Here’s my poetic translation of the 1961 song “Clara” by Jacques Brel…

I love you so, Clara

I love you so

I love you so, Clara

I love you so

 

At the carnival of Rio

You’re always the same

At the carnival of Rio

You never change

And, me I died in Paris

A long time ago

I died of boredom

Waiting for you

 

At the carnival of Rio

You always sing

At the carnival of Rio

But you can’t change a thing

Me, I died in Paris

But I still feel the same

I know you too well

But only by name

 

At the carnival of Rio

You always dance

At the carnival of Rio

I haven’t got a chance

For being so wrong

I died feeling bruised

But still feeling strong

 

At the carnival of Rio

You can push me

At the carnival of Rio

You feel so free

I died in Paris

Shot with a flower

I died long ago

Drowned by your laughter

 

At the carnival of Rio

You always shout

At the carnival of Rio

I’m always struck out

I died in Paris

Where there are one million nights

One million lovers

One million fights

 

At the carnival of Rio

You might as well get pissed

At the carnival of Rio

I won’t be missed

Because I died in Paris

And I was buried there

For one million nights

I was drunk there

 

At the carnival of Rio

You’re always carnavaling

At the carnival of Rio

You can’t change a thing

Me, I died in Paris

And I went straight to hell

The Devil I met there

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