Il Bosco E La Riva

Charles Aznavour's song "Il Bosco E La Riva" is a poignant reflection on youthful love and the passage of time. The lyrics take us on a journey to a place between the woods and the shore, a setting that symbolizes a secluded and intimate space where the narrator and his lover shared moments of passion and discovery. This place is not just a physical location but a metaphor for a time of innocence and unrestrained emotions, where ideas burn brightly in the heart and one can lose their head in the throes of young love.

The song vividly recounts the experiences of the narrator and his lover, highlighting their youthful naivety and the intensity of their emotions. The imagery of eating on the grass and the reference to the lover as an "unripe fruit" underscore the raw and unrefined nature of their relationship. The lyrics also touch on the inevitable loss of innocence, as symbolized by the fallen glasses and the lover's discarded coverings, representing the shedding of youthful naivety and the harsh intrusion of reality.

As the song progresses, it becomes clear that this youthful love was fleeting. The lover leaves, and the narrator is left to return to the now silent and empty place between the woods and the shore. The final lines reflect a melancholic acceptance that the season of youthful love and passion has passed, never to return. This song is a beautiful and bittersweet ode to the ephemeral nature of youth and the lasting impact of first love, capturing the essence of nostalgia and the passage of time with Aznavour's characteristic lyrical elegance.