Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien (No Regrets) is a famous Edith Piaf song that was featured in the movie Inception as the song that triggered the heroes to exit a dream. The song was released in 1960 and remains Edith Piaf’s most famous song after La Vie en Rose. French lyrics and English translation are below.
The “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” lyrics are beautiful and describe the speaker letting go of a lifetime of emotional baggage – the good, the bad and the ugly. She sings “I regret nothing” and celebrates the birth of a new love that makes the past fall away. Edith Piaf dedicated her recording of this song to the French Foreign Legion; it has become part of the French Foreign Legion heritage and is often sung at their parades.
A breakdown of vocabulary, and an explanation of the translation and phrases will follow the video and translation. Scroll to the bottom to see a video of Edith Piaf performing “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” live!
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Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien Lyrics and Translation
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Non, rien de rien | No, absolutely nothing |
| Non, je ne regrette rien | No, I regret nothing |
| Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait | Not the good things that have happened |
| Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal | Nor the bad, it's all the same to me |
| Non, rien de rien | No, absolutely nothing |
| Non, je ne regrette rien | No, I regret nothing |
| C'est payé, balayé, oublié | It's paid, swept away, forgotten |
| Je m'en fou de passé | I don't care about the past! |
| Avec mes souvenirs | I set fire |
| J'ai allumé le feu | To my memories |
| Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs | My troubles, my pleasures |
| Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux | I don't need them anymore |
| Balayé les amours | I've swept away past loves |
| Avec leur trémolos | With their trembling |
| Balayé pour toujours | Swept away forever |
| Je repars à zéro | I'm starting over |
| Non, rien de rien | No, absolutely nothing |
| Non, je ne regrette rien | No, I regret nothing |
| Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait | Not the good things that have happened |
| Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égale | Nor the bad, it's all the same to me |
| Non, rien de rien | No, absolutely nothing |
| Non, je ne regrette rien | No, I regret nothing |
| Car ma vie, car mes joies | Because my life, because my joy |
| Aujourd'hui... ça commence avec toi! | Today... it begins with you! |
Vocabulary Breakdown
tout ça m’est bien égale: it’s all the same to me
This expression literally translates as “it’s equal to me” and means “I don’t care” or “it’s all the same to me.”
payé (payer): paid, from the verb payer, meaning to pay
balayé (balayer): swept (away), from the verb balayer, meaning to sweep
oublié (oublier): forgotten, from the verb oublier, meaning to forget
Je m’en fou: I don’t care
This is a harsher way to say “I don’t care” – the milder way would be “je m’en fiche.” So Edith is saying that she REALLY doesn’t care about the past!
Avec mes souvenirs, j’ai allumé le feu: I set fire to my memories
It’s quite Adele isn’t it? “I set fiiiiirre… to my memories.”
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Balayé les amours: I’ve swept away loves
Avec leur trémolos: With their tremblings
In these two lines Edith is saying that she is letting go of past loves, with all their “trembling” – referring to the way people often tremble in their lover’s presence out of nervousness or excitement.
Je repars à zero: Literally “I return to zero,” which means “I’m starting over again.”
Live Performance by Edith Piaf
Here is Edith Piaf performing this beautiful song live.
Do you have any questions? Leave them in the comments below!
Do you have any pictures of that era in France?
Great question! I’ll try to find some and add them in here. 🙂
Darby .. Thank you! When did this video performance take place — how many years had it been since her first performance?
I love that you’ve done this. You’ve wonderfully expanded the memory of Edith Piaf to a far greater audience, we who speak only English.
I went to the Wikipedia site as you suggested . After reading her story, I came to better understand that special element in her voice that causes our eyes to tear up as we listen, even without translation.
Hi Ken – I’m not exactly sure when this was but it was one of her last performances before she died, and she died in October 1963. So probably in the late 50’s or early 60’s. I’m glad that you enjoyed the post. I love this song! 🙂
The song was recorded in late 1960, so this film must be after that.
Edith Piaf was on British Television singing this song, so if it was only recorded in 1960, it was probably that year or the year after. Was she ever on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, or the Royal Variety Show? I know I saw her, my grandparents were with me watching, and they already knew her and were very fond of her singing.
I am one of the biggest fans of the little Sparrow!.
Her life was not always so good even from her childhood days. But the song Je Ne regrette rien is ,was ,exactly her song of her life,her loves, the complete picture so emotionally sung as any good chanteuse would sing, but especially by dear Edith.. I will always remember her voice. I will hear it wherever I may be. Thank you for the wonderful video recording and the turkey exact translations. Merci .
When I heard the lyrics to this song on a commercial, I had to find out who sang it and the English translation. I am in my 70s and know I have heard this song before, but I still can’t remember where. It’s so moving. Edith’s voice brings tears to my eyes. And now I’ve heard young girls singing this song along with “La vie en rose” on You Tube.
Edith Piaf is an icon and her songs are so classic. 🙂 This song is so beautiful.
I came across your translation when the Allstate commercial featuring “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” reminded me of my 1965 romance with a French exchange student who had come to New Orleans.
I remember her telling me that the song was adopted by the French Foreign Legion for their involvement in Algeria since 1831 and ended in 1960. Comment le temps passe!
Thank you for sharing your story! Yes this song was adopted by the French legion and continues to be an important song in French culture. Everyone should be so lucky as to have a romance with a French person. 😉 (I married my Frenchman.) This song was also featured in the movie Inception – it’s the song that plays as a cue to exit a dream.
Hi Tony just read your messages about “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” about your exchange student romance in 1965, I met a beautiful French lady in 1988 when she lived in Portsmouth England we met we fell in love, we loved we laughed we were friends we were lovers, and only for the fact my royal navy wren boss got me posted back to sea, denise and i could have had a wonderful life, I had planned to run away with her to france and go AWOL but :’c’est la vie”’we lost touch, facebook love it or hate it managed me to track her down under her maiden name and we are back in touch again as friends,
My pleasure! I am also a fan of Edith Piaf’s songs. They are so beautiful and moving, and it’s been my pleasure to translate them and bring them to an English-speaking audience. Thank you for taking the time to comment. 🙂
MON DIEU another beautiful song
Thank you! 🙂
Hi Darby, I just found this post. Because of my familiarity with the song and the way I feel when it plays, I had to search it when I heard it on the opening scene of Tim Burton’s Wednesday. It has always brought such a triumphant energy without even knowing what she’s saying! Thanks for explaining it to me, and thanks for the tip on Frenchman. I have yet to explore….😉
Jewels in Texas
Correction to my post…it should read TRULY, NOT TURKEY! Ah…computers and tablets …always predicting th d wrong words! C’west ma vie!!
Who did the tanslation
I did!
well then Merci,Merci, Merci !
s.a.mills
middleboro, massachusetts usa
De rien! 🙂
Je ne regrette rien can also mean I don’t miss anything. A misleading cognate?
Thank you
My pleasure!
You’re very welcome! 🙂
Merci!
De rien!
De rien! 🙂
the song commemorates the failed (?) fascist insurrection of a mutinous legion trying to preserve the empire in algeria
No it doesn’t. It was adopted for that use, but it was not written to commemorate such event.
See Wikiipedia about the song’s composer going to Piaf and presenting the song in hopes that she would sing it. He in no way composed it for the Algerian event. It is originally a love song.
Piaf sang it in commemoration and the Legion appropriated its use.
Exactly right. It was written and performed as a love song; nothing more.
And what a love song. With that last word, Toi!
How can one not cry every time. Pas moi!
Robert C
R
It’s true I often get misty eyed listening to this song!!
i see a problem with this theory – a song written in 1960 to commemorate an event which took place in 1961. ???
The song was not written as anything to do with the Legion or incidents related to them. It was written as a love song and adopted by the Legion afterwards. A similar example is the song “You’ll Never Walk alone” from “Carousel”. Originally heard for the first time in 1945, it has now become adopted as an anthem for football teams such as Liverpool, Celtic and Borussia Dortmund!
Thank you for the translation of this beautiful song. Looking forward to perusing your site. Maybe I will start learning French and enjoying the best French music. I think I will. Thanks!
