Translation of the song Elle chante artist Bernard Lavilliers

Elle chante un peu voilée, souple comme le vent,

Her song's a trifle veiled, gentle like the wind,

C'est une mélodie sans paroles, hors du temps,

This melody, without words, and timeless yet,

Elle chante les yeux fermés en fléchissant le cou,

She sings, her eyes are shut, her neck is gently bent,

Plongée dans un pays très éloigné de vous.

Like diving in a land, so far away from you.

Um ta cantá, ta pensá na nha terra

I sing and think about my land so dear

S’um ta ftchá oie, é pa anulá ess distância

I close my eyes, to make the distance nearer

Na voz di nha sodade, um ta levá nôs humanidade

With sadness in my voice, I bring you kindness yet

Pa tud’ povo sofredor, pa tud’ gente qui qu’rê amor

To all who suffer still, to all who wish for love.

Mais d'où lui vient cette infinie douceur

Her tenderness is endless and unknown

Cette sensualité mélangée de pudeur

This sensual being is mixed with chaste motifs

Ses belles mains quand elles se posent

Her lovely hands, when touching me

Sur une épaule ou sur mon bras

My shoulder and my arms

Tout se métamorphose

All things will change their shape

On oublie la mort on s'en va

We'll forget death and go away.

Elle chante la terre rouge, la sèche, la stérile,

She sings of redder earth, so dry and barren fields,

Elle chante les hommes proscrits, les sans terre dans les villes,

Of human outcasts, without land in the towns,

Les jeunes filles en noir et tous les enfants dans les rues,

Of young girls dressed in black, and all the kids there on the streets,

Les longues années sans pluie et ceux qu'on n'a jamais revus.

Of years without rains, and those we'll never see again.

Ess doçura é um forma di lutá

This tenderness is just a kind of fight

Contra dureza dum vida magoado

Against the harshness of this life's many chores

Tristeza ta vrá festa, nô ta lembra pa limpá nôs dor

The sadness will turn fiesta, this recollection soothes our pain

C’nôs alma e coração, pa afugentá tud’ maldição.

Our hearts and souls remember, and it ends all wickedness.

Mais d'où lui vient cette infinie douceur,

Her tenderness is endless and unknown

Cette sensualité mélangée de pudeur,

This sensual being is mixed with chaste motifs

Ses belles mains quand elles se posent,

Her lovely hands, when touching me

Sur une épaule ou sur mon bras

My shoulder and my arms

Tout se métamorphose

All things will change their shape

On oublie la mort on s'en va.

We'll forget death and go away.

Um ta cantá, ta pensá na nha terra

I sing and think about my land so dear

S’um ta ftchá oie, é pa anulá ess distância

I close my eyes, to make the distance nearer

Sa voix qui était fluide, d'abord se brise et se renforce,

At first her voice was smooth, but it's now harsh and feeling strained,

Elle est la vie, la mort, la fragilité et la force.

She is the life and death, she is fragility and strength.

Elle est la vie, la mort, la fragilité et la force.

She is the life and death, she is fragility and strength.