Tuesday 27 November 2007

Frida Kahlo (video clip and script of the movie)



Monday 26 November 2007

Amami se vuoi, Claudio Villa (lyrics and English translation)

Mi piace tanto accarezzarti
Sugli occhi timidi baciarti
Ma non mi sento di giurarti
Se tu mi chiedi eterno amor

Abbandoniamoci al destino
Soltanto lui non sa ingannar
E se rimango a te vicino
Non lusingarti, ma non disperar, no

Amami se vuoi, tienimi se puoi
Io son l'amor che svanisce
Ma dei baci miei non fidarti mai
Io son l'amor che ferisce

E quando fra le braccia mi stringi dolcemente
Ancor più dolcemente ti dirò
Amami se vuoi, tienimi se puoi
Perché io sono così

E se rimango a te vicino
Non lusingarti, ma non disperar, no

Amami se vuoi, tienimi se puoi
Io son l'amor che svanisce
Ma dei baci miei non fidarti mai
Io son l'amor che ferisce

E quando fra le braccia mi stringi dolcemente
Ancor più dolcemente ti dirò
Amami se vuoi, tienimi se puoi
Perché io sono così


Love me if you want to


I really like caressing you
Kissing your shy eyes
But I don't feel like swearing
If you ask me for eternal love

Let's give ourselves up to destiny
He's the only one who can't cheat
And if I stay near you
Don't flatter yourself, but don't despair, no

Love me if you want to, hold me if you can
I'm the love that fades away
But never trust my kisses
I'm the love that hurts

And when you hold me softly in your arms
Even more softly, I'll say to you:
"Love me if you want to, hold me if you can
Because I'm like this"

And if I stay near you
Don't flatter yourself, but don't despair, no

Love me if you want to, hold me if you can
I'm the love that fades away
But never trust my kisses
I'm the love that hurts

And when you hold me softly in your arms
Even more softly, I will say to you:
"Love me if you want to, hold me if you can
Because I'm like this"

[Translation by Cristina Giuntini]

Words Don't Come Easy by F.R. David



Words, don't come easy, to me,
how can I find a way,
to make you see,
I love you
words don't come easy

Words, don't come easy, to me,
this is the only way,
for me to say
I love you
words don't come easy

Well I'm just a music man,
melodie 's so far my best friend
but my words are calling out longer
I reveal my heart to you and
hope that you'll believe it's true, 'cause

Words, don't come easy to me,
how can I find a way,
to make you see,
I love you
words don't come easy

This is just a simple song,
that I've made for you on my own,
there's no hidden needing, you know that I
when I say I love you honey,
please believe I really do, 'cause

Words, don't come easy to me,
how can I find a way,
to make you see,
I love you
words don't come easy

It isn't easy,
words don't come easy....

Words, don't come easy, to me,
how can I find a way,
to make you see,
I love you
words don't come easy

don't come easy to me,
this is the only way,
for me to say, I love you
words don't come easy

Saturday 24 November 2007

Le mari de la coiffeuse (The Hairdresser's Husband)

An amazing film, a mixture of innocence, French sensuality, Dionysian exertions, unmitigated joie de vivre and glorious Liebestod. Not to be missed. Go and watch it, now!
A few amazing scenes, the Arab dance of the husband, the drinking of eau de cologne as alcohol...





Links
The Hairdresser's Husband in Wikipedia

Friday 23 November 2007

Judging whether life is or is not worth living

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy. All the rest--whether or not the world has three dimensions, whether the mind has nine or twelve categories--comes afterward. These are games; one must first answer.
Albert Camus, The Myth of Sisyphus

Thursday 22 November 2007

Shirley Horn, Once I Loved [o Amor En Paz] download mp3

An extremely soft, sensitive and moving song about lost love. An all-time favourite. For some reason, the atmosphere it creates, is (although completely different genre) strongly reminiscent of Joy Division's Atmosphere.



Because love is the saddest thing when it goes away


Once, once I Loved
And I gave so much love to this love you were the world to me
Once I cried
At the thought I was foolish and proud and let you say goodbye

And then one day
From my infinite sadness you came and brought me love again
Now I know
That no matter what ever befalls I'll never let you go
I will hold you close
Make you stay
Because love is the saddest thing when it goes away
Love is the saddest thing when it goes away

Monday 19 November 2007

Simon & Garfunkel, Bridge over troubled water (video clip and lyrics)



When you're weary
Feeling small
When tears are in your eyes
I will dry them all

I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you

I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down

Sail on Silver Girl,
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way

See how they shine
If you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind

Simon & Garfunkel, Sound Of Silence (video clip and lyrics)



Hello darkness, my old friend,
Ive come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one deared
Disturb the sound of silence.

