Non, Je ne regrette rien – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Edith Piaf

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the timeless French anthem "Non, je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf. This song offers a powerful message of resilience and acceptance, encouraging listeners to embrace their past and move forward without regret. Through Piaf's passionate delivery and the song's evocative lyrics, you can gain insight into themes of personal strength and new beginnings, making it a profound piece for understanding French culture and the enduring power of music.

[English]

No, nothing at all

No, I regret nothing

Neither the good that was done to me

Nor the bad, it all means nothing to me

No, nothing at all

No, I regret nothing

It's paid for, swept away, forgotten

I don't care about the past

With my memories

I lit the fire

My sorrows, my pleasures

I no longer need them

Sweep away the loves

With their tremolos

Sweep away forever

I start from scratch

No, nothing at all

No, I regret nothing

Neither the good that was done to me

Nor the bad, it all means nothing to me

No, nothing at all

No, I regret nothing

For my life, for my joys

Today, it starts with you

...

[French]

Non, rien de rien

Non, je ne regrette rien

Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait

Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal

Non, rien de rien

Non, je ne regrette rien

C'est payé, balayé, oublié

Je me fous du passé

Avec mes souvenirs

J'ai allumé le feu

Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs

Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux

Balayer les amours

Avec leurs trémolos

Balayer pour toujours

Je repars à zéro

Non, rien de rien

Non, je ne regrette rien

Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait

Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal

Non, rien de rien

Non, je ne regrette rien

Car ma vie, car mes joies

Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rien /ʁjɛ̃/ A1	noun - nothing
regretter /ʁəɡʁɛte/ B1	verb - to regret
bien /bjɛ̃/ A1	noun - good
mal /mal/ A1	noun - bad
souvenirs /su.və.niʁ/ B1	noun - memories
chagrins /ʃa.ɡʁɛ̃/ B2	noun - sorrows
plaisirs /plɛ.ziʁ/ B2	noun - pleasures
amours /a.muʁ/ B2	noun - loves
trémolos /tʁe.mɔ.lo/ C1	noun - tremolos (musical term)
repars /ʁə.paʁ/ B1	verb - to leave again
zéro /ze.ʁo/ A1	noun - zero
vie /vi/ A1	noun - life
joies /ʒwa/ B1	noun - joys
aujourd'hui /o.ʒuʁ.dɥi/ A2	adverb - today
commence /kɔ.mɑ̃s/ A2	verb - to begin
avec /a.vɛk/ A1	preposition - with

Key Grammar Structures

• Non, rien de rien

  ➔ Use of "rien de + noun"

  ➔ "Rien de rien" means "nothing of nothing", emphasizing the absolute absence of something. It functions as an emphatic negation.

• Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait

  ➔ Use of "ni" (neither/nor) and the relative pronoun "que" with an antecedent

  ➔ "Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait" means "Neither the good that was done to me". "Ni" introduces another negative element, and "que" refers back to "le bien". The structure "qu'on m'a fait" is a relative clause defining the noun "le bien".

• tout ça m'est bien égal

  ➔ Subject-Verb Inversion with "égal" and the use of "bien" as an intensifier

  ➔ The normal word order would be "Tout ça est bien égal pour moi". Inverting to "Tout ça m'est bien égal" is more poetic. "Bien" here intensifies the meaning of "égal" (equal/indifferent).

• C'est payé, balayé, oublié

  ➔ Use of past participles as adjectives

  ➔ "Payé", "balayé", and "oublié" are all past participles used here as adjectives to describe the state of the past. They are all in the masculine singular form, agreeing with the implied subject (the past).

• Je me fous du passé

  ➔ Reflexive verb "se foutre de" meaning "not to care about something"

  ➔ "Se foutre de" is an informal reflexive verb. It indicates a strong lack of concern or indifference about something. The pronoun "me" is the reflexive pronoun referring back to "Je".

• J'ai allumé le feu

  ➔ Passé composé with auxiliary verb "avoir"

  ➔ "J'ai allumé le feu" is in the *passé composé* tense, which is used to express completed actions in the past. It's formed using the auxiliary verb *avoir* in the present tense (j'ai) + the past participle of the main verb (allumé).

• Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux

  ➔ Use of "ne...plus" (no longer) and the preposition "de" after "besoin"

  ➔ "Ne...plus" expresses the cessation of a state or action. "Avoir besoin de" means "to need". Therefore, "Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux" means "I no longer need them".

• Je repars à zéro

  ➔ The verb "repartir" (to start again) and the preposition "à" indicating a state or condition.

  ➔ "Repartir à zéro" is an idiomatic expression meaning "to start over from scratch". The preposition "à" in this context denotes the state of being "at zero".

• Car ma vie, car mes joies

  ➔ Repetition of "car" for emphasis

  ➔ Normally, "car" is used once to introduce a reason. Repeating it emphasizes the strong causal link between the lack of regret and the fact that her life and joys are now starting with someone else. It’s used here for dramatic effect and to elevate the tone.