colm-on-my-mind:

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(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FVNsAw-45k)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK ALAIN BOUBLIL!

(March 5, 1941)

From the original

Les Misérables

French Concept Album, 

L’Air De La Misère (literally The Air of Misery / Ode to Poverty / The Poverty Song).  As I’m sure you all already know, this later became On My Own, sung by

Éponine instead.  

Here’s a blog that (I think) gives a good explanation of why the theme/lyrics were changed for the English production. 

http://lesmis457.blogspot.com/2012/04/intro-to-javais-reve-vs-i-dreamed-dream.html

As the author of lesmis457 blog writes, 

“The song has Fantine singing about the plight of the impoverished–not necessarily how it related to her in particular, but all poor people. It was an accusatory song, it was a chilling song, and it was a perfect companion song to her second piece [I Dreamed a Dream].”

AND   

“The original song was a giantly depressing and hauntingly gripping ode to poverty, and while French audiences dig that kinda thing, the English team weren’t so sure that Britain was ready for “Ode to Poverty.”  (Plus the blog author feels the original lyrics were just difficult to get across in English.)

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English Translation from: http://www.placedauphine.net/translations/ofc2.html  – (I don’t know French, so not sure how good this translation is.)

FANTINE

Air of Misery/Ode to Poverty 
I had some pretty faults
I dreamed all the time, I was coquettish
A bit naive, but not too much
To never lose my head
And I would take pleasure
in a birdsong, in a new day.
I have only one grey dress left
Which also serves as a blanket
When the icy winter wind
Swirls at night in my hovel
And a great deal more honour
and dignity at the bottom of my heart

Misery is the mother of no one
Misery is nevertheless sister of men
But no one on earth wants for a daughter
A bastard born in a dungeon of the Bastille
Misery brings about distress,
Many vices and all weaknesses
Misery lets out the beast in man
And the chickadee thus turns into a stray bitch (dog).

It is necessary to feel yourself survive
In a child you gave birth to
And in whose source of innocence
We drown our hopelessness 
So we don’t end
This life without a tomorrow.

Misery is the mother of no one
Misery is nevertheless sister of men
But no one on earth wants for a daughter
A bastard born in a dungeon of the Bastille
Misery brings about distress,
Many vices and all weaknesses
Misery lets out the beast in man
And the chickadee turns into a stray bitch (dog).

ORIGINAL FRENCH LYRICS 
J’avais de si jolis défauts
J’étais rêveuse, j’étais coquette
Un peu naïve mais pas trop
Pour ne jamais perdre la tête
Et je me faisais fête
D’un chant d’oiseau, d’un jour nouveau
Je n’ai plus qu’un robe grise
Qui sert aussi de couverture
Quand le vent glacé de l’hiver
Tourne la nuit dans ma masure
Et plus beaucoup d’honneur
De dignité au fond du cœur

La misère n’est mère de personne
La misère est pourtant sœur des hommes
Mais personne sur terre n’en veut pour fille
Comme bâtarde née dans un cachot de la Bastille
La misère enfante la détresse
Bien des vices et toutes les faiblesses
La misère lâche la bête en l’homme
Et la mésange alors en chienne errante se transforme

Il faut qu’on se sente survivre
Dans un enfant qu’on a fait vivre
Et qu’en sa source d’innocence
On noie notre désespérance
Pour ne pas mettre fin
à cette vie sans lendemain

La misère n’est mère de personne
La misère est pourtant sœur des hommes
Mais personne sur terre n’en veut pour fille
Comme bâtarde née dans un cachot de la Bastille
Le misère enfante la détresse
Bien des vices et toutes les faiblesses
La misère lâche la bête en l’homme
Et la mésange alors en chienne errante se transforme.