The last track on Brel's 1977 last album describes his last stop at Hiva Oa in French Polynesia, the Marquesas Islands. There, near to Gaugin's grave, he went to live with his last companion , actr...
The last track on Brel's 1977 last album describes his last stop at Hiva Oa in French Polynesia, the Marquesas Islands. There, near to Gaugin's grave, he went to live with his last companion , actress-dancer Maddly Bamy. Despite austerites, he lived and in peace and beauty amidst pagans, missionaries and expatriots until he finally succumbed to complications of lung cancer in 1978. This beautiful song bears witness to his life there. The video of the Marquesas is from a documentary by Walter Ertvelt and Hedvig de Weedrt of Belgium. Thanks to Ema of Rennes France, to Andre of New Zealand and PieAnne of France and the Word Reference Forum for help with this translation. Ils parlent de la mort comme tu parles d'un fruit Ils regardent la mer comme tu regardes un puits Les femmes sont lascives au soleil redouté Et s'il n'y a pas d'hiver, cela n'est pas l'été La pluie est traversière, elle bat de grain en grain Quelques vieux chevaux blancs qui fredonnent Gauguin Et par manque de brise, le temps s'immobilise Aux Marquises
Du soir, montent des feux et des points de silence Qui vont s'élargissant, et la lune s'avance Et la mer se déchire, infiniment brisée Par des rochers qui prirent des prénoms affolés Et puis, plus loin, des chiens, des chants de repentance Et quelques pas de deux et quelques pas de danse Et la nuit est soumise et l'alizé se brise Aux Marquises
Le rire est dans le cœur, le mot dans le regard Le cœur est voyageur, l'avenir est au hasard Et passent des cocotiers qui écrivent des chants d'amour Que les sœurs d'alentour ignorent d'ignorer Les pirogues s'en vont, les pirogues s'en viennent Et mes souvenirs deviennent ce que les vieux en font Veux-tu que je te dise : gémir n'est pas de mise Aux Marquises
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Voyage que je t avais promis ; mais tu m as quitte avant .Mais je finirai ma vie AUX MARQUISES pour reposer en paix apres cette dechirure qui me marque toujours....
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