HOJAS MUERTAS

After Mary's death, I came across a project that I had started years ago, but one that was incomplete.  I had scanned a Cancionero that we had used in Colombia.  It had 190 songs.  As I was re-scanning, formatting and editing the songs I came across one called HOJAS MUERTAS and I was immediately affected by the lyrics.  I will reproduce the lyrics below and the compiled translation provided by several friends. 

HOJAS MUERTAS


Con mi canción
las hojas muertas
recordarán
cuanto te amé.

Con mi canción
las hojas muertas
revivirán
mi amor por ti.

Pero el viento cruel
amenaza
para arrancar del mal
la esperanza que canté
se abraza
y nunca se puede besar..
con mi canción.
 

 DEAD LEAVES

With my song
the dead leaves
will remember
how much I loved you.

With my song
the dead leaves
will revive
my love for you.

Although the cruel wind
threatens to
tear them away with malice,
the hope of which I sang
you can embrace 
with my song,
but never kiss....
 

I don't think the last stanza is there yet.  My artistic translator is no longer here to help me. Here is a link to Enrique Guzman singing    Las Hojas Muertas...

It would appear that the song was translated as Autumn Leaves.  Here is a link to Nat King Cole singing Autumn Leaves

The following is what could be the original French version and its translation  http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=autumn%20leaves

Les Feuilles Mortes
Lyrics by Jacques Prévert, (1945)
Music by Joseph Kosma, (1945)

 

Oh! je voudrais tant que tu te souviennes,
Des jours heureux oů nous étions amis,
En ce temps-lŕ, la vie était plus belle,
Et le soleil plus brűlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent ŕ la pelle,
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié.
Les feuilles mortes se ramassent ŕ la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi.
Et le vent du Nord les emporte,
Dans la nuit froide de l'oubli.
Tu vois, je n'ai pas oublié
La chanson que tu me chantais...



Refrain
C'est une chanson qui nous ressemble,
Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
Nous vivions tous les deux ensemble,
Toi qui m'aimais, moi qui t'aimais.
Mais la vie sépare ceux qui s'aiment,
Tout doucement sans faire de bruit.
Et la mer efface sur le sable,
Les pas des amants désunis.



Les feuilles mortes se ramassent ŕ la pelle,
Les souvenirs et les regrets aussi
Mais mon amour silencieux et fidčle
Sourit toujours et remercie la vie.
Je t'aimais tant, tu étais si jolie.
Comment veux-tu que je t'oublie ?
En ce temps-lŕ, la vie était plus belle
Et le soleil plus brűlant qu'aujourd'hui.
Tu étais ma plus douce amie
Mais je n'ai que faire des regrets
Et la chanson que tu chantais,
Toujours, toujours je l'entendrai !

 

BACK

 (Oh! I really hope you remember
Those happy days when we were friends.
In those times life was more beautiful
And the sun brighter than today's.
The dead leaves gather on the rake.
You see, I have not forgotten...
The dead leaves gather on the rake,
As do the memories and the regrets,
And the north wind carries them
Into the oblivion of the cold night.
You see, I have not forgetten
The song that you used to sing to me.)

 

(It's a song that resembles us.
You, you loved me and I loved you
And we lived together,
You who loved me, I who loved you.
But life separates those who love,
Gently, without making a sound,
And the sea erases from the sand-
The footsteps of separated lovers.)

 

(The dead leaves gather on the rake
As do the memories and the regrets
But my love, quiet and loyal,
Always smiles and is grateful for life.
I loved you so much, you were so beautiful.
How can you expect me to forget you?
In those times, life was more beautiful
And the sun brighter than today's.
You were my kindest friend
But I only created regrets
And the song that you used to sing,
I hear it always, always...)