Lara Fabian - "Broken Vow" - the memory of a once great love

I was exploring the theme of lost childhood in the Brassens song, “Les châteaux de sable,” when I came across (Link) Lara Fabian’s dramatic performance of another French song on the same theme: Renaud’s “Mistral gagnant”.

I was very impressed by the personal feeling that she conveyed through her singing style.  The emotional impact became even more powerful in a second video of hers that I found.  The song was “Je t’aime”, in which, with uninhibited frankness, she is telling us of the complications of her passionate love life.   

“Je t’aime” is a powerful plea to her lover.  She reminds him how she and he had formed a deep bond, so that each was promised to the other. Their love was sealed by the deep confidentiality of body and spirit that welds a couple for ever. 

However, she confesses that angry quarrels had begun to break out between them.  Some of these had become violent with objects being thrown and wine glasses smashed to smithereens.

At first they had been able to end these rows with the reconciliation available through powerful mutual sexual desire.  Yet the problems between them continued to grow.  There were “silences” - periods when they were not on speaking terms - and a total break up threatened.  To save them from this, Lara Fabian declares the depth of her love, with the loud and repeated cry: - “Je t’aime”.

In my previous blog, I posted a recording at a concert in Hungary.  There the emotionality of the female audience was astounding and they took the song over from her.  I am posting this time a quieter video so that Lara Fabian’s words are not lost.

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Lara Fabian sings her song “Je t’aime” on French T.V in February 2010

D'accord, il existait d'autres facons de se quitter Quelques éclats de verres auraient peut- être pu nous aider Dans ce silence amer. J'ai décidé de pardonner les erreurs Qu'on peut faire trop s'aimer D'accord la petite fille en moi souvent te reclamait Presque comme une mère, tu me bordais, me protégeais Je t'ai volé ce sang qu'on n'aurait pas dû partager A bout de mots, de rêves je vais crier (refrain) Je t'aime, je t'aime Comme un fou comme un soldat Comme une star de cinéma Je t'aime, je t'aime Comme un loup, comme un roi Comme un homme que je ne suis pas Tu vois, je t'aime comme ça D'accord, je t'ai confié tous mes sourires         Tous mes secrets Même ceux, dont un frère est le gardien inavoué Dans cette maison de pierre Satan nous regardait danser J'ai tant voulu la guerre De corps qui se faisaient la paix (refrain) Je t'aime, je t'aime Comme un fou comme un soldat Comme une star de cinema Je t'aime, je t'aime Comme un loup, comme un roi Comme un homme que je ne suis pas Tu vois, je t'aime comme ca Tu vois, je t'aime comme ca -Je t'aime - Je t'aime - Je t'aime>

I agree there existed other ways for us to part A few wine glasses smashed could perhaps have helped us In that silence bitter. I’ve decided to forgive the mistakes, One can make when too in love. I agree, the little girl in me was often demanding You, almost like a mother, tucked me in,  watched over me I stole from you that blood, we ought never have shared At a loss for words, for dreams, I’ll cry out (refrain) I love you, I love you Like a fool, like a soldier A star in the cinema I love you, I love you Like a wolf, like a king Like a man I cannot be You see, that’s how I love you. I agree, I entrusted you all my smiles, All my secrets Even those of which a brother Is the secret guardian. Within that house of stone, Satan looked on us as we danced I desired so much the war Of bodies that would bring the peace (refrain) I love you, I love you Like a fool, like a soldier A star in the cinema I love you, I love you Like a wolf, like a king Like a man I cannot be You see, that’s how I love you. You see, that’s how I love you. . - I love You - I love You - I love You

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BROKEN VOW – LARA FABIAN

This later song tells us that her appeal to her former lover, which we saw above, had been unsuccessful and that he is now with another woman. 

In the words that Lara speaks as an introduction to video below, she tells us that new songs come to her through some mystical inspiration that she does not understand and that in this process there can be a sense of enlightenment.

In this case she had achieved a new understanding of how she could cope with the shattering of her romantic dreams  She realised that although her love had been stolen from her by the betrayal of a sacred promise, there was a device by which they could clear the bitterness and recriminations that had poisoned their great love since they broke up.  This device was forgiveness.

By forgiving, she can avoid the torment of seeking why it had all happened, of conjuring  up visions of her rival’s looks, of picturing what her past lover was now doing and how he was making love with another woman.

By forgiveness she can dispel the negatives, so that she can retain the beauty of her past love, which will live on in her heart as something more than a betrayal – un voeu brisé .

Tell me her name I want to know The way she looks And where you go I need to see her face I need to understand Why you and I came to an end Tell me again I want to hear Who broke my faith in all these years Who lies with you at night When I'm here all alone Remembering when I was your  own. Chorus I'll let you go I'll let you fly Why do I keep on asking why I'll let you go Now that I found A way to keep somehow More than a broken vow Tell me the words I never said Show me the tears you never shed Give me the touch That once you promised to be mine Or has it vanished for all time [Chorus] I'll let you go I'll let you fly Why do I keep on asking why I'll let you go Now that I found A way to keep somehow More than a broken vow I close my eyes And dream of you and I And then I realize There's more to life than only bitterness and lies I close my eyes I'd give away my soul To hold you once again And never let this promise end Chorus I'll let you go I'll let you fly Why do I keep on asking why I'll let you go Now that I found A way to keep somehow More than a broken vow SONGWRITERS WALTER AFANASIEFF, LARA FABIAN

Dis-moi son nom Je veux savoir A quoi elle ressemble Et où tu pars J'ai besoin de voir son visage J'ai besoin de comprendre - Pour toi et moi c'est tout fini Dis-moi encore Je veux entendre Qui a brisé ma confiance en toutes ces années Qui couche avec toi la nuit Quand je suis là toute seule Me souvenant de quand j'étais tienne. [Refrain] Je te laisserai partir Je te laisserai voler Pourquoi je tiens à savoir pourquoi.  Je te laisserai partir Maintenant que j'ai trouvé Quelque mode de garder Plus qu'un vœu brisé Dis-moi les mots que je n'ai jamais dits Montre-moi les larmes qu’ tu n'as pas versées Rend-moi la caresse, promise a moi Ou a-t-elle disparu à jamais [Refrain] Je te laisserai partir Je te laisserai voler Pourquoi je tiens à savoir pourquoi. Je te laisserai partir Maintenant que j'ai trouvé Quelque mode de garder Plus qu'un vœu brisé Je ferme les yeux Et rêve de toi et moi Et là je réalise Que la vie a mieux que l'amertume – mensonges Je ferme les yeux Je sacrific’rais mon âme Pour te tenir encore Que cette promesse ne termine jamais [Refrain] Je te laisserai partir Je te laisserai voler Pourquoi je tiens à savoir pourquoi. Je te laisserai partir Maintenant que j'ai trouvé Quelque mode de garder Plus qu'un vœu brisé

Recent comment on this song on YouTube

wildmustang67  2 months ago

The most genuine and perfect singer I've ever listened to.

Mujan           2 weeks ago

I always cry when I listen to this song as it reminds me of my hubby when he was still alive and with his frequent womanising. How I hated him but I’ve loved him so much that I always tried to give him endless chances to make it up with me. He died and I met the mistress at his funeral. I have forgiven him and now I am married to a very loyal and faithful man.

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As a male heart is equally likely to be broken with the breakup of a great romance, here is  Josh Groban singing Lara Fabian’s song:

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