LES DEUX GUITARES
(Charles Aznavour / Folklore Russe)

Charles Aznavour (France) - 1960 

Also recorded by :
Toulouse Mandolin Ensemble


Deux tziganes sans répits
Grattent leur guitare
Ranimant du fond des nuits
Toute ma mémoire

Sans savoir que roule en moi
Un flot de détresse
Font renaître sous leurs doigts
Ma folle jeunesse

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Jouez tziganes jouez pour moi
Avec plus de flamme
Afin de couvrir la voix
Qui dit à mon âme

Où as-tu mal, pourquoi as-tu mal ?
Ah t'as mal à la tête
Mais bois un peu moins aujourd'hui tu boiras plus demain
Et encore plus après-demain

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Je veux rire et chanter
Et soûler ma peine
Pour oublier le passé
Qu'avec moi je traîne

Allez, apportez-moi du vin fort
Car le vin délivre 
Oh, versez, versez-m'en encore
Pour que je m'enivre

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Deux guitares en ma pensée
Jettent un trouble immense
M'expliquant la vanité
De notre existence

Que vivons-nous, pourquoi vivons-nous ?
Quelle est la raison d'être ?
Tu es vivant aujourd'hui, tu seras mort demain
Et encore plus après-demain

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Quand je serais ivre-mort
Faible et lamentable
Et que vous verrez mon corps
Rouler sous la table
Alors, alors vous pourrez cesser
Vos chants qui résonnent
Mais, en attendant jouez
Jouez je l'ordonne

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz


*****


TWO GUITARS
(Les Deux Guitares)
(Charles Aznavour/ M. Stellman)

Charles Aznavour (France)


Two guitars by firelight
Strummed by gypsies' fingers
On a restless ??? of night 
Every memory lingers

They don't know that deep in me
There's a sadness burning
For my youth once wild and free
In her hands returning 

(Tzigane ?)
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Play now gypsies, play for me
Hide my inner voices
Tantalising endlessly
Offering no choices

A heavy heart, but my head is light 
And my legs are hollow
I will drink again tonight
And all the nights that follow

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Let me laugh and let me sing
Let me drown in my sorrow
Help me stop remembering
Give me back tomorrow

Come and let the good wine pour
Liquor makes me blameless
Give me more and more 
Get me drunk and painless

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

Two guitars against my head
With their playing persistance
For all the futile days ahead
Full of vain existance

So, what is life, why live anyhow
Question your creator
We're alive and living now 
And dead a minute later

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz

When you see my body drop
??? me ??? waking 
Then your two guitars can ??? 
Gypsy music making

Let me hear your haunting theme
For my soul demands it
Until I am too drunk to dream
??? and I command it 

E khê raz, is cho raz
Is chê mênaga mênaga raz
E khê raz, is cho raz
Is cho mênaga mênaga raz


(Transcribed by Mel Pridde & Monique Adriaansen - August 2005)