Gerard Lenorman And Zaz : La Ballade Des Gens Heureux
"And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." Antoine de Saint-Exupery.
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This Sunday, we got together with friends from France with a heart intention to spread some love, joy, goodwill and cheer on the streets of Cannes, home of the Cannes Film Festival and the red carpet capital of the world.
The plan was to meet at 4 pm, prepare some artsy posters with bright messaging, go out on the streets and shower hugs, compliments, smiles and a few hand-crafted gifts to random folks.
As we sat in a circle to heart-storm ideas for the posters and to decide our flow for the evening, I was feeling a low on energy and was concerned how I could find the strength and courage to go out and engage with strangers on possibly one of the most la-di-dah places on earth. A still voice within reminded me of a beautiful quote by St. Francis. "Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible".
I decided to put in all my energy at hand into doing small acts with a lot of love. After sitting in shared silence for a few minutes, each of us took on a sheet of paper to create our own unique posters ala "art with a heart". Just this process itself was a very healing experience for many in our group. Slowly, as I started creating my own poster by writing "Sourions" (let us smile together in French) in bold and bright colors, I felt an inner shift into a quiet joy born out of still action.
Audrey happened to casually mention a quote by Thich Naht Hanh which had a strong resonance to my inner feeling, "Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy."
As soon as our posters were ready, we set out with big smiles yet tentative steps as we had no idea how we will be received. However our doubts quickly melted as within a few seconds of starting out, a young group of girls seeing our posters, came up to us to hug us and cheer us on.
As we stood on the side of the super busy promenade right by the famous red carpet of Cannes, we experienced the wide range of human emotions play out in front of us, from folks who would look through us and ignore us, to folks whose faces would light up with delight as they participated in our little jig of kindness.
After a couple of "rejections" by folks who chose to ignore our invite to smile or hug, I experienced a deep compassion arise for all beings who for reasons unknown to us could not partake of our celebrations. Found myself silently chanting "Lokah samastha sukhino bhavantu" (Sanskrit prayer: may all be happy).
And then there were the walking angels among the crowds who stepped forward enthusiastically to receive our love, and then encourage us on our kindness adventures by gifting us their silent blessings.
Just, as we were preparing to wind down, two little girls walked up to us, melted us with their smiles and hugs, posed for a quick photo and then walked away with two posters as if assuring us "Thanks for doing your little bit. We can take it over from here".
As they playfully disappeared into the crowds, I prayed that the seeds of kindness keep finding such fertile soil to thrive in.
Merci. Merci. Merci.
Lyrics with translation below:
La Ballade Des Gens Heureux
Notre vieille Terre est une étoile
Où toi aussi et tu brilles un peu
Je viens te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Je viens te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Tu n'a pas de titre ni de grade
Mais tu dis "tu" quand tu parles à dieu
Je viens te chanter le ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Je viens te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Journaliste pour ta première page
Tu peux écrire tout ce que tu veux
Je t'offre un titre formidable
La ballade des gens heureux
Je t'offre un titre formidable
La ballade des gens heureux
Toi qui a planté un arbre
Dans ton petit jardin de banlieue
Je viens te chanter le ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Je viens te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Il s'endort et tu le regardes
C'est ton enfant il te ressemble un peu
On vient lui chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
On vient lui chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Toi la star du haut de ta vague
Descends vers nous, tu verras mieux
On vient te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
On vient te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Roi de la drague et de la rigolade
Rouleur flambeur ou gentil petit vieux
On vient te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
On vient te chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Comme un choeur dans une cathédrale
Comme un oiseau qui fait ce qu'il peut
Tu viens de chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Tu viens de chanter la ballade
La ballade des gens heureux
Translation:
The Ballad Of Happy People
Our old Earth is a star
Where you too and you shine a little
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
You do not have a title or rank
But you say "you" when you talk to god
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
Journalist for your first page
You can write whatever you want
I offer a great title
The ballad of happy people
I offer a great title
The ballad of happy people
You who planted a tree
In your little suburban garden
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
I just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
He falls asleep and you look at
It's your child it looks like you a little
It comes to him sing the ballad
The ballad of happy people
It comes to him sing the ballad
The ballad of happy people
You the star of your high wave
Down to us, you will see better
We just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
We just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
King of the dredge and laughing
Wheeler gambler or nice little old
We just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
We just sing you the ballad
The ballad of happy people
As a choir in a cathedral
Like a bird that does what it can
You just sing the ballad
The ballad of happy people
You just sing the ballad
The ballad of happy people
