I don't regret anything

I was reminded today of this old song by Edith Piaf. I always thought the attitude in the song was a bit prideful. “I don’t regret anything”. Who can say that? But today I decided to listen to the song and it completely wrecked me. I listened again and again with tears in my eyes. It is a really powerful song that carries a redemptive message even. No wonder it has been such a loved song for ages. I was surprised when I looked up the lyrics and found lines like “everything is paid for, gone, forgotten” and “my joys and my life starts today with you”. (I know the English translation below is not the best – but still…)

John Mark McMillan says the same thing in his song “How he loves us so”. “I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way he loves us” (one of the best songs out there right now on how God loves us. If you don’t want to listen to the whole 9 minutes wonderful version of this song with Kim Walker, go fast forward 4 minutes in to the song to get my point).

It is not that we never have done anything wrong that we would need to regret for, but there is forgiveness and once we have repented we can just move on and forget the past, not dwell on it anymore. There is only one way to go – forward! (Phil 3:13)

Non! Rien de rien

Non! Je ne regrette rien

Ni le bien qu'on m'a fait

Ni le mal tout ça m'est bien égal !

Non! Rien de rien

Non! Je ne regrette rien

C'est payé, balayé, oublié

Je me fous du passé !

Avec mes souvenirs

J'ai allumé le feu

Mes chagrins, mes plaisirs

Je n'ai plus besoin d'eux !

Balayées les amours

Et tous leurs trémolos

Balayés pour toujours

Je repars à zéro

Non ! Rien de rien

Non ! Je ne regrette rien

Ni le bien, qu'on m'a fait

Ni le mal, tout ça m'est bien égal !

Non ! Rien de rien

Non ! Je ne regrette rien

Car ma vie, car mes joies

Aujourd'hui, ça commence avec toi !

No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
Not the good people did to me
Neither any evil - I do not care!

No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
It is paid for, gone, forgotten
I do not care about the past!

With my memories
I lit the fire
My sorrows, my pleasures
I no longer need them!

Past loves
And all their heart aches
Swept away forever
I'm heading back to zero

No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
Neither good, they made me
Nor evil - I do not care!

No! Nothing at all
No! I regret nothing
For my life, for my joys
Today, it starts with you!