J'ai gardé l'accent [English translation]

Yes, I've kept the accent you catch when born

near Marseille

It's the garden garlic, the olive oil, the grapes

of the arbor.

It's the hackberry where schoolboys play,

that a cicada brightens up.

When Pagnol's sea, holding back its waves,

Daydreams into sleep

And dreams of a sailor marrying her

Sea has our accent!

When the Mistral wind whirls the merchants' hair

Paying and wanting to be The Powerfull God.

And which turns the sky bluer than lavender

The wind has our accent!

Yes, I've kept the accent you catch when born

near Marseille

It's dad's farmhouse, honey-coloured walls,

ruby-red tomatoes.

It's the tile on the roof, illuminated by the sunset, as does a bit of

provencal language.

When Daudet's night, on the mills,monts

sails

That screech as they circle,

And when millions of stars teem in the sky

Sea has our accent!

When Giono's summer returns, as sheep climb in the mountains

And holidaymakers laugh while imitating the old

Provencal language,

the world has our accent!

Yes, I've kept the accent you catch when born

near Marseille

It's the accent of the bell tower, the shepherds Christmas

in the night of wonders.

It's Provençal pride, the glory of the Mistral

It's the accent of... Mireille!

• Artist:Mireille Mathieu
• Album:J'ai gardé l'accent (1968)