Garrett has performed across the whole world and has also sung opera and pop classics with Bryan Ferry, The Eurythmics and Mick Hucknall to celebrate the arrival of the new century on Millennium Eve, in the grounds at the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum.
She played the lead role of Hanna Glawari, in the Welsh National Opera's production of The Merry Widow, which toured the United Kingdom in 2005. As of November 2006, Garrett was performing as Mother Abbess for six months, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music.
As a recording artist, Garrett has released eleven solo albums. Many of her albums have received gold and silver status. Soprano in Red received the Gramophone Award for "Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year". Garrett was also a featured artist on the platinum selling Perfect Day single released by the BBC in aid of Children in Need.
Garrett is a member of the board of the English National Opera. In 2002, she was awarded the CBE for services to music.
She is also a presenter on the UK commercial radio station "Classic FM".
Non Je Ne Regrette Rien
Lesley Garrett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good things
Nor the bad? they? re all the same to me!
No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
It? s been paid for, swept away, forgotten
My memories
I have burnt my memories
My sorrows, my pleasures
I don? t need them any more
Swept away, the love affairs
And all their tremblings
Swept away for ever
I am starting anew
No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
Neither the good things
Nor the bad? they? re all the same to me!
No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
For my life, for my joys
Today, they start with you!
Lesley Garrett's song Non Je Ne Regrette Rien is a French ballad that means "No, I regret nothing." The song describes the singer's decision to let go of their past which includes all the memories, sorrows, and pleasures they hold dear. They have chosen to start over and move on, leaving everything behind. The song takes a powerful stance against regret, and suggests that living in the past is a futile endeavor.
The singer is reticent to relive any moment of their past, whether good or bad, for they hold no singular meaning to them. The person has burned their memories and refused to let them dictate their future. Their past love affairs and the feelings that come with it have been swept away as they start over, and they feel no regret for the love lost. They declare that they don't need to recall these things anymore, they are now focused on moving forward.
The final stanza of the song implies that the singer's new life and joys started with another person. It appears that the person has found happiness and love in a new relationship, which is presently more significant to them than any memory of their past life. The singer is declaring that nothing in their past holds meaning as they are happy starting anew with their current partner.
Line by Line Meaning
No! Nothing at all
I have absolutely no regrets
No! I regret nothing
I don't feel remorse for anything I've done
Neither the good things
Even the good things have no special meaning
Nor the bad? they? re all the same to me!
And the bad things are no different
It? s been paid for, swept away, forgotten
Everything is in the past and has no relevance to the present
I don? t give a damn about the past!
I don't care about what has happened before
My memories
But even so, my memories
I have burnt my memories
I have let go of my memories and moved on
My sorrows, my pleasures
Whether they were good or bad experiences
I don? t need them any more
I don't feel attached to them any longer
Swept away, the love affairs
Even romantic relationships
And all their tremblings
With all of their emotions and upheavals
Swept away for ever
Are now in the past and don't affect me any more
I am starting anew
I am beginning again and looking forward to what's next
For my life, for my joys
In this new chapter of my life
Today, they start with you!
I am excited and ready for what's to come, with you by my side
Contributed by Max O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.