Yes you should start learning French for sure! It’s a beautiful language. 🙂
Thanks for this. Particularly the vocabulary notes. Am currently studying this song for live performance and this helps a lot to a non french speaker.
My pleasure! This is a great song, an absolute classic. Best of luck in your performance!
who cares about the politics? She was an incredible, whole woman who wore her truth where everyone could hear. If I could make jewelry for her , it would be baroque pearls.
Would have loved to love her – born too late.
Never too late for Love, Rose. La vie en rose pour toi et pour moi et pour nous tous, n’est-ce pas?
I will have to read and learn more about Ms Edith. I recognize her name. When I saw the Dove chocolate commercial and heard her singing that song, I t is like I have not rested until I found this page. Thank you! Now I have sent it to my email to share with my aunts. My grandmother spoke Canadian French. She would have helped me understand the words. But there’s something about the song…and voice. ❤
Oh wonderful, I’m glad you found this page! Thank you for taking the time to comment. I am also Canadian and learned French for many years in Canada in school and working with the Quebec market. It’s true that Edith Piaf’s voice really makes this song shine. It’s a classic for a reason! This song was also featured heavily in the movie “Inception.” If you’d like to learn more about Edith Piaf, you can check out my very detailed translation of her most popular, enduring classic song “La Vie en Rose.” Lady Gaga sings it in the new version of “A Star is Born” that just came out. You can check it out here if you’re interested: https://www.frenchlyricstranslations.com/la-vie-en-rose-edith-piaf-french-lyrics-and-english-translation/
I too heard this song on a commercial. Only a snippet of it was played, but it was hauntingly beautiful. Initially I thought it was part of an aria, so I went through my collection of Opera CDs, but no luck, obviously.
Last night I saw the commercial again, made note of the name of the company and googled it. Went from there and have been enthralled with Edith since then.
Thank you, Darby, for the work you have put in on this.
My pleasure! I love this song and many of Edith Piaf’s other songs are also classics. La Vie en Rose was featured in the new version of “A Star is Born” that just came out (Lady Gaga sings it) and she has many other famous songs. I’ll be translating some more of her work next year as well. 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to comment.
My wife and I saw that movie a few weeks back, and I don’t remember Lady Ga Ga singing in French. So she must have sung it in English?
While I like her, she is no Edith Piaf.
Listen to a young Russian, Diana Ankudinova performing the song.
This young Russian girl is good, but I prefer Valentine’s version. It’s the best cover I have heard.
Wow very good translation! I love your work! But it seems really hard to pronounce the French words… Got any tips on how to pronounce hard French words?
Thank you! This is a pretty good video on how to pronounce the French nasal sounds, and they are the really tricky ones for non-native speakers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5pFy_pu-Tw
But French pronunciation is hard and takes a lot of practice! Speaking a lot helps too. 🙂 Bon chance!
You would make a great linguist w/your detailed approach to translating the lyrics.
Oh thank you Crystal that’s so kind. 🙂
A few days ago I received a “Dear John” letter. I understood why it had to be, but I am very sad. I remembered this beautiful song. I’m 81 years old, divorced 3 times, but still looking for love. Thanks for your translation.
John
Good for you, John. 66 and in a similar position, though I am learning to look for and find love in many places. See if you could selflessly help others and perhaps the search of a specific personal kind of love might not seem so desperate. I lost ‘the love of my life’ to death, as we all must. But I feel the love we give lives on.
I was introduced to this song by a cartoon movie. I don’t speak French and found this site cause I was curious about the translations. That song was stunningly beautiful without even knowing what she was saying. Your translation makes it even more so. Thank you.
You’re very welcome! I love this song too and it’s a classic. 🙂 Please feel free to check out some of my other Edith Piaf translations. I’d like to do more – hopefully I’ll have time this summer!
Hi Darby! I want to thank you for the spot on way you have translated this song of triumph and new beginnings. Piaf is clearly a one-of-kind performer…you actually feel her words. A framed poster, gold on white, that says ‘Non, je ne regrette rien’ hangs in my dining room. At eighty years old, I think that’s a great thing to say. Thanks again to you and Edith!
