Parler tout bas

[brad]

I am going to be uploading the Parler tout bas music video soon, and was thinking about putting english subtitles on it. I would like to get aFrenchie's and everyone elses opinion on the following translation by The Honorable

I think there is a lot we can improve on this one, read over the original thread to see some of the other discussions

Originally Posted by The Honorable

Parler tout bas - Speak softly

Les jours de pluie
Mes jouets sont vivants
Les grands ont des griffes
Comme des bouts de ciment
Comment leur dire
Quand on a que seize ans
Le lit qu'on défait, n'a plus
Le goût du zan

On rainy days
my toys are alive
The bigger ones have claws
like little cement bits (1)
How to tell them
when one's not even sixteen
that the bed one defaces, no longer tastes of "zan" (2)

A quoi bon
Les vies chiffons
Les mots d'amour
Qui sont trop courts,
Moi, j' rêve en grand
Comme l'éléphant
Je rêve immense

What's the point of
these old, living rags,
these words of love
that are much too short
I dream big,
as big as an elephant;
so immense are my dreams

Ventre rond
Les yeux profonds
Mon ours dit à quoi bon ?
Son amitié
C'est dur à dire
Dure toute la vie
Alors lui ...

Gentle womb
Profound eyes
My teddy bear says, "What's the use?"
His friendship,
it's hard to say
if it will last a lifetime
So...

Parler tout bas
Trouver les mots qu'il faut
Parler de tout, parler de moi
Pour trouver le repos
Ses bras : la douceur
Il a un cœur à l'intérieur
C'est l'objet de mon cœur
C'est pour lui
Mon poème
Au Monde Inanimé

Speak softly to him
Find the necessary words
Speak about everything, speak about me
To find rest (in)
His arms: sweetness
He has a heart inside
that is the target of my own heart
It's for him
this poem of mine
in an Inanimate World

Les jours de pluie
Mes jouets sont vivants
Les grands ont des rires
Qui vous giflent
En passant

On rainy days
my toys are alive
The bigger ones have smirks (3)
that slap you
while passing by

A quoi bon
L'amour qui fond
Moi j'ai un compagnon
Je voudrais dire
Pas pour de rire
Même si c'est con ...
Je l'aime, lui

What's the point (of this)
love that melts away
I have a friend
I would like to say,
but not for you to laugh, (that)
even if it's stupid...
I love him,...

Parler tout bas
Trouver les mots qu'il faut
Parler de tout, parler de moi
Pour trouver le repos
Ses bras : la douceur
Il a un cœur à l'intérieur
C'est l'objet de mon cœur
C'est pour lui
Mon poème
Au Monde Inanimé

Speak softly to him
Find the necessary words
Speak about everything, speak about me
To find rest (in)
His arms: sweetness
He has a heart inside
that is the target of my own heart
It's for him
this poem of mine
in an Inanimate World

(1) This is a strange line, no doubt. I suppose one can only take it literally for what it is.
(2) According to my dictionary and to everyone I asked, "zan" is not a word that exists in the French vocabulary. Now, I've looked for derivatives in other languages, and the only thing I can find is a reference to some dead tongue derived from Indian or Arabic ("wtf" was my reaction, too...hehe). One alternative is that Mylene is being clever with the language (not exactly a leap of faith...she does it all the time) and is emphasizing a liason; that is, instead of "des ans" she writes "du zan." That is one possibility. Another is she is saying "zan" when she means "sang," as in "blood." Finally, there is the possibility that this is something that will only make sense in that little twisted head of hers (I lean towards this one! Razz). If anyone has any suggestions, please throw them out there.
(3) As Greg commented to me, "les grandes" could be not only a reference to the large bears, but also to adults. In other words, she is expressing the dichotomy and inherent tensions between a child and an adult; the adults "slap her" (metaphorically) by shooting down her dreams (of love, etc.).

--Translation by The Honorable