Love Poem: Porto Vecchio, Julien Dore's Song Translated By T Wignesan
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Written by: T Wignesan

Porto Vecchio, Julien Dore's Song Translated By T Wignesan

« Porto-Vecchio », song by Julien Doré

(Note : If there’s a melody that can slither/sail past the ear-drums imperceptibly and settle permanently in the hypothalamus, this’s it. The sustained tempo in a low key and the husky but soothing and infinitesimally modulating whispered tones of the songster set in a tropical town on a promontary overlooking a chrystal-clear blue-water bay where a sloop glides as if through the doldrums add to the charm of the sweet sadness which pervades this song. Yes, the lyrics and refrain, too, are equally mesmerising, but the magic of the melody and the words is in the expletives : « ah ah… Ah ah… » --- it gets you till all your defences are down ! There’s a dulled and lulled moment in the song when Julien Doré dives into the deep, and his pet dog hesitates whether or not to join him, but he cannot find his master, look as long as he may… Just try the clip for a change ! For the moment, it’s all the rage on CStar channel. Or try mp3.) T. Wignesan  

[Couplet 1]
La lumière est divine sur le Porto-Vecchio
Les nuages et le spleen ont tatoué ma peau
Je ne pars pas, je nage dans le murmure des vagues
J’ai laissé ton nom et mon cœur sur la plage
Ah, ah

(Stanza 1)
Divine is the light over Porto-Vecchio
The clouds and spleen have tattoed my complexion
I do not (wish to) leave, I swim (floating) through the murmur of the waves
I have abandoned your name and my heart on the beach
Ah, ah

[Refrain]
Un soupir se dessine sur le Porto-Vecchio
Immortelle, assassine, te voilà sortie des flots
Je ne pleure pas, je nage dans le murmure des vagues, ah
J’ai oublié ton nom et ton corps sur la plage
Ah, ah, ah


(Refrain)
A sigh sketches itself over Porto-Vecchio
Immortal, crucified, here you are come out of the deep
Ah
I cry not, I swim (floating) in the murmur of the waves,
I don’t remember your name nor your body on the beach
Ah, ah, ah

[Couplet 2]
Tu m’as lâché la main sur le Porto-Vecchio
Je souris au venin qui me brûlait le dos
Je ne pleure pas, je nage dans l’océan de flammes, ah
Pour oublier ton corps, pour mieux tourner la page
Ah, ah

(Stanza 2)
You let go of my hand over Porto-Vecchio
I smile at (the thought of) the poison which kept burning my back
(See) I cry not, I swim through the ocean of flames, ah
In order better to forget your body, to better turn the page
Ah, ah


[Pont]
Je reviendrai demain sur le Porto-Vecchio
Pour oublier ta main et le goût de ta peau, ah

(Bridge)
Return I will tomorrow to Porto-Vecchio
(In order) Not to remember your hand and the taste of your skin, ah

[Refrain]
Tu m’as lâché la main sur le Porto-Vecchio
Je souris au venin qui me brûlait le dos
Je ne pleure pas, je nage dans l’océan de flammes, ah
Pour oublier ton corps, pour mieux tourner la page
Ah, ah, ah

(Refrain)
You let go of my hand over Porto-Vecchio
I smile at (the thought of) the poison which kept burning my back
(See) I cry not, I swim through the ocean of flames, ah
In order better to forget your body, to better turn the page
Ah, ah
                  © T. Wignesan – Paris,  2018