Recueillement
Georges Chelon Lyrics
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Tu réclamais le Soir ; il descend ; le voici :
Une atmosphère obscure enveloppe la ville,
Aux uns portant la paix, aux autres le souci.
Pendant que des mortels la multitude vile,
Sous le fouet du Plaisir, ce bourreau sans merci,
Va cueillir des remords dans la fête servile,
Loin d'eux. Vois se pencher les défuntes Années,
Sur les balcons du ciel, en robes surannées ;
Surgir du fond des eaux le Regret souriant ;
Le Soleil moribond s'endormir sous une arche,
Et, comme un long linceul traînant à l'Orient,
Entends, ma chère, entends la douce Nuit qui marche.
The song "Recueillement" by Georges Chelon begins with an address to the singer's grief or pain, asking it to be calm and quiet. The singer then describes how the night, which the pain was longing for, has arrived, shrouding the city in darkness and affecting people in different ways. The singer talks about how the decadent and corrupt people seek pleasure and are punished by their conscience, while the singer seeks comfort by taking their pain's hand and moving away from them. The voice describes how the past years hover in the sky on the balconies, dressed in old clothes, and how Regret emerges from the depths of the water with a smile. The setting sun falls asleep under an arch against the east, and the singer beckons their loved one to hear the sweet sound of the night's footsteps.
The song's lyrics convey a sense of melancholy, pain, and longing for the peace that the gentle night can offer. The singer is disturbed by the corrupt world and people who seek pleasure and indulge in wrongdoing. The singer finds solace by moving away from them and embracing the company of their pain. The imagery of the past years on the balconies in old clothes, and Regret emerging from the depths of the water with a smile, intensifies the sense of loss and grief. However, the singer's invitation to their loved one to hear the sweet sound of the night walking signals a hope for comfort, companionship, and peace.
Line by Line Meaning
Sois sage, ô ma Douleur, et tiens-toi plus tranquille.
Be wise, oh my Pain, and be more calm.
Tu réclamais le Soir ; il descend ; le voici :
You were asking for the Evening, here it comes.
Une atmosphère obscure enveloppe la ville,
An obscure atmosphere covers the town.
Aux uns portant la paix, aux autres le souci.
Bringing peace to some, to others, worry.
Pendant que des mortels la multitude vile,
While the vile crowd of mortals,
Sous le fouet du Plaisir, ce bourreau sans merci,
Under the whip of Pleasure, this merciless executioner,
Va cueillir des remords dans la fête servile,
Gathers remorse in the servile party,
Ma douleur, donne-moi la main ; viens par ici,
My pain, give me your hand, come this way,
Loin d'eux. Vois se pencher les défuntes Années,
Far from them. See the past years leaning,
Sur les balcons du ciel, en robes surannées ;
On the balconies of the sky, in outdated robes;
Surgir du fond des eaux le Regret souriant ;
Regret smiling emerging from the depths of the waters;
Le Soleil moribond s'endormir sous une arche,
The dying Sun falls asleep under an arch,
Et, comme un long linceul traînant à l'Orient,
And, like a long shroud trailing in the East,
Entends, ma chère, entends la douce Nuit qui marche.
Listen, my dear, listen to the sweet Night marching.
Contributed by Bentley V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.