Le Ruisseau de Mon Enfance

Salvatore Adamo's song 'Le Ruisseau de Mon Enfance' is a poignant reflection on the innocence and simplicity of childhood, juxtaposed with the inevitable passage of time. The song's lyrics are a conversation with a stream ('ruisseau'), a metaphor for the flow of time and memories. Adamo asks the stream to recount the days of his youth, a time when life seemed full of promise and joy. The stream symbolizes a constant in his life, a witness to his dreams and experiences, both joyful and sorrowful.

The lyrics evoke a sense of longing for the past, with Adamo reminiscing about the 'doux délires' (sweet delusions) of his tender years and the innocence of his first love. He questions whether the flowers of his youth have withered forever, symbolizing the fleeting nature of happiness and innocence. The stream, which once carried his dreams on 'timide voile blanche' (timid white sails), now carries the weight of his memories and regrets. This transformation of the stream from a symbol of hope to one of sorrow reflects the inevitable loss of innocence as one grows older.

Adamo's use of natural imagery, such as 'champs de roses' (fields of roses) and 'champs de ronces' (fields of thorns), further emphasizes the contrast between the beauty and pain of life. He seeks answers from the stream, questioning which experiences have caused him pain. The recurring refrain 'c'est la faute à son eau' (it's the fault of its water) suggests a resignation to the passage of time and the changes it brings. The song is a beautiful and melancholic meditation on the passage of time, the loss of innocence, and the enduring power of memories.