French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, in the beginning of 2008.
Her music career still did not cease after becoming the First Lady. She released her third album Comme si de rien n'était ("As If Nothing Happened") on 11 July 2008. The songs are self-penned except for one rendition of You Belong to Me and another song featuring a poem by Michel Houellebecq set to music. Royalties from the album will be donated to unidentified charitable and humanitarian cause.
Those Dancing Days Are Gone
Carla Bruni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Those dancing days are gone
All that silk and satin gear
Crouch upon a stone
Wrapping that foul body up
In as foul a rag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
Curse as you may I sing it through
What matter if the knave
That the most could pleasure you
The children that he gave
Somewhere sleeping like a top
Under a marble flag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
Come, let me sing into your ear
I thought it out this very day
Noon upon the clock
All that silk and satin gear
A man may put pretense away
Who leans upon a stick
May sing and sing until he drop
Whether to maid or hag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
Come, let me sing into your ear
Those dancing days are gone
All that silk and satin gear
Crouch upon a stone
Wrapping that foul body up
In as foul a rag
I carry the sun in a golden cup
The moon in a silver bag
Carla Bruni's song "Those Dancing Days are Gone" speaks of the passing of time and the loss of youthfulness. The first verse describes the glory days of youth with silk and satin clothes and a carefree spirit, but now the singer is crouching on a stone and wrapping their "foul body up in as foul a rag." However, despite the passing of time, the singer carries the sun in a golden cup and the moon in a silver bag, suggesting that they still hold onto the beauty and hope of life.
The second verse speaks of the inevitability of death and the legacy we leave behind. The singer curses their fate but still sings through it, knowing that even if the pleasures of life were short-lived, they still matter. The final verse speaks of the acceptance of aging, one who leans upon a stick may still sing until they drop, whether to maid or hag. The imagery of crouching on a stone and wrapping one's body in rags suggests the feeling of defeat and despair, but the life-giving sun in a golden cup and the glow of the moon in a silver bag speak of the continuation of hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Come, let me sing into your ear
Listen closely as I share my thoughts
Those dancing days are gone
The joyful times are in the past
All that silk and satin gear
The luxuries of the past have been abandoned
Crouch upon a stone
Live humbly and modestly
Wrapping that foul body up
Disgusted by the human form
In as foul a rag
Disgusted by the cloth that covers it
I carry the sun in a golden cup
I hold the beauty of life close to me
The moon in a silver bag
The mysteries of life are also kept close
Curse as you may I sing it through
I will not let negativity distract me
What matter if the knave
It doesn't matter if someone is deceitful
That the most could pleasure you
If they brought you happiness
The children that he gave
The legacy that remains
Somewhere sleeping like a top
Those who have passed on
Under a marble flag
Buried beneath a monument
A man may put pretense away
One can abandon false appearances
Who leans upon a stick
Even if they need assistance
May sing and sing until he drop
They can keep singing until they're exhausted
Whether to maid or hag
Regardless of social status or appearance
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: BUTLER YEATS WILLIAM, CARLA BRUNI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind