Lyrics and translation Patti Smith - Wicked Messenger

Wicked Messenger

There was a wicked messenger
From Eli he did come,
With a mind that multiplied
The smallest matter.
When asked who had sent for him,
He answered with his thumb,
For his tongue it could not speak, but only flatter.
He stayed behind the assembly hall,
It was there he made his bed,
And oftentimes he could be seen returning.
Until one day he just appeared
With a note in his hand that read,
"The soles of my feet, I swear they're burning."
Oh, the leaves began to fallin'
And the seas began to part,
And the people that confronted him were many.
And he was told but these few words,
Which opened up his heart,
"If you cannot bring good news, then don't bring any."

Un messager malveillant

Il y avait un messager malveillant
Qui venait d'Éli,
Avec un esprit qui multipliait
Le moindre sujet.
Quand on lui demandait qui l'avait envoyé,
Il répondait par un geste obscène,
Car sa langue ne pouvait parler, mais seulement flatter.
Il restait derrière la salle de réunion,
C'était là qu'il faisait son lit,
Et souvent on pouvait le voir revenir.
Jusqu'au jour où il est apparu
Avec une note à la main qui disait :
"Les semelles de mes pieds, je jure qu'elles brûlent."
Oh, les feuilles ont commencé à tomber
Et les mers ont commencé à se séparer,
Et les gens qui l'ont confronté étaient nombreux.
Et on lui a dit seulement ces quelques mots,
Qui lui ont ouvert le cœur,
"Si tu ne peux pas apporter de bonnes nouvelles, alors n'en apporte pas."