La Pieva – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Barbara Pravi

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the rich tapestry of Barbara Pravi's "La Pieva." This song, inspired by her ancestral roots, offers a unique blend of French chanson and Balkan influences, inviting you to connect with themes of heritage, love, and storytelling. Through Pravi's emotive vocals and poignant lyrics, you can experience a journey through personal history and universal human connection, making it a special way to engage with the French language and culture.

[English]

Where I’m from, we speak from the heart - We show kindness without judgment

Yes, where I’m from, when you extend your hand - It's to share what’s within

Where I’m from, there are a thousand and one nights - Our eyes shine with gold and fire

There are tables filled with fruit - Lips carry the accent of my people

Where I’m from, some roll their "r"s, - Others speak little or are loud

Whether they come from the snow or the desert - They’ve all once traveled North

We share ancient stories - Passed down through memory

We know where our roots grow - We are proud of our history

I’m from everywhere - Where I’m from, people plant, plant

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, - love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing while I'm alive

In my blood, there is war, loss, and farewells - But above all, there is love, love

In my blood, there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

Oh oh oh

Where I’m from, so many destinies deserve to be heard - Even if it means nothing to you

How many of us have experienced - Being forced onto those boats

To lands of unknown languages - To a life that had to be relearned

To forget what we once knew where I’m from

There are those trains that were headed - straight towards death

Where I’m from, there are true connections - In hundreds of thousands of ports

Where I’m from, there’s also a gypsy who sang by the fireplace at night

I carry her name and uphold her flame - Standing there, before your eyes

I’m from everywhere - Where I’m from, people plant, plant

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, - love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing while I'm alive

In my blood, there is war, loss, and farewells - But above all, there is love, love

In my blood, there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

Oh oh oh

If there’s one thing to remember - It’s that where I’m from, we’re all about sharing

Of course, life isn’t always fun - But we inherit a kindness of heart

Where I’m from, there is transmission - it smells of the city, it smells of the sea

Money is counted in traditions - In tears on my grandfather's cheeks

Where I’m from, women are strong - Men aren’t afraid to cry

Our skin is tough as old leather - You're loved, whoever you are

Where I’m from, no one really dies - Since all become memories

For whom we sing together at dusk - Yes, where I’m from, the dead are smiling

I’m from everywhere - Where I’m from, people plant, plant

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, - love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing while I'm alive

In my blood, there is war, loss, and farewells - But above all, there is love, love

In my blood, there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

I’m from everywhere - Where I’m from, people plant, plant

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, - love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing while I'm alive

I’m from everywhere - Where I’m from, people plant, plant

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, - love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing while I'm alive

[French]

Where I’m from we speak from the heart We show goodness without judging

Yes, where I’m from when you extend your hand It's to give what’s inside

Where I’m from there are a thousand and one nights Our eyes exude gold and fire

There are tables full of fruit Lips have the accent of my folks

Where I’m from, some roll their "r"s, Others speak little or are loud

Whether they come from the snow or the desert They’ve all once travelled North

We tell each other ancient tales Passed on through memory

We know where our roots grow We are not ashamed of our history

I’m from everywhere Where I’m from, people sow, sow

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

In my blood there is war, loss and departures But above all, there is love, love

In my blood there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

Oh oh oh

Where I’m from, so many destinies deserve to be heard Even if it's worth nothing to you

How many of us have experienced Being forced on those boats

To lands of unknown languages To a life that had to be relearned

To forget what we had known where I’m from

There are those trains that were headed straight towards death

Where I’m from, there are true ties In hundreds of thousands of ports

Where I’m from there is also a gipsy who sang by the fireplace at night

I bear her name and I hold up her flame Standing there, before your eyes

I’m from everywhere Where I’m from, people sow, sow

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

In my blood there is war, loss and departures But above all, there is love, love

In my blood there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

Oh oh oh

If there is one thing to remember It’s that where I’m from we’re all about sharing

Of course life isn’t always fun But we inherit a kindness of heart

Where I’m from, there is transmission it smells of the city, it smells of the sea

Money is counted in traditions In tears on my grandfather's cheeks

Where I’m from, women are strong Men are not afraid to cry

Our skin is tough as old leather You're loved, whoever you are

Where I’m from, no one really dies Since all become memories

For whom we sing together at dusk Yes, where I’m from the dead are smiling

I’m from everywhere Where I’m from, people sow, sow

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

In my blood there is war, loss and departures But above all, there is love, love

In my blood there’s a mix of people and mist

But only love can tell my story well

I’m from everywhere Where I’m from, people sow, sow

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

I’m from everywhere Where I’m from, people sow, sow

Make seeds come to life and bloom

Where I’m from, people love each other, love each other

Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that sends the blood around your body
goodness /ˈɡʊdnəs/ B1	noun - the quality of being good
love /lʌv/ A1	noun - a strong feeling of affection verb - to have a strong affection for someone
memory /ˈmɛməri/ B1	noun - the ability to remember information, experiences, and people
roots /ruːts/ B2	noun - the part of a plant that grows underground and absorbs water and nutrients
history /ˈhɪstəri/ B1	noun - the study of past events
destinies /ˈdɛstɪniz/ B2	noun - the events that will necessarily happen to a particular person or thing in the future
seeds /siːdz/ A2	noun - the small, hard part of a plant from which a new plant can grow
strong /strɔːŋ/ A2	adjective - having power or strength
transmission /trænzˈmɪʃən/ B2	noun - the act of sending something from one place to another
kindness /ˈkaɪndnəs/ B1	noun - the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
cities /ˈsɪtiz/ A2	noun - large towns
war /wɔːr/ A2	noun - a state of armed conflict between different countries or different groups within a country
loss /lɔːs/ B1	noun - the fact of losing something or someone

Key Grammar Structures

• Where I’m from we speak from the heart

  ➔ Present simple tense

  ➔ The phrase "we speak" indicates a habitual action or a general truth.

• In my blood there is war, loss and departures

  ➔ Present simple tense with existential 'there is'

  ➔ The phrase "there is" introduces the existence of something in a general context.

• Differences are a beautiful thing since I'm alive

  ➔ Present simple tense with a subordinate clause

  ➔ The main clause "Differences are a beautiful thing" is supported by the subordinate clause "since I'm alive".

• We tell each other ancient tales

  ➔ Present simple tense with reciprocal pronoun

  ➔ The phrase "each other" indicates a mutual action between the subjects.

• I bear her name and I hold up her flame

  ➔ Present simple tense with compound subjects

  ➔ The use of "I bear" and "I hold up" shows two actions performed by the same subject.

• Where I’m from, people love each other

  ➔ Present simple tense with a relative clause

  ➔ The phrase "people love each other" is a general statement about the subject in the context of the location.

• But only love can tell my story well

  ➔ Modal verb 'can' for ability

  ➔ The use of "can" indicates the ability of love to convey the speaker's story effectively.