La tendresse
Jacques Brel
Tenderness
Boyfriends, if we had asked the poet
What is the most precious commodity on Earth?
The glory
He would have answered no
Fortune
He would have answered no
The power
He would have answered no, likewise
For for the poet, the most precious good
It was tenderness
He once said
I love tenderness, I love giving it, and I love receiving it
Generally speaking, we lack tenderness
Probably because we dare neither to give it nor to receive it
I believe that what I call love in my songs
Is actually tenderness
For a little tenderness
I would give the diamonds
Let the devil caress
In my silver chests
Why do you think, beautiful
That the sailors in port
Empty their purses
To offer treasures
To fake princesses
For a little tenderness
For a little tenderness
I would change my face
I would change my drunkenness
I would change the language
Why do you think the beauty
That at the height of their songs
Emperors and Minstrels
Often give up
Powers and riches
For a little tenderness
For a little tenderness
I would offer you time
That there remains of youth
At the end of summer
Why do you think, beautiful
Let my song rise
Towards the clear lace
Who dances on your forehead
Bending over my distress
For a little tenderness
