Pierre Bernac

Christmas 1936. Fa la la la la la la!

Playing a new setting of Cocteau for my friend Bernac.

Je n'aime pas dormir quand ta figure habite,

La nuit, contre mon cou;

Car je pense à la mort laquelle vient si vite

Nous endormir beaucoup.

Not a word from Pierre.

Just that worried look that begs: 'Please, don't ask me!'

So I take the song and toss it on the fire.

As it bursts into flames, he gasps: 'Ah! Ah!'

Don't worry, I say, it's as it's meant to be.

And I start again to compose: Tel jour. Telle nuit.

Fa la la la la la la.