After the very famous song Mon amant de Saint-Jean (my lover from Saint-Jean), in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer of 1950s.
Born in Paris, she was a fully educated pharmacist. First she sung as an amateur singer, until 1939, when she was heard and immediately engaged by Jacques Canetti, the artistic director of Radio Cité. In 1940 she married the jazzman Aimé Barelli (1917-1995), who guided her career ever since. With him she had a daughter, Minouche Barelli (1947-2004). After the immense success of the song "Mon amant de Saint-Jean" (My Lover From Saint-Jean), in 1942, Lucienne Delyle became the most popular French female singer in France. She was most popular during the 1950s. In 1953, Bruno Coquatrix invited her and young Gilbert Bécaud to be the stars for the gala opening concert at the „Olympia". Delyle's career declined rapidly in the end of the 1950s, due to the progress of the leukemia she suffered from. In 1960 she gave the last series of concerts on the stage of „Bobino". She died in Monte Carlo, in 1962.
Rumba
Lucienne Delyle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dans les bras de l'amour
En rêvant jusqu'au jour
De musique et de vous
Rumba
Votre main sur mon bras
Et voilà que déjà
Est-ce la danse qui me trouble ainsi ?
Est-ce la danse ou vos yeux éblouis ?
Rumba
Dans les bras de l'amour
Et voilà qu'à mon tour
Je vous aime déjà
Quand vous fermez les yeux
Je fais de même
C'est un jeu merveilleux
Pour mieux se voir
Aimerez-vous longtemps
Que je vous aime ?
Danserons-nous souvent ?
Peut-on savoir ?
Rumba
Dans les bras de l'amour
Et des tours et des tours
Enfermée dans vos bras
Rumba
Ne pensons plus à rien
Je suis bien, je suis bien
Ne me regardez pas
Et si je tremble
N'en riez pas trop
C'est qu'il me semble
Que l'on s'aime trop
Rumba
Dans les bras de l'amour
Mais soudain c'est le jour
On se quitte déjà
J'ai rêvé dans vos bras
Le temps d'une rumba
Lucienne Delyle's song Rumba describes a romantic dance with her lover where she gets lost in the music and her partner. She marvels at the intoxicating effect the dance has on her, making her forget everything else and focus only on her partner. Delyle wonders if it's the dance itself or her partner's shining eyes that bewitch her so. She revels in the game of closing her eyes and feeling the closeness with her partner. As the song progresses, she wonders how long her love will last and whether they will dance together often.
Throughout the song, Delyle's lyrics capture the passion and intensity of the dance. She describes how being wrapped up in her partner's arms makes her feel content, and she asks her love to not laugh too hard if she trembles, as it's only because she thinks they love each other too much. However, just as with any dance, the dance ends, and she dreams for a few moments about the perfection of the dance before she must go back to reality.
Line by Line Meaning
Rumba
The song is about the romantic dance Rumba.
Dans les bras de l'amour
In the arms of love
En rêvant jusqu'au jour De musique et de vous
Dreaming of music and of you until daybreak
Votre main sur mon bras Et voilà que déjà Je ne pense qu'à nous
Your hand on my arm and suddenly I can't think of anything but us
Est-ce la danse qui me trouble ainsi ? Est-ce la danse ou vos yeux éblouis ?
Is it the dance that excites me so much? Or is it the radiance in your eyes?
Rumba Dans les bras de l'amour Et voilà qu'à mon tour Je vous aime déjà
Rumba, in the arms of love and now it is my turn to love you
Quand vous fermez les yeux Je fais de même C'est un jeu merveilleux Pour mieux se voir
When you close your eyes, I do the same, it's a wonderful game to see each other better
Aimerez-vous longtemps Que je vous aime ? Danserons-nous souvent ? Peut-on savoir ?
Will you love me for a long time as I love you? Will we dance often? Who can say?
Rumba Dans les bras de l'amour Et des tours et des tours Enfermée dans vos bras
Rumba, in the arms of love, spinning around and around, locked in your embrace
Rumba Ne pensons plus à rien Je suis bien, je suis bien Ne me regardez pas
Rumba, let's not think of anything anymore, I am happy, I am happy, don't look at me
Et si je tremble N'en riez pas trop C'est qu'il me semble Que l'on s'aime trop
And if I tremble, don't laugh too much, it's because it seems to me that we love each other too much
Rumba Dans les bras de l'amour Mais soudain c'est le jour On se quitte déjà
Rumba, in the arms of love, but suddenly it is morning and we have to part
J'ai rêvé dans vos bras Le temps d'une rumba
I dreamed in your arms for the duration of a rumba
Contributed by Adeline P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gordon Ayres
Elegant!