It’s my pleasure Annette, thank you for leaving a comment! I’m also a fan of Edith Piaf and I believe her songs will continue to capture the hearts of new generations. 🙂
Hii,
I was introduced to this song when I saw the movie Inception and then heard it several times in French cinema, particularly in the movie Edith Piaf’s life, ‘La Vie en Rose’, and had been in love with this song ever since.
I had learned French using duolingo, but I couldn’t keep it up owing to a lack of knowledge on French literature, songs, etc. Can you please suggest some books and songs which are easy to understand for a beginner in French.
I like the language, it has a similar structure to English and learning French also helps me improve my English vocabulary as the roots of the words in both languages are often the same.
Thank you.
Hi Pradeep – I would have a look at my translation for Coeur de Pirate’s “Comme des Enfants” and “Alors on Danse” by Stromae. If you’re a beginner I would recommend going on Amazon and trying to find some books designed specifically for beginners. In Canada we teach French in a lot of schools and we design novels for children who are beginners/intermediate readers in French. If you search “french novels for kids” on Amazon you will find quite a few (if not on Amazon.com, then definitely on Amazon.ca). Best of luck in your studies! 🙂
Last year my daughter in-law commented that there was a song in a TV commercial that would bring my 3 year-old granddaughter running to TV and she would stand completely mesmerized while it played. Not long after I presented her a CD with song, My granddaughter simply loves listening to it. I’ve also become a fan of it.
I recently had the opportunity to tour parts of Europe on a motorcycle, and upon entering Paris and catching my first glimpses of the Eiffel Tower in the horizon (and as crazy as it sounds) the song started playing in my head.
A video of my trip, with the appropriate soundtrack is on youtube: Nice to Berlin 2019
Hi Angel – it’s great that your granddaughter is an early convert to the wonders of French music. 🙂 There are some fun French kids songs that were played for me as a child, like “Un éléphant sur mon balcon” by Roger Whittaker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHOW-MJC_vw
This was such a pleasure. thanks for posting the translation right next to the original.
Great job, thank you!
One thing though: it’s “Ni le bien qu’on m’a fait” not “Ni le bien qu’on me fait”.
Thanks, Mike, that was a teeny bit troublesome, but over all I do think it was a wonderful of Darby to do this.
Thank you for the translation. We had instinctively said ‘ Non, je ne regrette rien’ To each other whilst mapping out the reasons for our Camino that is to start on Deborahs 60th birthday Easter Monday 13 April 2020 York to Santiago de Compostela.
It makes me cry whenever I hear it
Pardon, ma demoiselle. I’l y as des erreure dans les parole Française.”Ni le bien qu’on me fait”, devrais ètre “Ni le bien qu’on ma fait”
Pardon me madame, there are errors in the French Lyrics (Please see above, one of a few examples)
Darby thank you for this. I’m invited to a 70 birthday party in Paris this summer. And want to sing this song for the birthday
Celebrant. My French is basic. One year in high school. Your breakdown of the lines and translation will be an enormous help in learning the song. Gratitude
In 1962 I was stationed aboard an older Submarine making its last Med run,Our first stop was at the Island of Majorca On my first Liberty call we went to a Cafe that over looked the beach. One of the most requested songs was this one.The other songs were mostly about “The Twist” But this song stayed on my mind for many years. I am 77 Years and can still hear it as if it was yesterday. Thanks for Your Translation.
That’s amazing Jimmy, thank you so much for commenting! It’s amazing how strongly the memory of music stays with us. I feel the same way about songs I heard 10-15 years ago. Edith Piaf’s songs in particular have such an enduring quality. 🙂 I’m glad that you enjoyed the translation.
It is a great song and very well translated. But if i am not mistaken, the translation for ‘Avec mes souvenirs’ should be with my memories and
‘J’ai allumé le feu’ should be I set into fire not the other way around.