Fools said i,you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon God they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the signs said, the words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls.
And whisperd in the sounds of silence.

Sunday 18 November 2007

Wim Mertens - Struggle For Pleasure

Close Cover - Wim Mertens

Tous les matins du monde (video clip)

This is one of my favourite films ever. Excellent music and profound feeling.





Wednesday 14 November 2007

Philip Glass, The Hours





Kieslowski & Preisner, La Double vie de Veronique, Les Marionettes (score and video clip)




Download the sheet music of Zbigniew Preisner - Les Marionettes

Moody Blues, Nights In White Satin (video clip and lyrics)



Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters I've written,
Never meaning to send.

Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before,
Just what the truth is
I cant say anymore.

cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.

Gazing at people,
Some hand in hand,
Just what I'm going thru
They can understand.

Some try to tell me
Thoughts they cannot defend,
Just what you want to be
You will be in the end,

And I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.

Nights in white satin,
Never reaching the end,
Letters Ive written,
Never meaning to send.

Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before,
Just what the truth is
I cant say anymore.

cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.

cause I love you,
Yes, I love you,
Oh, how, I love you.
Oh, how, I love you.

The Christians - Words (video clip and lyrics)



The Christians: Words

If i could find words
To tell you i'm sorry
Make you understand
I mean just what i say

After all that i've heard
Why should i worry
When we ride the fine line
Between love and hate

If i had been wise
well how could i doubt you
now i'm all alone
my life in disarray

but try as i might
i can't live without you
so i cling to the hope
of a bright brighter day

oh i know we've been through this all before
how can i prove my love for you is real
no i can't do anymore
if i could only find words

and still he has dreams
and still i must learn to cope
absurd as it seems
i still have hope

if i had good sense
and heed all the warnings
i would let it be
and leave all well alone

but there's no recompense
for waking up mornings
feeling sure it's myself
who's the foolish one

yes i know we've been through this all before
how can i prove my love for you is real
no i can't do anymore

Wednesday 7 November 2007

The Doors, Spanish Caravan



Carry me Caravan take me away
Take me to Portugal, take me to Spain
Andalusia with fields full of grain
I have to see you again and again
Take me, Spanish Caravan
Yes, I know you can

Trade winds find Galleons lost in the sea
I know where treasure is waiting for me
Silver and gold in the mountains of Spain
I have to see you again and again
Take me, Spanish Caravan
Yes, I know you can

Savina Yannatou, Lu purtuni

An Italian song from Puglia.

Savina Yannatou, A traditional song from Kalymnos

Tuesday 6 November 2007

Miracolo a Milano (Miracle in Milan - 1953) by Vittorio De Sica

Miracolo a Milano is one of the most moving films I have ever seen, far ahead of its time with its mixture of magical realism and deep humane feelings.

A must-see for any serious movie buff.



Monday 5 November 2007

Eight Steps to Happiness by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso



Chapter1 - Introduction

This book is based on the widely renowned Eight Verses of Training the Mind (Lojong Tsig Gyema in Tibetan), which was composed by Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa, an eleventh-century Buddhist Master from Tibet. Though comprising only eight four-line verses, this remarkable text reveals the essence of the Mahayana Buddhist path to enlightenment, showing how we can transform our mind from its present confused and self-centred state into the perfect wisdom and compassion of a Buddha.

Every living being has the potential to become a Buddha, someone who has completely purified his or her mind of all faults and limitations and has brought all good qualities to perfection. Our mind is like a cloudy sky, in essence clear and pure but overcast by the clouds of delusions. Just as the thickest clouds eventually disperse, so too even the heaviest delusions can be removed from our mind. Delusions such as hatred, greed, and ignorance are not an intrinsic part of the mind. If we apply the appropriate methods they can be completely eliminated, and we shall experience the supreme happiness of full enlightenment.

