Ami lointain [English translation]

The heart of an unknown town,

Delivered by chance in its streets.

I was the stranger who came there for a night.

And suddenly I met a gaze.

It was nothing, nothing but a passerby.

He smiled at me on my way like a friend.

I don't know why I still hold on to the image

Of that face full of heat

Lost in the quiet crowd

I stayed here, immobile.

He turned around for an instant

And from far away I could see a hand wave.

It was nothing, nothing but a farewell

Or a hello given from afar on my way.

But all the words

Couldn't have told me more

Than that face full of heat.

~ ~ ~

Distant friend,

I don't know anything

Neither your town nor your name.

But I kept

Your souvenir that sings 1

Still in my memory

And the heat of your gaze.

1. In this context, souvenir really means memory, but since mémoire also translates to memory, I didn't want to repeat the same word

• Artist:Yves Montand