| Versione francese di Riccardo Venturi |
BALLAD OF THE HERO | LA BALLADE DU HÉROS |
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He had gone off to fight in the war, | A la guerre il était parti, |
to give help to his country. | il voulait aider sa patrie. |
They had given him the patches and the stars | On lui a donné des écussons, |
and the advice to fight to the bitter end. | On lui a dit de vendre chèr'ment sa peau. |
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And when they told him to move ahead, | Mais quand on lui a ordonné d'avancer |
too far he pushed on, searching for the truth. | Il est allé trop loin pour chercher la verité. |
Now that he’s dead, his fatherland boasts | Maintenant qu'il est mort, la patrie se fait gloire |
of another hero added to its memory. | D'un autre héros à la mémoire. |
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But she who loved him waited for the return | Mais elle, qui l'aimait, attendait le retour |
of a living soldier. What will she make of a dead hero | D'un soldat vivant, d'un héros mort que fera-t-elle |
if beside her in bed she is left with the glory | si, dans le lit, il ne lui reste que la gloire |
of a commemorative medallion? | D'une médaille à la mémoire. |