YOU'VE LET YOURSELF GO (Tu t'Laisses Aller)
(Charles Aznavour / Marcel Stellman)
Charles Aznavour - 1965
Liza Minnelli - 1972
Freddy Cole - 1996
It's funny, when I look at you
While not a single word is said
I know, I had a drink or two
But that's not what's gone to my head
I laugh and I recall our youth
Perhaps you'll say that I'm uncouth
But it's high time you knew the truth
About the way you make me feel
And what the future holds in store
For I can't stand it anymore
Why should I even try and hide
Whatever I may feel inside
You lie, you curse and you provoke
And then you treat it as a joke
You know, at times you go too far
Even in front of all my friends
How could we hope to make amends
You know that you've let yourself go
You look a sight, sure you look great
Your stocking seams, not even straight
And that old faded dressing gown
Your hair in curlers hanging down
What could I have been thinking of
Was it with you I fell in love
Are you the girl that could inspire
A heart with passion and desire
I gaze at you in sheer despair
And see your Mother standing there
In front of strangers you're the same
You don't mind putting me to shame
You contradict each word I say
Why, you would turn night into day
You like to hurt me when you can
I'm just a rug and not your man
I hit the jackpot, yes, I know
You've let yourself go
At times you're cruel, beyond control
Have you no heart, have you no soul
And as I take a look at life
I realise that you're my Wife
A little effort, not much more
And things could be just as before
You know, you'ld lose a little weight
If you would watch all that you ate
A little style, a little grace
And try to show a smiling face
I couldn't hate you if I tried
I really want you by my side
So try, try and be the girl I knew
Let's really start our love anew
I want to hold you in my arms
And then surrender to your charms
Let there be fire, not just a glow
Come close to me, let yourself go
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - July 2003)
*****
Another version recorded by CHARLES AZNAVOUR:
It's funny, when I look at you
And see that sour and solemn face
`Cause you're a very special case
Who's driven me to drink a few
A couple more, and I feel strong
Enough to have the guts to say
That I can't stand your spiteful tongue
Nor suffer all your nasty ways
Your body, though somehow still young
Throws all my dreams and hopes away
It grabs me here, now hear me right
I'm tired of being the underdog
Tired of being pushed and shoved
With all the love-lust in my heart
I had it all, you know it now
At times I'd like to wring your neck
You've changed, you really look a wreck
Let's face it, you've let yourself go
You're such a let-down to your sex
Your stockings twisted `round your legs
That same old faded dressing gown
Your hair in curlers, hanging down
What could I have been thinking of
Was it with you I fell in love
Are you the girl that could inspire
A heart with passion and desire
I gaze at you in sheer despair
And see your Mother standing there
In front of strangers you're the same
You don't mind putting me to shame
You contradict each word I say
Ah, you can turn night into day
I hit the jackpot, what a blow
The first time that I took you out
If you had learned to shut your mouth
But God knows, you've let yourself go
At times you're cruel beyond control
You have no heart, you have no soul
But as I take a look at life
I realise that, you're my Wife
A little effort, not much more
And things could be, just as before
You know, you'd lose a little weight
If you cut out the junk you ate
A little style, a little grace
And try to show a smiling face
I couldn't hate you if I tried
If I could just have by my side
The little girl that once I knew
To make me start our love anew
I want to hold you in my arms
And then surrender to your charms
Let there be fire, not just a glow
Come close to me, let yourself go
Come close to me, let yourself go
(Transcribed by Mel Priddle - February 2006)
******
Alternate version as recorded by LIZA MINNELLI:
