J'ai connu de vous [English translation]

Madam, you don't have to

go by without seeing me,

no, it's not a drama

that I'm going to play tonight,

I've only a few words to say.

I'm going to say them without delay,

but first I want a smile,

very well, you're going to know it all.

From you I got to know

about wild caresses,

about very sweet moments

filled up with tenderness.

From you I got to know

your disturbing body,

your young go-getter's eyes,

your pretty teeth.

And from you I got to know

all the raptures,

all the dates

and all the expressions.

You can see, Madam,

that it isn't all forgotten:

me, I still think of you.

I remember the shop

where we met one evening

and I see again the magic nights

when our two hearts were beating,

beating filled by hope.

When people have known

the same euphorias

and no longer love each other,

there is tenderness.

You see, Madam,

that it isn't all forgotten:

me I still think of you.

And from you I got to know

burnt soups,

too sweet stews,

salty tarts.

For a yes, a no,

you would jump from the balcony.

Quietly, I would let you

fall from street level1.

And from you I got to know

plates that flew,

evenings of wrath

when you were mad.

You can see, Madam,

that it isn't all forgotten:

me, I still think of you.

I remember the kitchen

where nicely side by side

were the pepper and the mothballs,

the sugar, the mustard, the milk, the chicory2!

When people have known the same euphorias

and no longer love each other, but

there is tenderness,

you can see, Madam,

that it isn't all forgotten:

me, I still think... of you,

me, I still think,

me, I still think,

me, I still think of you.

1. "first floor" in AmE, but not in BrE.2. ambiguous:"chicorée" can mean either "chicory" or "endive" (as could "chicory" in AmE but not in BrE).

• Artist:Charles Trenet