Heavily influenced by American rock & roll, Mitchell (who went solo in 1963) has often recorded outside France, at first in London, but later in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Bob Graham were among the British session musicians who regularly supported him in London.
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics
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Elle qui était mon passé
Cet amour mort à tout jamais
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
Car ce rêve inachevé
Était beau et bête à pleurer
Toi mon cœur reste à ta place
Il ne faut pas que je sache
Me rendrait si malheureux
Ne plus rêver
Ne plus penser
A tous les deux
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
Moi qui ne voulais plus l'aimer
Cet amour que l'orgueil a tué
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
Mais j'ai voulu me prouver
Qu'il m'était impossible d'aimer
Toi mon cœur reste à ta place
Il ne faut pas que je sache
Rester encore amoureux
Me rendrait si malheureux
Ne plus rêver
Ne plus penser
A tous les deux.
Eddy Mitchell's "J'ai oublié de l'oublier" is a song that explores the complexity of letting go of a past love. The lyrics speak of a love affair that has ended and the struggle to forget and move on, despite finding it impossible to fully let go. The opening line "J'ai oublié de l'oublier" translates to "I forgot to forget her", which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer admits to having forgotten to forget his former lover, even though he wanted to move on and believed he had already done so.
The song also touches on the theme of regret, as the singer acknowledges that his selfish pride led to the demise of the relationship and ultimately left him alone with his memories of what could have been. The line "Cet amour que l'orgueil a tué" translates to "This love that pride killed", emphasizing the sense of remorse and sorrow that the singer feels towards the way things ended. The repetition of "Ne plus rêver, ne plus penser, à tous les deux" at the end of each verse highlights the desire to stop dreaming and dwelling on the past, but the inability to do so.
Ultimately, "J'ai oublié de l'oublier" is a poignant and intimate portrayal of the complicated emotions that come with heartbreak. The song's melodic and understated nature adds to its emotional weight, giving way to a touching and powerful ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
I forgot to forget her
Elle qui était mon passé
She who was my past
Cet amour mort à tout jamais
This love dead forever
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
I forgot to forget her
Car ce rêve inachevé
Because this unfulfilled dream
Était beau et bête à pleurer
Was beautiful and stupid to cry for
Toi mon cœur reste à ta place
You, my heart, stay in your place
Il ne faut pas que je sache
I mustn't know
Rester encore amoureux
To stay in love again
Me rendrait si malheureux
Would make me so unhappy
Ne plus rêver
Not dream anymore
Ne plus penser
Not think anymore
A tous les deux
About the both of us
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
I forgot to forget her
Moi qui ne voulais plus l'aimer
Me, who didn't want to love her anymore
Cet amour que l'orgueil a tué
This love that pride killed
J'ai oublié de l'oublier
I forgot to forget her
Mais j'ai voulu me prouver
But I wanted to prove to myself
Qu'il m'était impossible d'aimer
That it was impossible for me to love
Toi mon cœur reste à ta place
You, my heart, stay in your place
Il ne faut pas que je sache
I mustn't know
Rester encore amoureux
To stay in love again
Me rendrait si malheureux
Would make me so unhappy
Ne plus rêver
Not dream anymore
Ne plus penser
Not think anymore
A tous les deux.
About the both of us.
Contributed by Muhammad Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.