Everyone wants to be happy and no one wants to suffer, but very few people understand the real causes of happiness and suffering. We tend to look for happiness outside ourself, thinking that if we had the right house, the right car, the right job, and the right friends we would be truly happy. We spend almost all our time adjusting the external world, trying to make it conform to our wishes. All our life we have tried to surround ourself with people and things that make us feel comfortable, secure, or stimulated, yet still we have not found pure and lasting happiness. Even when we succeed in fulfilling our desires, it is not long before our desires change and we want something else. We may find the house of our dreams, but a few months later we feel that we need a bigger kitchen, an extra bedroom, or a larger garden, and we begin to think of moving. Or perhaps we meet the `perfect' partner, fall in love, and move in together. At the beginning our partner seems to be the most wonderful person in the world, but before long we begin to see faults in him or her. We discover that we are no longer in love, and soon we are looking for someone else to fulfil our desires.

Throughout history human beings have sought to improve their external situation, yet despite all our efforts we are no happier. It is true that from the point of view of material development many countries are making progress. Technology is becoming more and more sophisticated, and worldly knowledge has increased dramatically. We know so many things we did not know before and can do things we never even dreamt of. Superficially it looks as if our world is improving, but if we look a little more deeply we shall see that there are now many problems that never existed before. Terrifying weapons have been invented, our environment is being poisoned, and new diseases are appearing. Even simple pleasures like eating or lying in the sun are becoming more dangerous.

The result of an unbridled pursuit of happiness from external sources is that our planet is being destroyed and our lives are becoming more complicated and dissatisfying. It is time we sought happiness from a different source. Happiness is a state of mind, so the real source of happiness must lie within the mind, not in external conditions. If our mind is pure and peaceful we shall be happy, regardless of our external circumstances, but if it is impure and unpeaceful we can never be truly happy, no matter how hard we try to change our external conditions. We could change our home or our partner countless times, but until we change our restless, discontented mind we shall never find true happiness.

If we have to walk across rough and thorny ground, one way of protecting our feet is to cover the whole ground with leather, but this is not very practical. We can achieve the same result in a much simpler way - by covering our feet. Similarly, if we wish to protect ourself from suffering we can either try to change the whole world to make it conform to our wishes, or we can change our mind. Until now we have been trying to change the world, but this clearly has not worked. Now we need to change our mind.

The first step towards changing our mind is to identify which states of mind produce happiness and which produce suffering. In Buddhism, states of mind that are conducive to peace and happiness are called `virtuous minds', whereas those that disturb our peace and cause us suffering are called `delusions'. We have many different types of delusion, such as desirous attachment, anger, jealousy, pride, miserliness, and ignorance. These are known as `inner enemies' because they are continually destroying our happiness from within. Their only function is to cause us harm.

Delusions are distorted ways of looking at ourself, other people, and the world around us. The way a deluded mind views these phenomena does not accord with reality. The deluded mind of hatred, for example, views another person as intrinsically bad, but there is no such thing as an intrinsically bad person. Desirous attachment, on the other hand, sees its object of desire as intrinsically good and as a true source of happiness. If we have a strong craving to eat chocolate, chocolate appears to us to be an intrinsically desirable object. However, once we have eaten too much of it and start to feel sick, it no longer seems so desirable and may even appear repulsive. This shows that in itself chocolate is neither desirable nor repulsive. It is the mind of attachment that projects onto it all kinds of desirable qualities and then relates to it as if it really did possess those qualities.

All delusions function like this, projecting onto the world their own distorted version of reality and then relating to this projection as if it were true. When our mind is under the influence of delusions we are out of touch with reality and are, in a sense, hallucinating. Since our mind is under the influence of at least subtle forms of delusion all the time, it is not surprising that our lives are so often filled with frustration. It is as if we are continually chasing mirages, only to be disappointed when they do not give us the satisfaction for which we had hoped.

The source of all delusions is a distorted awareness called `self-grasping ignorance', which grasps phenomena as inherently, or independently, existent. In reality all phenomena are dependent arisings, which means that their existence is utterly dependent upon other phenomena, such as their causes, their parts, and the minds that apprehend them. Objects do not exist from their own side, in and of themselves; what they are depends upon how they are viewed. Our failure to realize this is the source of all our problems.

