Well that doesn't just apply to modern music, if most operas weren't in  languages not known to us, I am sure we would be less impressed with the meaning of the words, than we are with just the sound of them.
That is where "modern" music has it all over anything that has gone before, in the lyrics, a great deal of it is filled with beautiful prose and stirring imagery, to compliment the music.

I have never acquainted myself with classical music, so do not have the love of it that you do, but I do not therefore deride it as rubbish.

Bobby. wrote on Nov 15^th, 2010 at 3:15pm:


Yes, It's very beautiful in French. There are all kinds of subtleties and cosonances between La Mer, l'amour and La Mere for example.

Bercer is associated with berceau (cradle), so you have the implication that sea (La mer and la mere - mother sound identical) was a kind of formative influence from early life and the images are child-like, suggesting a child arriving at the sea and catching impressions of all these things.   

Instead of the "clear gulfs", I'd say the sun-drenched bays would be better in English.

Voyez! is mis-translated as "let us see" or see. In that context it means "Look! 

"Regarder" didn't fit in.

Bobby. wrote on Nov 13^th, 2010 at 8:48pm:


Bobby Darin's version isn't half bad - considering.

muso wrote on Nov 15^th, 2010 at 3:30pm:


Well done.
No language translates directly for poetry.

Voyez is from the verb to see.

Even in French it's use has many subtle meanings eg:

Percevoir par le sens de la vue.
Assister à, être témoin de.
Considérer avec attention, regarder.
Remarquer, juger: voyez vous-mêmes.
Fréquenter.
Acquérir de l'expérience: un homme qui a beaucoup vu.
Comprendre, s'apercevoir.
S'informer.
Imaginer, se représenter.
Voir le jour: naître.
Etre publié.
Se voir: être vu, pouvoir être vu, remarqué.
Se fréquenter.

In this case - he's really saying - be a witness to this with child like eyes.

Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath




In the shuffling madess
of the locomotive breath,
runs the all-time loser,
headlong to his death.
He feels the piston scraping --
steam breaking on his brow --
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going --
no way to slow down.
He sees his children jumping off
at the stations -- one by one.
His woman and his best friend --
in bed and having fun.
He's crawling down the corridor
on his hands and knees --
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going --
no way to slow down.
He hears the silence howling --
catches angels as they fall.
And the all-time winner
has got him by the balls.
He picks up Gideons Bible --
open at page one --
old Charlie stole the handle and
the train won't stop going --
no way to slow down.

What about watching Mr Bean instead of music?

Mr Bean goes to the swimming pool.

Never really watched much Mr Bean...
But the Tull songs are great, thanks bobby