Georges Moustaki: Il Est Trop Tard
Il Est Trop Tard (It is Too Late)
In this song (1969), Moustaki expresses remorse for time lost, whether sleeping or dreaming. Time passes and whatever time remains continuously shrinks; eventually there’s none left. The song carries a profound sense of resignation, regret for missed opportunity, and an absence of agency in the face of passing time that is matched only by Léo Ferré in “Avec Le Temps.” Clearly, a counterpoint lies in the “carpe diem” school of thought represented by George Eliot, as suggested below.
Pendant que je dormais,
Pendant que je rêvais
Les aiguilles ont tourné
Il est trop tard
Mon enfance est si loin,
Il est déjà demain
Passe, passe le temps
Il n'y en a plus pour très longtemps
Pendant que je t'aimais,
Pendant que je t'avais
L'amour s'en est allé
Il est trop tard
Tu étais si jolie,
Je suis seul dans mon lit
Passe, passe le temps
Il n'y en a plus pour très longtemps
Pendant que je chantais
Ma chère liberté
D'autres l'ont enchaînée
Il est trop tard
Certains se sont battus,
moi, je n'ai jamais su
Passe, passe le temps
Il n'y en a plus pour très longtemps
Pourtant, je vis toujours,
Pourtant je fais l'amour
M'arrive même de chanter
Sur ma guitare
Pour l'enfant que j'étais,
Pour l'enfant que j'ai fait
Passe, passe le temps
Il n'y en a plus pour très longtemps
Pendant que je chantais
Pendant que je t'aimais
Pendant que je rêvais
Il était encore temps
While I was sleeping,
While I was dreaming,
The needles have turned,
It is too late.
My childhood is so far,
It is already tomorrow,
Pass, pass time,
There is none left for a very long time.
While I loved you,
While I had you,
Love disappeared,
It is too late.
You were so pretty,
I'm alone in my bed,
Pass, pass time,
There is none left for a very long time.
While I sang
My dear liberty,
Others entrapped her,
It is too late.
Some fought,
Me, I never knew,
Pass, pass time,
There is none left for a very long time.
Yet I still live,
Yet I make love
Sometimes I even sing
With my guitar,
For the child that I was,
For the child that I made,
Pass, pass time,
There is none left for a very long time.
While I sang,
While I loved you,
While I dreamed,
There was still time.
NB:
1.“Les aiguilles ont tourné:” “The needles have turned.” The “needles” are the arms of a clock.
2. “Passe, passe le temps:” Time goes on; time flies (implies both speed and inexorability of time’s passage).
3. “Il n'y en a plus pour très longtemps:” “en” refers to time—there’s none left for a very long time. There is an unresolved meaning whether this phrase means that for a long time there has been no time left (which is a contradiction) or whether it means that there is no time left and that will be the case for a (very) long time, which is self-evident. Call it poetic ambiguity?
4. This song provides a wonderful opportunity for teachers of French to dwell on the meaning and uses of “il y a,” “en” and “plus.”