The type of self-grasping that harms us most is grasping our own self, or I, as inherently or independently existent. We instinctively feel that we possess a completely real and objective self or I that exists independently of all other phenomena, even our body and mind. One consequence of grasping at our self as an independent entity separate from the world and other people is that we develop self-cherishing, a mind that regards ourself as supremely important. Because we cherish ourself so strongly, we are drawn to the people and things we find attractive, we want to separate ourself from the people and things we find unattractive, and we are uninterested in the people and things we find neither attractive nor unattractive. In this way attachment, anger, and indifference are born. Because we have an exaggerated sense of our own importance we feel that others' interests are in conflict with our own, and this in turn gives rise to competitiveness, jealousy, arrogance, and lack of consideration for others. By acting under the influence of these and other delusions we engage in destructive behaviour, such as killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and hurtful speech. The result of these negative actions is suffering for both ourself and others.

Even though our delusions are deeply ingrained, they are not an intrinsic part of our mind and so they can definitely be removed. Delusions are just bad mental habits, and like all habits they can be broken. Through making a sincere and consistent effort to become familiar with constructive states of mind we can eliminate even the most stubborn delusions and replace them with the opposite virtues. For example, we can weaken our anger by familiarizing our mind with patience and love, our attachment by familiarizing our mind with non-attachment, and our jealousy by rejoicing in others' good fortune.

To eradicate delusions completely, however, we must destroy their root - the mind of self-grasping. To do this we need to familiarize our mind with the true nature of reality, or ultimate truth. If we destroy self-grasping, all other delusions cease naturally, just as the leaves and branches of a tree die if we destroy its roots. Once we have completely eradicated our delusions it will be utterly impossible for us to experience unpeaceful states of mind. As we shall no longer have the internal causes of suffering, external causes of suffering, such as sickness or death, will have no power to disturb our mind. This permanent cessation of delusion and suffering is known as `liberation', or `nirvana' in Sanskrit.

Although attaining our own liberation from suffering is a wonderful achievement, it is not enough. We are not isolated individuals but part of the family of all living beings. Everything we own, everything we enjoy, all our opportunities for spiritual development, and even our very body come from the kindness of others. Are we to make our own escape from suffering and then abandon everyone else to their fate? This would be like a young man imprisoned together with his aged parents who makes his own escape but leaves his parents behind. We would not admire such a person. We definitely need to make an effort to liberate ourself from the mental prison of our deluded minds, but our ultimate aim must be to help everyone else do the same.

Thus the final goal in Buddhism is the attainment of full enlightenment, or Buddhahood. The Sanskrit term `Buddha' means `Awakened One', and refers to anyone who has awakened from the sleep of ignorance and is free from the dream of mistaken appearance. Because ordinary beings like us have not yet awakened from the sleep of ignorance we continue to live in a dream-like world of mistaken appearances and do not see the true nature of things. This is the fundamental reason why we experience suffering and are of limited benefit to others. Through completely removing all traces of the darkness of ignorance from their minds, Buddhas attained omniscient wisdom and the limitless ability to help all living beings.

Their boundless and all-encompassing compassion gives Buddhas the energy to work without interruption for the sake of others. They understand the real causes of happiness and suffering, and they know exactly how to help living beings in accordance with their individual needs and inclinations. Buddhas have the power to bless people's minds, causing their delusions to subside and their virtues to increase; and they also have the ability to emanate innumerable forms for the benefit of others. Of all the ways in which Buddhas help living beings, the most effective is to teach them how to control their minds and follow the spiritual path to liberation and enlightenment.

The founder of Buddhism in this world was Buddha Shakyamuni. After attaining enlightenment, Buddha gave eighty-four thousand teachings, all of which are advice on how to subdue and overcome delusions by cultivating virtuous states of mind. Buddha's teachings, as well as the inner realizations achieved through putting these teachings into practice, are known as `Dharma'.

In the text on which this book is based, Bodhisattva Langri Tangpa has condensed the very essence of Buddhadharma into eight short verses. Through contemplating the meaning of these verses we shall see that they contain a step-by-step path to complete inner peace and happiness. If we sincerely put these teachings into practice we shall gradually subdue our destructive and self-centred habits of mind and replace them with the positive minds of unconditional love and compassion. Finally, by practising the instructions given in the chapter on ultimate bodhichitta, we shall be able to overcome the fundamental delusion of self-grasping ignorance, together with its imprints, and thereby experience the bliss of full enlightenment. This is the real meaning of seeking happiness from a different source.

Although Eight Verses was written over nine hundred years ago, it is as relevant today as it was then. Whether Buddhist or not, anyone with a genuine wish to overcome their inner problems and achieve permanent inner peace and happiness can benefit from Langri Tangpa's advice.

