SongNotes Archives
Jamie O’Reilly
Non je regrette rien
From the musical revue Scarlet Confessions

Remembering Michael. My older brother found our Scarlet Confessions CD recording recently in a thrift store for 50 cents. Coincidentally, my older sister during one of her in depth life-reviews, mentioned the high emotion the Edith Piaf signature song: “Non je regrette rien” solicited. “We recorded that,” I told her. Newly grateful we’d contributed to the song’s canon of interpreters, I’m sharing it again here.

Michael Smith was only 60 years old when we first sang this stirring anthem, made famous by Piaf in 1960, and performed as the finale in our show. Here he leads the track, forecasting his end days, reciting a poem by George Moore: “I see you all around me still. Let the world be your pleasure. Remember me as young and bold. For the young never realize the old were not born old...” ‘Non je regrette rien – I regret nothing.‘ Thus it was so when he passed three years ago on August 3, 2020.

We follow the poem with our powerful 4-part rendition of the classic song.

LISTEN to Non je regrette rien

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Dear Ones whom I love
remember you are the most
interesting beings under heaven
For you all love and parties.
For you all sacrifices
All virtues. All vices.

Dear Ones, I see you all around me still
Let the world be your pleasure
And use it at your will.
Drink to my last words.
Remember me as young and bold.
For the young never realize
the old were not born old.
Dear Ones. Dear Ones.
I neither regret, nor repent.
Farewell.

(Poem by George Moore. Read by Michael Smith.)

Lyrics
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
Balayé les amours
Avec leurs trémolos
Balayé 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
_{Lyrics by Michel Vaucaire
Music by Charles Dumont}

_{B & W Photos by Iwona Biedermann
Color photo by Colm O’Reilly
Featuring Paul Amandes, Jamie O’Reilly, Anne Hills, Jamie OReilly
Copyright, 2002, J. O’Reilly Productions}

_{Recording courtesy of WFMT Fine Arts Radio,
Peter and Nancy Clark
Eric Arunas, Engineer
Mark Moss, mastering, design}