La Vie en Rose – English Lyrics

• By: Edith Piaf

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the timeless beauty of Edith Piaf's signature song, "La Vie en Rose." Learning this song is a delightful entry into French, as its lyrics beautifully capture the universal language of blissful love and optimism, allowing you to practice romantic, hopeful vocabulary.

[English]

Hold me close and hold me fast

This magic spell you've cast

This is La Vie en rose

When you kiss me, Heaven sighs

And though I close my eyes

I see La Vie en rose

When you press me to your heart

I'm in a world apart

A world where roses bloom

And when you speak, angels sing from above

Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

Give your heart and soul to me

And life will always be

La Vie en rose

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
hold /hoʊld/ A1	verb - to keep or support something in your hand or arms
close /kloʊz/ A1	adjective - near in distance, time, or relationship verb - to shut something such as a door or window
fast /fæst/ A1	adjective - moving or able to move at great speed
magic /ˈmædʒɪk/ A2	noun - the use of supernatural forces to make things happen adjective - producing surprising results, as if by magic
spell /spɛl/ A2	noun - a set of words believed to have magical powers
cast /kæst/ B1	verb - to throw or put something somewhere
kiss /kɪs/ A1	verb - to touch someone with your lips as a sign of love or affection noun - an act of touching someone with your lips as a sign of love or affection
heaven /ˈhɛvən/ A2	noun - the place where some people believe god lives and good people go after they die
sigh /saɪ/ B1	verb - to breathe out slowly and noisily, expressing tiredness, sadness, pleasure, etc. noun - the sound or act of sighing
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - the parts of the body used for seeing
see /siː/ A1	verb - to use your eyes to look at something or someone
press /prɛs/ B1	verb - to push something firmly, often with your hand or body
heart /hɑːrt/ A2	noun - the organ in your chest that makes the blood go through your body
world /wɜːrld/ A1	noun - the earth and all the people and places on it
bloom /bluːm/ B1	verb - to produce flowers; to develop fully and become successful
speak /spiːk/ A1	verb - to say words in order to communicate
angels /ˈeɪndʒəlz/ B1	noun - spiritual beings in some religions that are believed to help and protect people

Key Grammar Structures

• Hold me close and hold me fast

  ➔ Imperative mood; subject implied.

  ➔ Imperative mood: the verb "hold" is in the base form with an implied subject.

• This is La Vie en rose

  ➔ Be verb as a linking/copular verb.

  ➔ The line uses the present simple of "to be" as a linking verb to identify the complement.

• When you kiss me, Heaven sighs

  ➔ Time clause introduced by 'When'; main clause in present simple.

  ➔ Time clause: the word "kiss" appears in the when-clause with the main verb in the main clause.

• And though I close my eyes

  ➔ Concessive clause with 'though'; present simple in main clause (implied).

  ➔ Concessive clause: the word "close" is in the subordinate clause with the implied main action.

• I see La Vie en rose

  ➔ Simple present with a perception verb; bare verb after see.

  ➔ Perception verb: the verb "see" is a stative/activity verb in the present.

• When you press me to your heart

  ➔ Time clause with 'When'; prepositional phrase after verb.

  ➔ Time clause: the verb "press" appears in the when-clause with a prepositional object.

• I'm in a world apart

  ➔ Contracted form of 'I am' with prepositional phrase; state of being.

  ➔ Contraction: the line uses the contracted form "I'm"; underlying form is "I am".

• And when you speak, angels sing from above

  ➔ Temporal clause with 'When' + coordinating verbs in present simple.

  ➔ Time clause: the verb "speak" appears in the subordinate clause introduced by When.

• Everyday words seem to turn into love songs

  ➔ Verb + 'seem to' + infinitive; perception of change.

  ➔ Seem + to + base verb: the line expresses appearance of change.