The other day I read Norair Eblighatian’s article in the Armenian Weekly remembering Haroutiun Kurkjian. Norair ended his article saying: “On a final note, as I was typing these lines, I realized that I was murmuring a song by Charles Aznavour called “Camarade.” Rest in peace, unger Haroutiun.” Vahe H Apelian
In a broad sense, we have two terms for a companion in Armenian, “paregam” and “unger”. A “paregam” is translated as friend. We qualify a “paregam” as a “true friend”, a “close friend”, a “sincere friend”, or a “faithful friend”, “intimate friend”. An “unger”, again in broad sense, is a close, sincere, faithful, intimate friend. The person is a comrade, an “unger” in masculine or an “ungeruhi”..
Armenian conversing in English, I have no recollection at this moment having heard a person refer to his friend as my “paregam”. Instead, we use the term “friend” liberally and extensively. But when it comes to the term “comrade”, we shy from using it. Instead of comrade, we have popularized the term “unger” and “ungeruhi”.
The term “comrade”, in the English language appears to have acquired a communist connotation. I am not sure if that is the case in French, whether “camarade” has also communist connotation. “Mon Camarade”, “My Comrate”, “Ungers”, is one of Charles Aznavour’s old songs. It is estimated to have been written in 1970’s, but it is not as commonly known, although some claim that it is one his most profound songs. The song is about camaradeship forged in battle that subsequently evolved.
The song appears to have resurfaced after Charles Aznavour’s death. I attached its original lyrics and its translation into English.
Mon Camarade by Charles Aznavour
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Camarade Tu étais mon seul ami, mon camarade Tous les deux nous avons fait des barricades Les maquis, les commandos, les embuscades | Comrade You were my only friend, my comrade We both made the barricades The maquis, the commandos, the ambushes |
Camarade Un dimanche en défilant à la parade Je t'ai vu soudain là-bas sur une estrade Tu étais visiblement monté en grade Mon camarade | Comrade One Sunday while marching in the parade I suddenly saw you there on a platform You had obviously moved up in rank My comrade |
Camarade Les plus grands venaient te donner l'accolade Ce n'était que mains serrées et embrassades Ça donnait une impression de mascarade Mon camarade | Comrade The highest officers came to give you accolades It was nothing but handshaking and backslapping [It gave an impression of a mascarade My comrade |
Camarade Moi ici j'ai pris mon parti des brimades Nous dormons tout habillés, les nuits sont froides L'important c'est de ne pas tomber malade Mon camarade | Comrade Here, I've come to terms with the bullying We sleep fully clothed, the nights are cold The important thing is not to fall ill My comrade
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Camarade Je ne vois qu'un petit coin de ciel maussade Et les murs qui défieraient toute escalade Ce n'est pas une prison d'où l'on s'évade Mon camarade | Comrade I see only a small patch of gloomy sky And the walls that would defy any climbing It's not a prison that you could escape from My comrade |
Camarade Le matin c'est la relève des brigades A midi c'est l'heure de la promenade Et la nuit on fait des rêves d'escapade Mon camarade | Comrade In the morning it's the shift change At noon it’s the time for a walk And at night we dream of escape My comrade |
Camarade J'ai appris qu'ils t'ont donné une ambassade Quelque part à Caracas ou à Belgrade Plus tu montes plus, tu vois, je rétrograde Mon camarade | Comrade I heard they gave you an embassy Somewhere in Caracas or Belgrade The higher you go, the more you see, I'm going down My comrade |
Camarade C'est fini j'arrête ici mes jérémiades À bientôt qui sait dans une ou deux décades Et je signe comme au temps de nos gambades Ton Camarade | Comrade It's over, I'll stop my whining here I may see you again, who knows, in one or two decades And I sign off like in the days of our frolics Your Comrade |
Tu étais mon seul ami, mon camarade Tous les deux nous avons fait les barricades Les maquis, les commandos, les embuscades Mon camarade. | You were my only friend, my comrade We both made the barricades The maquis, the commandos, the ambushes My comrade. |
Maquis – the French resistance movment during German occupation. | |
I also attached comments and tributes to Aznavour posted in Youtube. These comments were in French. The attachments are the Google’s translation of the comments.
Comments about Charles Aznavour’s song “Mon Camarade”:
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Magnificent song that we rarely heard, too bad.
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Exceptional song by this immense composer-performer Mr. Charles Aznavour ..........
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Tribute to all the resistance fighters 80 years of the liberation of Paris. Aznavour, we will always love you, RIP COMRADE.
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The French are proud of Charles Aznavour, they will never forget him. How sad this world has been for the last 10 years; our greatest artists are no longer here.
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Not one of the best known, but very beautiful song, thank you Mr Charles!!!!!
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Sad but striking song. Charles Aznavour... for me an Englishman the most beautiful singer of all! R.I.P.
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Mr Aznavour it would have been an honor for me to be your comrade.
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MAGNIFICENT SONG. SO TRUE.
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Not one of the best known, but very beautiful song, thank you Mr Charles!!!!!
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This song was composed during a concert by Charles in Tours at the Sanitas sports center around 1970 with rhymes in "ade" suggested by the audience. He immediately produced this song, words and music, to a standing ovation from a wild audience. What talent! Who remembers it? What talent! PS: The original lyrics have since been slightly modified!
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In the same way that he campaigned against bullfighting, with his song "LE TOREADOR", in the same way that he showed his respect for the homosexual community with "I AM A MAN, OH LIKE THEY SAY", here he committed himself against communism, always without provocation, with careful choice of words and exquisite and relevant rhymes, he was not just a composer, he was a poet!
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This song is not against communism, but against the dictators who played the card of populism and proximity to gain power and then martyr the same people they called, "comrade" "companion" "citizen"
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A little-known song by Charles Aznavour and yet the text is magnificent with its rhymes and rhythmic music. Well-done artist!
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God this song is beautiful. Comrades who are not. Who use others, noble causes to betray their true comrades. Nothing has changed.
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