So we're alone again tonight
I read a book, you watch the fight
A stifled yawn, a can of beer
What an enthralling atmosphere
And yet the sight of us this way
Helps me to say what I must say
It helps me to think a thought or two
And pass it right along to you
And just for starters you should know
I think you've let yourself go
Down through the years each sage repeats
Grass never grows on busy streets
Which might explain that balding spot
Where you would think, or wish, or not
And where's that slender youth I knew
I fear he's grown an inch or two
Not up and down my joy and pride
But more precisely side to side
When at a party, now and then
You tell the same old jokes again
Or wear a lampshade for a hat
Who could be wittier than that
With one too many you just might
Pick some unnecessary fight
Though in the morning with the Sun
You can't remember what you've done
If there's regret, it doesn't show
You know, you've let yourself go
You never care the way you dress
You stay unshaven, you look a mess
The smallest thing is too much to do
I even hold the door for you
And every rose upon the shelf
Is one that I've supplied myself
It's not the same, I'm well aware
Yet I need to see them there
I don't know why I say it now
Why I don't hold my tongue somehow
But I've this need to tell it all
No matter where the chips may fall
For as I sit and reminisce
There are so many things I miss
The reassurance of your touch
The gentle smile that said so much
You were my tender, thoughtful beau, and now
I couldn't hate you if I tried
And I still want you by my side
We'll lay things on the line
Perhaps the fault is really mine
And if it is, please tell me so
A seed replanted still can grow
Maybe that's all we need to know
Come close to me and let yourself go
*****
TU TE LAISSES ALLER
(Charles Aznavour / Ed. Raoul Breton)
Charles Aznavour (France)
Also recorded by:
Enzo Enzo; Rodolphe Raffali.
Drôle, ce que t'es drôle à regarder
T'es là t'attends tu fais la tête
Et moi j'ai envie de rigoler
C'est l'alcool qui monte en ma tête
Tout l'alcool que j'ai pris ce soir
Afin de puiser le courage
De t'avouer que j'en ai mare
De toi et de tes commérages
De ton corps qui me laisse sage
Et qui m'enlève tout espoir
J'en ai assez faut bien que je te le dise
Tu m'exapères tu me tyrannises
Je subis ton sale caractère
Sans oser dire que t'exagères
Oui t'exagères tu le sais maintemant
Parfois je voudrais t'étrangler
Dieu ce que t'as changé en 5 ans
Tu te laisses aller, tu te laisses aller
Tu es belle à regarder
Tes bas tombant sur tes chaussures
Et ton vieux peignoir mal fermé
Et tes bigoudis quelle allure
Je me demande chaque jour
Comment as-tu fais pour me plaire
Comment ai-je pu te faire l'amour
Et t'alliéner ma vie entière
Comme ça tu ressembles à ta mère
Car rien pour inspirer l'amour
Devant mes amis quelle catastrophe
Tu me contredis, tu m'apostrophes
Avec ton venin et ta hargne
Tu ferais battre des montagnes
Ah j'ai décroché le gros lot
Le jour où je t'ai rencontré
Si tu te taisais, ce serait trop beau non!
Tu te laisses aller, tu te laisses aller
Tu es une brute et un tyran
Tu n'as pas de cœur et pas d'âme et pourtant
Pourtant, je pense bien souvent que
Malgré tout tu es ma femme
Si tu voulais faire un effort
Tout pourrait reprendre sa place
Pour maigrir, fais un peu de sport
Arrange toi devant ta glace
Accroche un sourire à ta face
Maquille ton cœur et ton corps
Au lieu de penser que je te déteste
De me fuir comme la peste
Essaie de te montrer gentille
Redeviens la petite fille
qui m'a donné tant de bonheur
Et parfois comme par le passé
J'aimerais que tout contre mon coeur
Tu te laisses aller, tu te laisser aller
*****
DU LÄSST DICH GEH'N
Charles Aznavour (France)
Du bist so komisch anzuseh'n,
denkst Du vielleicht, das find' ich schön?
Wenn Du mich gar nicht mehr verstehst,
und mir nur auf die Verven gehst.
Ich trinke schon die halbe Nacht,
und hab' mir dadurch Mut gemacht,
um Dir heut' endlich zu gesteh'n,
ich kann Dich einfach nicht mehr seh'n.
Mit Deiner schlampigen Figur,
gehst Du mir gegen die Natur.