REBIRTH AND KARMA

Since some background knowledge of rebirth and karma is useful for understanding the main practices explained in this book, there now follows a brief introduction to these topics.

The mind is neither physical, nor a by-product of purely physical processes, but a formless continuum that is a separate entity from the body. When the body disintegrates at death, the mind does not cease. Although our superficial conscious mind ceases, it does so by dissolving into a deeper level of consciousness, called `the very subtle mind'. The continuum of our very subtle mind has no beginning and no end, and it is this mind which, when completely purified, transforms into the omniscient mind of a Buddha.

Every action we perform leaves an imprint, or potential, on our very subtle mind, and each karmic potential eventually gives rise to its own effect. Our mind is like a field, and performing actions is like sowing seeds in that field. Positive or virtuous actions sow the seeds of future happiness, and negative or non-virtuous actions sow the seeds of future suffering. This definite relationship between actions and their effects - virtue causing happiness and non-virtue causing suffering - is known as the `law of karma'. An understanding of the law of karma is the basis of Buddhist morality.
After we die our very subtle mind leaves our body and enters the intermediate state, or `bardo' in Tibetan. In this subtle dream-like state we experience many different visions that arise from the karmic potentials that were activated at the time of our death. These visions may be pleasant or terrifying depending on the karma that ripens. Once these karmic seeds have fully ripened they impel us to take rebirth without choice.

It is important to understand that as ordinary samsaric beings we do not choose our rebirth but are reborn solely in accordance with our karma. If good karma ripens we are reborn in a fortunate state, as either a human or a god, but if negative karma ripens we are reborn in a lower state, as an animal, a hungry spirit, or a hell being. It is as if we were blown to our future lives by the winds of our karma, sometimes ending up in higher rebirths, sometimes in lower rebirths.

This uninterrupted cycle of death and rebirth without choice is called `cyclic existence', or `samsara' in Sanskrit. Samsara is like a Ferris wheel, sometimes taking us up into the three fortunate realms, sometimes down into the three lower realms. The driving force of the wheel of samsara is our contaminated actions motivated by delusions, and the hub of the wheel is self-grasping ignorance. For as long as we remain on this wheel we shall experience an unceasing cycle of suffering and dissatisfaction, and we shall have no opportunity to experience pure, lasting happiness. By practising the Buddhist path to liberation and enlightenment, however, we can destroy self-grasping, thereby liberating ourself from the cycle of uncontrolled rebirth and attaining a state of perfect peace and freedom. We shall then be in a position to help others to do the same. A more detailed explanation of rebirth and karma can be found in the books Introduction to Buddhism and Joyful Path of Good Fortune.

Pulp, Do you remember the first time, (lyrics and video clip)



You say you've got to go home
cos he's sitting on his own again this evening.
I know you're gonna let him bore your pants off again.
Oh God, it's half past eight,
you'll be late.
You say you've never been sure,
though it makes good sense for you to be together.
Still you bought a toy that can reach the places he never goes.
Oh, now it's getting late.
He's so straight.

Do you remember the first time?
I can't remember a worse time.
But you know that we've changed so much since then,
oh yeah,
we've grown.
Now I don't care what you're doing,
no I don't care if you screw him.
Just as long as you save a piece for me,
oh yeah

You say you've got to go home.
Well at least there's someone there that you can talk to.
And you never have to face up to the night on your own.
Jesus, it must be great to be straight.

Do you remember the first time?
I can't remember a worse time.
But you know that we've changed so much since then,
oh yeah,
we've grown.
Now I don't care what you're doing,
no I don't care if you screw him.
Just as long as you save a piece for me,
oh yeah

I never give them hell; I just tell them the truth

I never give them hell; I just tell them the truth and they think it is hell.
Harry S. Truman

Sunday 4 November 2007

Nick Drake, Pink Moon (video and lyrics)



I saw it written and I saw it say
Pink moon is on its way
And none of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get you all
It's a pink moon
Hey, it's a pink moon
It's a pink, pink, pink, pink, pink moon.
It's a pink, pink, pink, pink, pink moon.