I think a couple of lines have been miss synced here
On a quick look .
love this song was trying to learn the French so I could sing it live:
Avec Mes souvenirs & Ja’i allume should be reversed/swapped
Come on Darby
I just watched La Vie en Rose and was brought to tears by the story, and by the incredible songs. I’ve known of Piaf since the ’60s when I took courses in French in High School from a gifted teacher, Joe Harris. I visited Père LaChaise in the ’90s and saw her grave. I have one translation question or perhaps an observation: Isn’t “trémolos” also the musical term for the wavering in a musical tone, which of course, can be used to suggest the trembling of love, as in the song? Indeed, Piaf was herself a master of using her voice to this effect. So, it seems to me that the use of that word has quite a lot of depth given that Piaf understood both a literal meaning of “trembling” but also the musical counterpart. (I am grateful to have found this wonderful website!)
I was 13 when I first heard this song at my grandparents house. The were from France and absolutely loved her and I could see why even then. This song has stuck to me for 60 years. I played it for my nine year old granddaughter after she heard it on a commercial and wanted to know who sang it She loves it too!
Just a couple of edits or quibbles from a French major from decades ago–
qu’on m’a fait — in the past, not the present
‘egal, not ‘egale
Otherwise, very nice! ❤
Enjoyed reading the lyrics. I am much better at reading french. Does anyone know the short poem, “Pour La Vie”? What I remember is; Pour la vie, elle aura nos coeur sans retour, la Patrie, ou nous avons recu la jour, les riche compagne, les belle montagne, font tous notre amour……..I do not know the author. any help would be appreciated.
Sorry I don’t know the poem and couldn’t find it even after a thorough Google. I believe the phrase must be “les riches campagnes, les belles montagnes” so maybe if you search for that line you’ll find something. Hope that helps!
I was a “cold warrior” and stationed in the USAF base in Phalsbourg France in 1961- 1962. I was housed if facilities between Phalsbourg and Saverne. The Air Force provided a bus to take us to and from the base. The driver had his radio on and there were always Piaf songs on the air. I have the now ancient CDs of all her songs and an ancient player that I can still play on my surround sound. I also have the 2007 DVD of her life. I enjoyed very much your lyrics and translations. I still tear up on this song as do some of the other replies. Thanks for this post
My pleasure Bob, thank you for your service. 🙂
Hi Darby,
Thank you for your hard work! And the video is a nice find, also.
I noticed a small thing in your translation – these are reversed:
Avec mes souvenirs I set fire
J’ai allumé le feu To my memories
Cheers!
Hi Robert – I think I switched them on purpose because it makes more sense in English to say “I set fire to my memories” rather than the literal “With my memories… I set fire.” When I translate the lyrics I take some liberties so that it makes sense in English. 🙂 I usually describe these choices in the text under the lyrics. I’m glad that you enjoyed it!
Suggestion: Change the last word from “toi” to “moi”. This changes the last line from “today it starts with you” to “today it starts with me”
I did not get a negative vibe from the song at all. If a movie/show used it in a negative fashion, then I can see why a person would take it that way that a person doesn’t “care about anything.”
Most singers who are lyricist write about there lives. Maybe she lived a life where she does not regret her past, but looks forward to the future with “toi.”
Also, after seeing two commercials on TV with this song, I had to find out who sang it because I love it.
CamCity: She did’t write the song. It was given to her. At first she was reluctant to visit the composer, but after she she did visit him and heard him sing it, she had to have it.
I note a small mistake in the French lyrics you publish: Piaf sang ‘Je m’en fous DU passé .
[You put DE passé; which is not French – trust me, I’m a French teacher !]
It is possible to interpret the line ‘Je repars à zéro’ as ‘I go back to square one.’
Thanks for the lyrics – in the 1960’s I had a 45 rpm disc of Edith Piaf singing Non, je ne regrette rien. But I lost it and couldn’t remember certain passages.
Hi!
My French is limited but I listen to Piaf over and over again singing “Rien de rien” and I have asked a French-speaker to listen with me.
More often than not, depending on the recording and its quality, I hear that very last word as “moi” rather than “toi”.
Is she rejecting past loves and wiping the slate clean because she has found a new love (“toi”) or is she rejecting all loves because she will find all her joy in herself (“moi”)?
I don’t have the best of ears but that last word defines the whole interpretation of the song.
Can you help?
