A la claire Fontaine
Clipounets Lyrics
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J'ai trouvé l'eau si belle que je m'y suis baigné.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
Sous les feuilles d'un chêne, je me suis fait sécher.
Sur la plus haute branche le rossignol chantait
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
Tu as le c¦ur à rire, moi, je l'ai à pleurer.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
J'ai perdu mon amie, sans l'avoir mérité,
Pour un bouquet de roses que je lui refusai.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
Je voudrais que la rose fût encore à planter
Et que ma douce amie fût encore à m'aimer.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
The song "A la Claire Fontaine" by Clipounets is a traditional French folk song that describes a person's memories of a peaceful walk by a clear fountain. The song starts with the singer going for a walk and coming across a beautiful fountain, which leads them to take a dip in it due to its serene and calming nature. The next verse speaks of the singer lying down to dry up under the leaves of a big oak tree while listening to a nightingale sing from the highest branch. The repeated line "Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai" translates to "I have loved you for a long time; I will never forget you."
However, the mood shifts as the singer starts to feel sorrowful and requests the nightingale to sing, as its joy reminds the singer of their sadness. The final verse tells the story of the singer losing their loved one for refusing to gift them a bouquet of roses. The last two lines show the singer's despair and their wish to go back in time and plant the roses again, and have their lover return to them.
The song is a simple yet powerful reflection of human memory, love, and regret. It touches upon the fleeting nature of life and how moments of peace and sorrow can coexist in our thoughts and memories.
Line by Line Meaning
A la claire fontaine, m'en allant promener,
As I was walking on a clear fountain,
J'ai trouvé l'eau si belle que je m'y suis baigné.
I found the water so beautiful that I bathed in it.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
I have loved you for a long time, and I will never forget you.
Sous les feuilles d'un chêne, je me suis fait sécher.
Under the leaves of an oak tree, I dried myself.
Sur la plus haute branche le rossignol chantait
On the highest branch, the nightingale was singing.
Chante, rossignol, chante, toi qui as le coeur gai,
Sing, nightingale, sing with your happy heart,
Tu as le cœur à rire, moi, je l'ai à pleurer.
You have a heart to laugh, I have a heart to cry.
J'ai perdu mon amie, sans l'avoir mérité,
I lost my love, without deserving it,
Pour un bouquet de roses que je lui refusai.
For a bouquet of roses that I refused to give her.
Je voudrais que la rose fût encore à planter
I wish the rose could be planted again.
Et que ma douce amie fût encore à m'aimer.
And that my sweet love would still love me.
Il y a longtemps que je t'aime, jamais je ne t'oublierai.
I have loved you for a long time, and I will never forget you.
Contributed by Sadie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.