One of my most favorite ways to learn a language is… to sing it!

I did it for English, Italian, and Portuguese, and it helped me tremendously!

Why? So many reasons:

1- It’s like learning a whole lesson worth but it’s fun and cool, because it’s a song!

2- It is sooo much easier to remember sentence structures, new vocabulary, verbs, pronunciation than if you were learning at school because the melody conveniently sticks it all to your brains.

3- And expressions! Every day casual speaking that your textbook won’t teach you!

4- You know I’m all about the culture. When you are familiar with a French singer, a song, and you even know the lyrics, truly understand what they mean, and can sing along, you are this much closer to being a little bit French!

5- Let me tell you, the first time you’ll be able to naturally sing along the song will be a huge feel good moment! You’ll be so proud! And then it gets better! How, you can sing that same song, only this time you don’t even need to look at the words! Now, this is the ultimate reward and man will you feel cool! Très très cool.

6- And of course, singing is wonderful. It makes you feel alive.

Ok enough talking now. Ladies & Gentlemen, let’s sing!

The song is by Charles Aznavour, from the 60’s, les années 60, and it is called Désormais.

I picked this song because in class last week a student said “I don’t know why I can never remember what désormais means! How can I remember? I need a way to remember!” So I thought of this song. I guarantee you when you are done with it, you will never forget what désormais means! (now, from now on, henceforth)

I love this song, it’s dramatic, powerful, heart breaking. It ruins your digestion. It’s wonderful.

Désormais

Désormais – From now on
On ne nous verra plus ensemble – Never again will we be seen together
Désormais – From now on
Mon cœur vivra sous les décombres – My heart will live under the rubble
De ce monde qui nous ressemble – Of this world resembling us
Et que le temps a dévasté – And devastated by time
Désormais – From now on
Ma voix ne dira plus « je t’aime » – Never again will my voice utter ‘I love you’
Désormais – From now on
Moi qui voulais être ton ombre – I, who wanted to be your shadow
Je serai l’ombre de moi-même – Will be a mere shadow of myself
Ma main de ta main séparée – My hand parted from yours
Jamais plus – Never again
Nous ne mordrons au même fruit – Will we bite into the same fruit
Ne dormirons au même lit – Will we sleep in the same bed
Ne referons les mêmes gestes – Will we repeat the same moves
Jamais plus – Never again
Ne connaîtrons la même peur – Will we experience the same fear
De voir s’enfuir notre bonheur – Of seeing our bliss running away
Et du reste désormais – And moreover, from now on
Désormais – From now on
Les gens nous verrons l’un sans l’autre – People will only ever see us apart
Désormais – From now on
Nous changerons nos habitudes – We will change our habits
Et ces mots que je croyais nôtres – And those words I thought belonged to us
Tu les diras dans d’autres bras – You will say in someone else’s arms
Désormais – From now on
Je garderai ma porte close – I will keep my door closed
Désormais – From now on
Enfermé dans ma solitude – Locked away in my solitude
Je traînerai parmi les choses – I will hang around those things
Qui parleront toujours de toi – That will forevermore tell of you
Jamais plus – Never again
Nous ne mordrons au même fruit – Will we bite into the same fruit
Ne dormirons au même lit – Will we sleep in the same bed
Ne referons les mêmes gestes – Will we repeat the same moves
Jamais plus – Never again
Ne connaîtrons la même peur – Will we experience the same fear
De voir s’enfuir notre bonheur – Of seeing our bliss running away
Et du reste désormais – And moreover, from now on
On ne nous verra plus ensemble – Never again will we be seen together
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Now you can do this with any song!

Here’s what you do. Go on the Internet, type the name of the singer and song you want followed by the word “paroles” (that’s lyrics in French) and you’re good to go!

Enjoy!

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