Belle
Garou Patrick Fiori Daniel Lavoie Lyrics

Belle
The title of the song, which refers to the beautiful woman being described.

C'est un mot qu'on dirait inventé pour elle
The word 'belle' (meaning beautiful) seems to have been created specifically to describe her beauty.

Quand elle danse et qu'elle met son corps à jour
When she dances and reveals her body, it's like a bird spreading its wings to take flight.

Tel un oiseau qui étend ses ailes pour s'envoler
Like a bird unfurling its wings to fly away, her movements are graceful and captivating.

Alors je sens l'enfer s'ouvrir sous mes pieds
Her beauty is so overwhelming that it feels like the ground is opening up beneath him and he's falling into hell.

J'ai posé mes yeux sous sa robe de gitane
He's looked under her gypsy skirt to see more of her beauty.

À quoi me sert encore de prier Notre-Dame
Why bother praying to the Virgin Mary when faced with such beauty?

Quel est celui qui lui jettera la première pierre?
Who among us is pure enough to judge and condemn her for her beauty and seductive power?

Celui-là ne mérite pas d'être sur terre
Anyone who would judge and condemn her is unworthy of life on this earth.

Ô Lucifer! Ô laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
The artist addresses Lucifer, asking for just one chance to run his fingers through Esmeralda's hair, even if it means aligning himself with the devil.

Glisser mes doigts dans les cheveux d'Esmeralda
He wants to touch her hair and revel in her beauty.

Est-ce le diable qui s'est incarné en elle?
He questions whether her beauty is a product of the devil or a divine creation.

Pour détourner mes yeux du Dieu Éternel
Her beauty keeps him from looking to the eternal God.

Qui a mis dans mon être ce désir charnel
Who gave him this lustful desire for her?

Pour m'empêcher de regarder vers le Ciel
His desire for her keeps him from thinking about heavenly things.

Elle porte en elle le péché originel
She embodies original sin, but does that make his desire for her sinful?

La désirer fait-il de moi un criminel
Does wanting her make him a criminal?

Celle qu'on prenait pour une fille de joie, une fille de rien
People thought she was a lowly prostitute, but her beauty makes her so much more.

Semble soudain porter la croix du genre humain
Her beauty is both a blessing and a curse, making her carry the weight of humanity's sin.

Ô Notre-Dame! Ô laisse-moi rien qu'une fois
The artist turns to Notre-Dame and asks for one chance to enter Esmeralda's garden of love.

Pousser la porte du jardin d'Esmeralda
He wants to enter Esmeralda's secret place of love and passion.

Malgré ses grands yeux noirs qui vous ensorcellent
Her big, black eyes enchant and captivate him.

La demoiselle serait-elle encore pucelle?
He wonders if, despite her sensuality and beauty, she is still a virgin.

Quand ses mouvements me font voir monts et merveilles
Her movements reveal even more beauty and marvels to him.

Sous son jupon aux couleurs de l'arc-en-ciel
Her skirt is like a rainbow of color.

Ma dulcinée laissez-moi vous être infidèle
He begs his lover to let him be unfaithful, just this once, because of Esmeralda's beauty.

Avant de vous avoir menée jusqu'à l'autel
He wants to enjoy Esmeralda's beauty before committing himself to his own lover at the altar.

Quel est l'homme qui détournerait son regard d'elle?
Who among us could resist looking at such a beautiful woman?

Sous peine d'être changé en statue de sel
Looking away from her could turn one into a pillar of salt, like in the story of Lot's wife.

Ô Fleur-de-Lys! Je ne suis pas homme de foi
The singer turns to his lover, but admits he is not a man of faith.

J'irai cueillir la fleur d'amour d'Esmeralda
He will pursue and win Esmeralda's love, despite his current lover.