“La Mer” (English: “The Sea”) is a song by French composer, lyricist, and singer Charles Trenet. I think it’s the most beautiful song ever written about the sea.
According to Wikipedia, Trenet wrote the first version of the lyrics as a poem when he was just 16 years old—many years before he came up with a melody. The tune came to him while he was traveling by train in 1943, gazing out the window. He jotted it down on a piece of paper and, that afternoon, worked out the details with his pianist. That same evening, they performed it in front of an audience.
Over the years, the song became popular around the world. It was even considered France’s best-selling song.
There are several English translations of “La Mer.” In my opinion, they all sound a bit too foreign. Here is my translation of this lyric.
La Mer
The Sea
La mer, qu’on voit danser.
The sea, we see you dancing.
Le long des golfes clairs, a des reflets d’argent, la mer.
Along the clear gulfs, the sea has silver reflection.
Des reflets changeants sous la pluie
Changing reflections in the rain.
La mer au ciel d’été confond.
The sea merged with the summer sky.
Ses blance moutons, avec les anges si purs,
Her white sheep, so pure like angels.
La mer, bergère d’azur, infinie.
The sea, blue shepherdess, infinite.
Voyez, près des étangs, ces grands roseaux mouillés.
See, by the ocean basins, these tall wet reeds.
Voyez Ces oiseaux blancs, et ces mainsons rouillées.
See, these white birds, and these rusty houses.
La mer, les a bercés. le long des golfes clairs.
The sea sways them, Along the clear gulfs.
Et d’une chanson d’amour,
And a love song,
La mer a bercé mon cœur pour la vie.
The sea soothes my heart for life.