Mir fällt bei Dir nichts and'res ein,
als Tag und Nacht nur brav zu sein.
Seit Wochen leb' ich neben Dir,
und fühle gar nichts neben mir.
Nur Dein Geschwätz, so leer und dumm,
ich habe Angst, das bringt mich um.
Ja, früher warst Du lieb und schön,
Du läßt Dich geh'n, Du läßt Dich geh'n.
Du bildest Dir doch wohl nicht ein,
Du könntest reizvoll für mich sein.
Mit Deinen unbedeckten Knie'n,
wenn Deine Strümpfe Wasser zieh'n.
Du läufst im Morgenrock herum,
ziehst Dich zu Essen nicht mal um.
Dein Haar, da baumeln kreuz und quer,
die Lockenwickler hin und her.
Und schiefe Hacken obendrein,
wie fiel ich nur auf sowas rein.
Vor meinen Freunden gibst Du an,
und stellst mich hin als Hampelmann.
Das bringt mich nachts, sogar im Traum,
im tiefen Schlaf noch auf den Baum.
Ich hab' gedacht, Du hast mich lieb,
als ich für immer bei Dir blieb.
Wenn Du nur still wärst, das wär' schön.
Du läßt Dich geh'n, Du läßt Dich geh'n.
Bei Tag und Nacht denk' ich daran,
ob das nicht anders werden kann?
Du bist doch schließlich meine Frau,
doch werd' ich nicht mehr aus Dir schlau.
Zeig' mir doch, dass Du mich noch liebst,
wenn Du Dir etwas Mühe gibst.
Mit einem kleinen Lächeln nur,
und tu auch was für die Figur!
Dann hätt' ich wieder neuen Mut
und alles würde wieder gut.
Sei doch ein bißchen nett zu mir,
damit ich Dich nicht ganz verlier'.
Denk an die schöne Zeit zurück,
die Liebe auf den ersten Blick.
Wie ich am Abend zu Dir kam,
und Dich in meine Arme nahm.
An meinem Herzen, das wär' schön,
da laß' Dich geh'n, da laß' Dich geh'n.
*****
TI LASCI ANDARE
(Charles Aznavour / Calabrese)
Charles Aznavour (France)
E tu sei buffa piu' che mai
Con questa tua severita'
Vuoi che stia zitto e invece no
E' l'alcol che mi fa parlar
Mi da il coraggio che non ho
Di confessar la verita'
Che sono stufo sia di te
Che della tua malignita'
E del tuo corpo che non sa
Tentarmi nell'intimita'
Ne ho gia' abbastanza ti diro'
Di quel carattere che hai
Esasperato finiro'
Perche' tu esageri lo sai
Si, si che lo sai e come no
A volte ti strangolereri
Dio, cinque anni adesso tu
Ti lasci andare sempre piu'
Ah, che spettacolo che sei
Con quelle calze sempre giu'
Mezza truccata e mezza no
Coi bigodini ancora su
Io mi domando come puo'
Un uomo aver amato te
Io l'ho potuto ed oltre a cio'
La vita ho dedicato a te
Sembri tua madre che non ha
Nessuna femminilita'
Quando c'e' gente salti su
Mi contraddici, parli tu
Con il veleno che c'e' in te
Distruggeresti non so che
Bella fortuna che trovai
Il giorno che io ti incontrai
Se tu tacessi ma ora tu
Ti lasci andare sempre piu'
Sei un tiranno che non ha nessuna sensibilita'
Pero' malgrado cio' che so tu sei mia moglie
Ed e' percio' che basta poco per tentare
Adesso di ricominciare
Per dimagrire un po' di sport
Resta allo specchio un po' di piu' e poi
Sorridi e finira' l'aria di gelo intorno a te
Invece che tu mi detesti e fuggi come dalla peste
Prova a tornare quella
Che un giorno tanto tempo fa venne cantando incontro a me
E come tanto tempo fa, ti terro' stretta finche' tu
Ti lasci andare sempre piu'
*****
