
Jacques Brel
Le Colonel lyrics with English translation
- Language
- French
- Level
- Intermediate
- Released
- 1958
- Genre
- French Pop, Ballad
- Length
- 3:11
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Puisque se lève le jour
As the day breaks
Faire battre tous les tambours
Beat all the drums
Pour éveiller tous les pandoures?
To wake up all the watchers?
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Faire sonner tous les clairons
Sound all the trumpets
Rassembler les escadrons?
Gather the squadrons?
Colonel, Colonel, nous attendons
Colonel, Colonel, we are waiting
Le Colonel s'ennuie
The Colonel is bored
Il effeuille une fleur
He plucks a flower
Et rêve à son amie
And dream of his friend
Qui lui a pris son cœur
Who has taken his heart
Son amie est si douce et belle
His friend is so sweet and beautiful
Dans sa robe au soleil
In her dress in the sunlight
Que chaque jour passé près d'elle
That every day spent near her
Se meuble de merveilles
Is filled with wonders
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Puisque voilà notre ennemi
Since here is our enemy
Faire tirer notre artillerie
Set our artillery in motion
Disposer notre infanterie?
Arrange our infantry?
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Charger tous comme des fous
Charge in like madmen
Ou partir à pas de loup?
Or leave like a wolf?
Colonel, Colonel, dites-le nous
Colonel, Colonel, tell us
Le Colonel s'ennuie
The Colonel is bored
Il effeuille une fleur
He plucks a flower
Et rêve à son amie
And dreams of his friend
Qui lui a pris son cœur
Who has stolen his heart
Ses baisers doux comme velours
Her kisses soft as velvet
Tendrement ont conduit
Tenderly have led
A l'état-major de l'amour
At the headquarters of love
Le Colonel ravi
The delighted Colonel
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Puisque vous êtes blessé
Since you are wounded
Faut-il donc nous occuper
Must we then concern ourselves
De vous trouver un abbé?
With finding you a priest?
Colonel, faut-il
Colonel, must we
Puisqu'est mort l'apothicaire
Since the apothecary is dead
Chercher le vétérinaire?
Look for the veterinarian?
Colonel, Colonel, que faut-il faire?
Colonel, Colonel, what must we do?
Le Colonel s'ennuie
The Colonel is lonely
Il effeuille une fleur
He plucks a flower
Et rêve à son amie
And dreams of his friend
Qui lui a pris son cœur
Who took away his heart
Il la voit et lui tend les bras
He sees her and opens his arms
Il la voit et l'appelle
He sees her and calls her
Et c'est en lui parlant tout bas
And it's by speaking softly to her
Qu'il entre dans le ciel
That he enters the sky
Ce Colonel qui meurt
This Colonel who is dying
Et qui meurt de chagrin
And who dies of sorrow
Blessé d'une fille dans le cœur
Wounded by a girl in the heart
Ce colonel loin de sa belle
That colonel far from his beauty
C'est mon cœur loin du tien
It's my heart far from yours
C'est mon cœur loin du tien
It's my heart far from yours
Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com
Key vocabulary
- attendons
- let's waitA1
- battre
- beatA1
- chaque
- eachA1
- cœur
- heartA1
- fleur
- flowerA1
- fous
- madA1
- jour
- dayA1
- clairons
- trumpetsC1
- pris
- takenC1
- faire
- doB1
About this song
Jacques Brel was a Belgian singer, songwriter, and actor associated with lyric-driven French-language chanson. He was known for theatrical vocal delivery and character-driven songs, and his work influenced artists such as David Bowie, Scott Walker, and Marc Almond.