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.
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.
Three lines in this song invite contemplation: “Passe, passe le temps” (time flies, time goes on), repeated 4 times; “Il n’y en a plus pour très longtemps” (there’s none (time) left for a very long time), also repeated 4 times; and the song's title ("Il Est Trop Tard") repeats 3 times. See notes below.
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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.”
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.”
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