Translated Song (One Leaves, One Stays)

The French singer and actress Charlotte Gainsbourg is very talented. One of her sings is L'un Part, L'autre Reste which means One Leaves, One Stays. It is a beautiful song with a long instrumental prelude. Here are the French lyrics followed by my translation:

L'un Part, L'autre Reste

Ont-ils oublié leurs promesses? 

Au moindre rire, au moindre geste

Les grands amours n'ont plus d'adresse 

Quand l'un s'en va et l'autre reste.

N'est-il péché que de jeunesse?

N-est-il passé que rien ne laisse?

Les grands amours sont en détresse

Lorsque l'un part et l'autre reste.

Reste chez toi.

Vieillis sans moi.

Ne m'appelle plus.

Efface-moi.

Déchire mes lettres

Et reste là.

Demain peut-être

Tu reviendras.

Geste d'amour et de tendresse,

Tels deux oiseaux en mal d'ivresse.

Les grands amours n'ont plus d'adresse

Quand l'un s'en va et l'autre reste.

Sont-ils chagrins dès qu'ils vous blessent?

Au lendemain de maladresse

Les grands amours sont en détresse

Lorsque l'un part et l'autre reste.

De tristes adieux,

Que d'illusions.

Si c'est un jeu

Ce sera non

Rends-moi mes lettres

Et reste là.

Demain peut-être

Tu comprendras.

Ils n'oublieront pas leurs promesses.

Ils s'écriront aux mêmes adresses.

Les grands amours se reconaissent

Lorsque l'un part et l'autre reste.

One Leaves, One Stays

Have they forgotten their promises?

At the slightest laugh, at the slightest gesture

Great loves no longer have an address

When one goes and the other stays.

Is it only a sin of youth?

Has it happened that nothing leaves?

Great loves are in distress

When one goes and the other stays.

Stay with me.

Get old with me.

Don't call me anymore.

Erase me.

Tear my letters

And stay there.

Tomorrow maybe 

You'll come back.

Gesture of love and tenderness.

Like two birds in a state of intoxication

Great loves are in distress

When one goes and the other stays.

Are they grieved as soon as they hurt you?

The day after mistakes

Great loves are in distress

While one leaves and the other stays.

Sad farewells,

So many illusions,

If it's a game

It will be no.

Give me back my letters

And stay there.

Tomorrow maybe

You'll understand.

They won't forget their promises.

They'll write to the same addresses.

Great loves recognize each other

When one goes and the other stays.