comme au long des golfes clairs, ...

Hillary H.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

comme au long des golfes clairs, ...

The translation says "like alongside clear springs."

Does the word "golfes" mean "springs"?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Hillary, 

The line, 'le long des golfes clairs' is a reference to another song (I think) by Charles Trenet, La Mer: 

La mer, qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs , a des reflets d'argent ...

I have never really asked myself what was meant by  'golfes clairs'  here, just took it to mean a body of water created by the sea, and normally golfe will be translated by 'bay'.

I have seen that line translated as -

The sea that we see dancing along the shores of clear bays,  shimmers with silver ...

But this is poetry,  so a translation doesn't have to be literal.

Other opinions very welcome...

comme au long des golfes clairs, ...

The translation says "like alongside clear springs."

Does the word "golfes" mean "springs"?

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