| Traduzione inglese di Tran Duy Tinh, da un sito dedicato a Trịnh Công Sơn |
ROMANCE D’UNE PERSONNE DÉMENTE | BALLAD OF AN INSANE PERSON |
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J’avais un amoureux, mort à la bataille de Plei-Me | I had a loved one, who died at the battle of Plei-me |
J’avais un amoureux, basé dans la zone militaire D | I had a loved one, at War Zone D |
Mort à la bataille de Đồng Xoài, à Hanoi décédé | Died at the battle of Dong Xoai, died outside of Ha Noi |
Mort au long de la frontière de façon précipitée | Died in haste alongside the border |
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J’avais un amoureux, mort à la bataille de Chu-Prong | I had a loved one, who died at the battle of Chu-prong |
J’avais un amoureux, son cadavre au fleuve fut jeté | I had a loved one, his corpse drifted on the river |
Mort dans les champs, mort dans une obscure forêt | Died amid the golden fields, died in the darkest jungle |
Mort dans l’indifférence, mort le corps carbonisé | Died all alone, his body burned like charcoal |
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Je voudrais t'aimer, aimer le Vietnam | I want to love you, love Viet Nam |
Les jours de grand vent, doucement je mumurais | On a windy day, I’ll softly whisper |
J’appelais ton nom, le nom Vietnam | I’ll summon your name, the name Viet Nam |
Le parler de ceux à la peau jaune nous avait rapprochés | The voice of the yellow-skinned people brings us closer |
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Je voudrais t'aimer, aimer le Vietnam | I want to love you, love Viet Nam |
Habituée aux bruits de la guerre toute jeune déjà | A new day, my ears so used to hearing bullets and mines |
Mes lèvres étaient de trop, ainsi que mes mains | I’ll cover my lips with my hands |
Désormais j’oublierai tout le langage des humains | From here, I’ll forget all human voices |
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J’avais un amoureux, mort à la bataille de A-Sao | I had a loved one, who died at the battle of A-Sao |
J’avais un amoureux, mort le corps recroquevillé | I had a loved one, who died all curled up |
Mort au coeur d’un défilé, sous un pont allongé | Died in a ravine, died at the foot of a bridge |
Mort de douleur étranglé, mort le corps dénudé | Died in anguish without a shirt on his back |
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J’avais un amoureux, mort à la bataille de Ba-Gia | I had a loved one, who died at the battle of Ba-sia |
J’avais un amoureux qui vient de mourir la nuit passée | I had a loved one, who died just yesterday evening |
Mort inattendue, mort que rien ne laissait présager | He died without warning, died without promises |
Il est mort sans haine, allongé comme s’il rêvait | No hatred, died as if he was dreaming. |