Hi David – the last word is definitely “toi.” The last line is “Ça commence avec toi” – it starts with you. She is talking about starting a new life with her new love. 🙂
Hi, Darby!
Thank you for the reply. It is helpful.
I have to admit that I’m a bit disappointed because I thought she might (just) have put love-affairs aside from then on to concentrate on herself in the future.
I’ve had another listen – at the different Youtube recordings of Edith singing and I still hear ‘moi’ on at least one of them – but ‘toi’ on another. A friend in linguistics in Canada definitely hears ‘toi’ but a French lady visiting England (where I live) said she heard ‘moi’. I have even watched Edith’s lips carefully as she sings and they look to me as if she sometimes forms an ‘m’ rather than a ‘t’. I know all the written lyrics always have ‘toi’, but I just wondered if she sometimes changed it when she sang.
Thank you all the same.
Thank you for this! I love this song, even though I don’t speak French. Seeing the English translation and reading about her life makes me love it even more. It’s wonderful that people of all ages – from young to old and different walks of life can be brought together by song! Again, thank you!
I guess that I am stupid, but I have scrolled throughout this several times to buy the song on itunes and I cannot find “the button below”. CAn you please provide some guidance about where I click to buy this through your blog?
Hi Jan – no, you’re not stupid at all! I removed the all the iTunes buttons as they weren’t be used often and I felt like they were slowing down the load time of the page. And I forgot to remove the reference to the buttons in the text. I’ll be sure to update that. 🙂
Thank you for your translation of this song, every time I see the Allstate Commercial ,I kept saying ” what the heck is that woman singing???!!!!” Finally I decided to Google it and your page came up. I do not speak french so to me the song was kind of weird when I heard it . Now that I know it means she had no regrets, I can understand why Allstate used is for their commercial. In other words when you use Allstate Insurance you will have no regrets of buying it . Makes all sense now.
Very good article overall, just one thing that bugs me. Since Edith Piaf died 5 years before Adele’s mother was born, then how is Edith Piaf being “very Adele”? Perhaps Adele is being very Edith Piaf?
The song is proximately featured in the currently-ongoing Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in NYC.
Ny wife, who basically dislikes French music was sitting there wide-eyed and bopping along….
I thought to myself that if it took Vincent for her to do so to a French chanson – who am I to complain! 🙂
My mentor, a French Jesuit, died in 1986. He had Piaf’s song played at the end of his funeral Mass. In his case it is not hard to guess who is the “you” at the song’s end.
Is there a singer similar to Edith today? Anyone know? My favorite painter is Van Gogh so Alan, you were so lucky to have attended the exhibit. Congrats!
Of course the one and only Mireille (Matheau) have done a TON of Piaf’s repertoire … but then she is not any of the modern singers
Jane Birkin just passed away (s0 sad) couple of days ago and hence another great singer of the Era-Gone-By is gone 🙁
I am not sure if Mylene Farmer would be able to do so if anything her genre is so different. Maybe Helene Segara?
My mother would listen to a song which I understood was sung by a french lady and in the lyrics was the phrase ” how lonesome can one be” or similar. It was a very sad song. I’m wondering if it was one of Edith Piaffs songs please?
As per above:
Je m’en fou: I don’t care
This is a harsher way to say “I don’t care” – the milder way would be “je m’en fiche.” So Edith is saying that she REALLY doesn’t care about the past!
The intend is actually QUITE HARSH!!! IIRC, when French say it in a “conversation” – it’s more like “I dont give a (flying) F**K!!!!”
Really wonderful job of translating, but even more so with your inclusion of the subtle “adjustments” that happen with lyrics
I will be incorporating these ideas next time I perform the song!
In another alternate universe to ours, Edith Piaf would 100% have sung a James Bond theme. The overlap with her lifespan and the release of the film anthology was ever so slight, so close yet so far.
I can’t believe someone the size of an average third-grader (maybe even smaller) would have such a magnitude to her presence. And that is without the backing band. Tell me how she wouldn’t fit the Bond mold like a glove.
Such a treat to see and hear Edith Piaf singing that beautiful song. What a gift she has left us.
Thank you for making it available.
Sincerely,
Pauline
Christchurch
New Zealand.