C’est la vie

Gerald Brennan—composer, lyricist, pianist, singer

That’s life! That’s how we translate “c’est la vie,” but there’s something about how the French sounds that adds another layer of meaning to the phrase. There’s actually a celebratory component there that acknowledges that life’s rich pageant contains so very much, and that we should not take the inevitable setbacks too very seriously.
The phrase is usually employed when the subject is l’amour. In this case, the poor guy’s losing sleep over a woman he wants to marry but he realizes that before a woman can be a wife she needs to be a friend first. But that’s not happening here. And that’s life…

Your picture in my head.
As I lie brooding in my bed.
Now the stars shine down and the moon peeks through.
Another sleepless night for me.

C’est la vie.
Something about the way the
words sound,
makes it easier to
hit the ground.
See you around.
C’est la vie.

Go away.
I don’t want your kisses.
That’s right.
You know you changed my whole world
overnight.
Now I see the light.
C’est la vie. (That’s right.)

Time after weary time, heartlessly,
fanning the flames of my jealousy,
recklessly.

Thanks a lot.
You broke my heart in two but,
that’s life.
Can’t be a friend, how could you
be a wife?
That cuts like a knife.
C’est la vie.

Another sleepless night for me.
C’est la vie.