I saw it written and I saw it say
Pink moon is on its way
And none of you stand so tall
Pink moon gonna get you all
It's a pink moon
Yeah, it's a pink moon

Nick Drake, Hazey Jane I (video and lyrics)



Do you curse where you come from,
Do you swear in the night
Will it mean much to you
If I treat you right.
Do you like what you're doing,
Would you do it some more
Or will you stop once and wonder
What you're doing it for.
Hey slow Jane, make sense
Slow, slow, Jane, cross the fence.
Do you feel like a remnant
Of something that's past
Do you find things are moving
Just a little too fast.
Do you hope to find new ways
Of quenching your thirst,
Do you hope to find new ways
Of doing better than your worst.
Hey slow Jane, let me prove
Slow, slow Jane, we're on the move.
Do it for you,
Sure that you would do the same for me one day.
So try to be true,
Even if it's only in your hazey way.
Can you tell if you're moving
With no mirror to see,
If you're just riding a new man
Looks a little like me.
Is it all so confusing,
Is it hard to believe
When the winter is coming
Can you sign up and leave.
Hey slow Jane, live your lie
Slow, slow jane, fly on by.

Bridget St. John, Want To Be With You (video clip and lyrics)



When the rain sets in on Derbyshire the hills are lost to cloud
Battered by gale-force wind that hits out hard
People run for shelter waiting for the calm to come;
And you see I get this feeling and that seems we've lost control
The things we're sure of crumble -the heart grows cold
Crying out for shelter, waiting for the calm to come
I want to be where someone loves me best of all
Want to be where someone loves me best of all
Want to be with you

Links

Vicky Leandros L'amour Est Bleu (video clip and lyrics)



L'amour est bleu

Love is blue

Doux, doux, l'amour est doux Soft, soft, love is soft
Douce est ma vie, ma vie dans tes bras Soft is my life, my life in your arms
Doux, doux, l'amour est doux Soft, soft, love is soft
Douce est ma vie, ma vie près de toi Soft is my life, my life next to you


Bleu, bleu, l'amour est bleu Blue, blue, love is blue
Berce mon cœur, mon cœur amoureux Cradle my heart, my loving heart
Bleu, bleu, l'amour est bleu Blue, blue, love is blue
Bleu comme le ciel qui joue dans tes yeux Blue like the sky which play in your eyes


Comme l'eau, comme l'eau qui court Like the water, like the running water
Moi, mon cœur court après ton amour Me, my heart runs after your love


Gris, gris, l'amour est gris Grey, grey, love is grey
Pleure mon cœur lorsque tu t'en vas My heart weeps since you went away
Gris, gris, le ciel est gris Grey, grey, the sky is grey
Tombe la pluie quand tu n'es plus là The rain falls when you're not there anymore


Le vent, le vent gémit The wind, the wind moans
Pleure le vent lorsque tu t'en vas The wind weeps since you went away
Le vent, le vent maudit The wind, the cursed wind
Pleure mon cœur quand tu n'es plus là My heart weeps when you're not there anymore


Comme l'eau, comme l'eau qui court Like the water, like the running water
Moi, mon cœur court après ton amour Me, my heart runs after your love


Bleu, bleu, l'amour est bleu Blue, blue, love is blue
Le ciel est bleu lorsque tu reviens The sky is blue when you return
Bleu, bleu, l'amour est bleu Blue, blue, love is blue
L'amour est bleu quand tu prends ma main Love is blue when you take my hand


Fou, fou, l'amour est fou Mad, mad, love is mad
Fou comme toi et fou comme moi Mad like you and mad like me
Bleu, bleu, l'amour est bleu Blue, blue, love is blue
L'amour est bleu quand je suis à toi Love is blue when I am yours


L'amour est bleu quand je suis à toi Love is blue when I am yours

Translation by Tamar Lichtman.

Françoise Hardy, Comment te dire adieu (video clip and lyrics)



Sous aucun pretexte je ne veux
avoir de reflexes malheureux,
il faut que tu m'expliques un peu mieux
comment te dire adieu.
Mon coeur de silex vite prend feu,
ton coeur de pyrex resiste au feu,
je suis bien perplexe, je ne veux
me resoudre aux adieus.

Je sais bien qu'un ex amour n'a pas de chance,
ou si peu,
mais pour moi un explication voudrait mieux.

Sous aucun pretexte je ne veux
devant toi surexposer mes yeux,
derrière un kleenex je saurais mieux
comment te dire adieu,
comment te dire adieu.

Tu as mis a l'index nos nuits blanches,
nos matins gris-bleu,
mais pour moi un explication voudrait mieux.
Sous aucun pretexte je ne veux
devant toi surexposer mes yeux,
derrière un kleenex je saurais mieux
comment te dire adieu,
comment te dire adieu,
comment te dire adieu.

