The World According to Jacques Brel # 5 - J'arrive

 

 

Lots of Brel songs were about death. But he was very good at them.

 

 

J'Arrive

Of chrysanthemums in chrysanthemums
Our friends are departing
Of chrysanthemums in chrysanthemums
Death in brackets, our Dulcineas
Of chrysanthemums in chrysanthemums
Other flowers do what they can
Of chrysanthemums in chrysanthemums
Men cry, women rain

I arrived, I arrived
But I would have liked
One more time to drag my bones
Towards sunlight, until summer
Towards spring, until tomorrow
I arrived, I arrived
But I would have liked
One more time to see if the river
Is still a river, to see if the port
Is still a port, to see me there again
I arrived, I arrived
But why me? Why now?
Why already and where do I go?
I arrived of course, I arrived
I have never done anything else but arrive

Of chrysanthemums in chrysanthemums
Each time more alone
Of chrysanthemum in chrysanthemums
Each time more numerous
I arrived, I arrived
But I would have liked
One more time to take love
Like one takes the train to be more alone
To be elsewhere. To be content.
I arrived, I arrived
But I would have liked
One more time to fill a body with stars
That trembles and falls death
Burnt from love, the heart in ashes
I arrived, I arrived
It’s not even you who is ahead
It’s again me who is late
I arrived, of course I arrived
I have never done anything else but arrive

 

Jacques Brel