Je me sens vivre – I Feel Alive – 1961
“Je me sens vivre” or “I feel alive”, was first sang by Dalida on the stage of the Olympia on December 6, 1961. It’s the french interpretation of the song “Uomo Vivo” performed by Gino Paoli in the same year.
It was after few weeks of her official marriage to Lucien Morisse, that she left him for actor Jean Sobieski and sang this song for him on stage.
She said that she had the impression that with Sobieski, she really “feels alive”, for the first time.
This song had however been proposed to her by Lucien Morisse (her husband and producer), but she could only think of her new lover while performing it. “My darling, I thought of you during the whole song, you helped me,” she proclaims to the man she was in love with as soon as she finds him after the concert.
That evening marked Dalida’s independence, who was ready to strike out on her own in the musical world without the help of her ex-husband.
Lyrics
Je ne savais pas pourquoi je vivais
Je ne savais pas à quoi je servais
Maintenant, maintenant je le sais…
Mes yeux ne sont faits que pour te regarder
Mes lèvres ne servent qu’à t’offrir mes baisers
Mon oreille à compter les battements de ton cœur
Et mes mains à saisir et garder ta chaleur
Et depuis lors je me sens vivre
Je me sens vivre parce que je t’aime
Et depuis lors je me sens vivre
Je me sens vivre parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Et suis aimée de toi
Mes yeux ne sont faits que pour voir ton réveil
Mes lèvres ne servent qu’à bercer ton sommeil
Mon épaule est formée pour le creux de tes bras
Et mon corps tout entier pour dormir avec toi
Et depuis lors je me sens vivre
Je me sens vivre parce que je t’aime
Et depuis lors je me sens vivre
Je me sens vivre parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Parce que je t’aime
Et suis aimée de toi
English Translation
I didn’t know what I was living for.
I didn’t know what I was made for.
Now I know, now I know, now I know…
My eyes are only made just to look at you,
My lips are only there to offer you my kisses.
My ears are made to count the beats of your heart.
My hands are made to hold and keep your heat.
And ever since I have been feeling alive
I feel alive for I love you
And ever since I have been feeling alive
I feel alive for I love you
For I love you
For I love you
For I love you
I am loved by you
My eyes are only made just to see you wake up
My lips are not there but to cradle your sleep
My shoulder is for the crook of your arms
And my whole body is there just to sleep with you
And ever since I have been feeling alive
I feel alive for I love you
And ever since I have been feeling alive
I feel alive for I love you
For I love you
For I love you
For I love you
I am loved by you