Nick Cave, Into my Arms (lyrics and video clip)



I don't believe in an interventionist God
But I know, darling, that you do
But if I did I would kneel down and ask Him
Not to intervene when it came to you
Not to touch a hair on your head
To leave you as you are
And if He felt He had to direct you
Then direct you into my arms

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

And I don't believe in the existence of angels
But looking at you I wonder if that's true
But if I did I would summon them together
And ask them to watch over you
To each burn a candle for you
To make bright and clear your path
And to walk, like Christ, in grace and love
And guide you into my arms

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

And I believe in Love
And I know that you do too
And I believe in some kind of path
That we can walk down, me and you
So keep your candlew burning
And make her journey bright and pure
That she will keep returning
Always and evermore

Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms, O Lord
Into my arms

Pink Floyd, Shine On You Crazy Diamond (video clip and lyrics)



Shine on you Crazy Diamond (part 1)

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the cross fire of childhood and stardom,
blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger,
you legend, you martyr, and shine!

You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter,
you piper, you prisoner, and shine!

Shine on you Crazy Diamond (part 2)

Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Pile on many more layers and I'll be joining you there.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph,
and sail on the steel breeze.
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser,
come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine!

Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here (video clip and lyrics)



So, so you think you can tell Heaven from Hell,
blue skies from pain.
Can you tell a green field from a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change? And did you exchange
a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl,
year after year,
running over the same old ground. What have we found?
The same old fears,
wish you were here.

Saturday 3 November 2007

Pulp, Common People (lyrics and video clip)



She came from Greece she had a thirst for knowledge,
she studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College,
that's where I,
caught her eye.
She told me that her Dad was loaded,
I said "In that case I'll have a rum and coca-cola."
She said "Fine."
and in thirty seconds time she said,

"I want to live like common people,
I want to do whatever common people do,
I want to sleep with common people,
I want to sleep with common people,
like you."

Well what else could I do -
I said "I'll see what I can do."
I took her to a supermarket,
I don't know why but I had to start it somewhere,
so it started there.
I said pretend you've got no money,
she just laughed and said,
"Oh you're so funny."
I said "yeah?
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here.
Are you sure you want to live like common people,
you want to see whatever common people see,
you want to sleep with common people,
you want to sleep with common people,
like me."
But she didn't understand,
she just smiled and held my hand.
Rent a flat above a shop,
cut your hair and get a job.
Smoke some fags and play some pool,
pretend you never went to school.
But still you'll never get it right,
cos when you're laid in bed at night,
watching roaches climb the wall,
if you call your Dad he could stop it all.

You'll never live like common people,
you'll never do what common people do,
you'll never fail like common people,
you'll never watch your life slide out of view,
and dance and drink and screw,
because there's nothing else to do.

Sing along with the common people,
sing along and it might just get you through,
laugh along with the common people,
laugh along even though they're laughing at you,
and the stupid things that you do.
Because you think that poor is cool.

I want to live with common people,
I want to live with common people etc...

Pulp, Babies, (lyrics and video clip)



Well it happened years ago,
when you lived on Stanhope Road.
We listened to your sister,
when she came home from school,
cos she was two years older,
and she had boys in her room.
We listened outside and heard her.
Alright.
Well that was alright for a while,
but soon I wanted more.
I want to see as well as hear,
and so I hid inside her wardrobe.
And she came round four,
and she was with some kid called David,
from the garage up the road.
I listened outside I heard her.
Alright.

Oh I want to take you home.
I want to give you children.
You might be my girlfriend, yeah.

When I saw you next day,
I really couldn't tell,
cos you might go and tell your mother.
And so you went with Neve,
and Neve was coming on,
and I thought I heard you laughing,
when his Mum and Dad were gone.
I listened outside, I heard you.
Alright.

Oh I want to take you home.
I want to give you children.
You might be my girlfriend, yeah.

Well I guess it couldn't last too long.
I came home one day,
and all her things were gone,
I fell asleep inside.
I never heard her come.
And then she opened up her wardrobe,
and I had to get it on.
Oh, listen
we were on the bed when you came home,
I heard you stop outside the door.
I know you won't believe it's true,
I only went with her 'cos she looks like you.
Oh I want to take you home.
I want to give you children.
You might be my girlfriend, yeah.