Been a Fool / C’est comme tu veux
I’ve been a fool: an act of contrition of a man who has committed what he believes to be irreparable in his relationship – infidelity, betrayal – and who is ready to face the consequences. It’s a gentle song, yet on the edge of a precipice; a melody, that evokes the vertigo of a defeated man, the weight of his pain.
C’est comme tu veux (it’s like you want) : I imagined, in a certain way, the continuation of the situation described in the original song: the breakup and the hard-fought battle over the terms of the divorce, and more particularly the custody of the children. In English, there was a man ready to accept the consequences of what he calls his great stupidity – “I’ve been a fool”. In French, the song captures the moment no longer of a man’s guilty confession, but of his surrender after having paid the price for his mistake, beyond anything he could have feared. The time has come for him to give up a fight that has taken all his strength. The fundamental emotion – that of the man who has ruined everything, that of the man who has lost everything – remains the same.
Been a Fool
Written by
Tim Hutton
I’ve been a fool / I’ve stood around and acted oh so cool / I’ve been unfaithful and betrayed so cruel / Trust that’s not easily given
I’ve been a fool / I had a temper that was not so cool / I lost my mind and broke the golden rule / Things that just can’t be forgiven
If I hadn’t been this way / Who knows where I might be today? / Please make an example of me / Or do you want to be alone? / I’ve been such a fool
I’ve been a fool / Back in my face is where my bad deeds came / I know I’ve only got myself to blame / Not that it makes me feel better
I’ve been a fool / I had a temper that was not so cool / I’ve been unfaithful and betrayed so cruel / Followed it through to the letter
If I hadn’t been this way / Who knows where I might be today? / Please make an example of me / Or do you want to be alone?
If I hadn’t been this way / Who knows where I might be today? / Please make an example of me / Or do you want to be alone? / I’ve been such a fool
C’est comme tu veux
French kiss by
François Godin
C’est comme tu veux / J’ai eu mon lot de lettres d’avocat / J’ai eu ma dose de couteaux qui volent bas / Tu es très forte à ce jeu
C’est comme tu veux / Ça fait dix ans que devant nos enfants / Tu me salis, tu me rabaisses, tu mens / Je baisse les armes, je me rends
Tu m’as déjà fait la peau / Papa a si souvent bon dos / L’argent, la maison, les enfants / Prends tout, tu vas me rendre fou / À tout je consens
C’est comme tu veux / Jamais je n’aurais cru en venir là / Je n’en peux plus, je renonce à mes droits / Arrêtons là le combat
C’est comme tu veux / La force de mon amour pour mes enfants / Pour toi, c’est le dernier des arguments / Rien de valide à tes yeux
Tu m’as déjà fait la peau / Papa a si souvent bon dos / L’argent, la maison, les enfants / Prends tout, tu vas me rendre fou
Tu m’as déjà fait la peau / Papa a si souvent bon dos / L’argent, la maison, les enfants / Prends tout, tu vas me rendre fou / À tout je consens
Like You Wanted
Translation of the
French adaptation
It’s like you wanted/ I’ve had my share of lawyers’ letters / I’ve had my fill of low blows / You’re really good at this game
It’s like you wanted / For ten years, in front of the kids / You’ve been smearing me, you’ve been putting me down, you’ve been lying / I’m lowering my weapons, I surrender
You’ve already done me in / Daddy makes a good scapegoat / The money, the house, the children: / Take it all, you’re driving me round the bend / I’ll agree to anything you want
It’s like you wanted / I never thought it would come to this / I can’t take it anymore, I waive my rights / Let’s end the fight here
It’s like you wanted / The strength of my love for the kids / Counts for nothing, according to you / It’s not worth your consideration
You’ve already done me in / Daddy makes a good scapegoat / The money, the house, the children: / Take it all, you’re driving me round the bend
You’ve already done me in / Daddy makes a good scapegoat / The money, the house, the children: / Take it all, you’re driving me round the bend / I’ll agree to anything
The voice/piano demos of the French versions were recorded for the strict purpose of presenting my adaptation work. No broadcasting or public sharing on social networks, media or any other platform is authorized.
Any recording or public presentation by third parties of the songs in their French version is subject to my authorization as well as that of the rights holders of the original song.
