When I was young, I heard a French song called ‘La Mer’, by Charles Trenet. I knew that meant ‘The Sea’, and I enjoyed the music.
Not long after, when I was only eight years old, I heard an English language cover version, by Bobby Darin. The title had changed to’Beyond The Sea’, and it was ever so slightly ‘Jazzed-up’. Just enough to make me love the remake, which my dad played on our record player.
To this day, it is still one of my favourite songs. It is far from being a classic, but it means a lot to me.
If you have never heard it, here is the Charles Trenet original. Just as good.
Somewhere beyond the sea
Somewhere waiting for me
My lover stands on golden sands
And watches the ships that go sailin’
Somewhere beyond the sea
She’s there watching for me
If I could fly like birds on high
Then straight to her arms
I’d go sailing
It’s far beyond the stars
It’s near beyond the moon
I know beyond a doubt
My heart will lead me there soon
We’ll meet beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again I’ll go sailing
I know beyond a doubt, ah
My heart will lead me there soon
We’ll meet (I know we’ll meet) beyond the shore
We’ll kiss just as before
Happy we’ll be beyond the sea
And never again I’ll go sailing
No more sailing
So long sailing
Bye bye sailing
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Albert Lasry / Charles Trenet / Jack Lawrence
Beyond the Sea lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Raoul Breton Editions, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
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