He is considered one of the most original personalities in Italian music from the 1970s to now. Battiato's songs are dreamy, controversial collages of images and sensations, very experimental and convoluted, rich of esoteric, philosophical and East Asian religious themes.
His collaborations (from 1994 onward) with the nihilistic-cynical philosopher Manlio Sgalambro have added further depth to his apparently nonsensical lyrics, with references to Emil Cioran, Friedrich Nietzsche and other anarchistic and problematic thinkers.
J'Entends Siffler Le Train
Franco Battiato Lyrics
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nous quitter sans un adieu
je n'aurais pas eu le coeur de te revoir
mais j'entends siffler le train
mais j'entends siffler le train
que c'est triste un train qui siffle dans le soir
je pouvais t'imaginer toute seule abandonée
sur le quai dans la cohue des aurevoirs
et j'entends siffler le train
que c'est triste un train qui siffle dans le soir
j'ai failli courir vers toi
j'ai failli crier vers toi
c'est à peine si j'ai pu me retenir
que c'est loin où tu t'en vas
que c'est loin où tu t'en vas
auras tu jamais le temps de revenir
J'ai pensé qu'il valait mieux
nous quitter sans un adieu
mais je sent que maintenant tout est fini
j'entendrai siffler ce train toute ma vie.
The lyrics of Franco Battiato's song J'Entends Siffler Le Train describe the emotions of a person who has decided to end a relationship without saying goodbye. The person acknowledges that they couldn't bear to see their former partner again, but the sound of a train whistling in the evening brings a deep sense of sadness. The singer imagines their partner left alone on the platform amidst the chaos of farewells. The distance between them and the uncertainty of whether they will ever return make the situation even more painful.
The singer confesses to having felt tempted to run to their partner, to shout out to them, but ultimately they managed to restrain themselves. The lyrics express a feeling of resignation, suggesting that there is no going back to the relationship, that it's time to move on, even though it's a hard decision to make. The concluding line, "j'entendrai siffler ce train toute ma vie," which translates to "I will hear this train whistle all my life," suggests that the singer will never forget the sadness they felt at that moment.
J'Entends Siffler Le Train is a song that resonates with many because it captures the bittersweet feeling of letting go of someone. It's a reminder that sometimes it's better to end things without making a big fuss, even if it hurts. The ambiguity of the story is an effective device for allowing listeners to insert their own personal feelings and memories, making it a universal song that speaks to everyone.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai pensé qu'il valait mieux nous quitter sans un adieu
I thought it was better to leave without saying goodbye.
je n'aurais pas eu le coeur de te revoir
I wouldn't have been able to see you again.
mais j'entends siffler le train
But I hear the train whistle.
que c'est triste un train qui siffle dans le soir
How sad it is for a train to whistle in the evening.
je pouvais t'imaginer toute seule abandonée sur le quai dans la cohue des aurevoirs
I could imagine you, left alone on the platform among the rush of goodbyes.
et j'entends siffler le train
And I hear the train whistle.
j'ai failli courir vers toi
I almost ran towards you.
j'ai failli crier vers toi
I almost cried out to you.
c'est à peine si j'ai pu me retenir
I could barely hold back.
que c'est loin où tu t'en vas
How far away you are going.
auras tu jamais le temps de revenir
Will you ever have the time to come back?
mais je sens que maintenant tout est fini
But I feel that now everything is over.
j'entendrai siffler ce train toute ma vie.
I will hear this train whistle for the rest of my life.
Contributed by Kaelyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.