Il pleure dans mon cœur

Rufus Wainwright's 'Il pleure dans mon cœur' is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves deep into the realms of melancholy and existential sorrow. The lyrics, originally a poem by Paul Verlaine, are masterfully set to music by Wainwright, capturing the essence of a heart weighed down by an inexplicable sadness. The recurring imagery of rain serves as a metaphor for the tears and the pervasive sense of gloom that envelops the narrator's heart. The rain, falling gently on the city, mirrors the silent weeping within, creating a poignant parallel between the external world and the internal emotional landscape.

The song's opening lines, 'Il pleure dans mon cœur / Comme il pleut sur la ville,' immediately set the tone for the piece. The comparison between the heart's tears and the city's rain establishes a mood of quiet despair. This is further emphasized by the question, 'Quelle est cette langueur / Qui pénètre mon cœur?' which reflects the narrator's confusion and helplessness in the face of their own sorrow. The gentle sound of the rain, described as 'Ô bruit doux de la pluie,' becomes a comforting yet melancholic refrain, underscoring the theme of ennui and emotional fatigue.

As the song progresses, the narrator grapples with the inexplicable nature of their sadness. The lines 'Il pleure sans raison / Dans ce cœur qui s'écoeure' highlight the irrationality of their grief, as they struggle to find a cause for their emotional turmoil. The absence of betrayal or any tangible reason for their mourning, 'Quoi! nulle trahison?... / Ce deuil est sans raison,' adds to the sense of existential angst. The final stanza, 'C'est bien la pire peine / De ne savoir pourquoi / Sans amour et sans haine / Mon cœur a tant de peine,' encapsulates the profound pain of not understanding one's own suffering. The song's melancholic refrain, 'Ô le chant de la pluie,' serves as a poignant reminder of the persistent, unrelenting nature of this sorrow.

Wainwright's rendition of 'Il pleure dans mon cœur' is a masterful exploration of the depths of human emotion, capturing the essence of Verlaine's poetry through his evocative musical interpretation. The song resonates with anyone who has experienced the inexplicable sadness that can sometimes pervade the human heart, making it a timeless piece of art that speaks to the universal experience of melancholy.