I Have Lived (J'ai Vécu) in Charles Aznavour

When I take a one-way ticket to the road of no return,
on a journey every man must make some day.
When it's time to meet the Father
and explains my sins away,
I will tell him, yes I'll tell him I have lived.

I have lived each single moment as a man of flesh and blood,
with my soul and all my senses open wide.
I have lived and tasted everything that called out to be tried
and afraid of either heaven or of hell,
never caring if I had a soul to sell.

I was no more optimistic than my fellow man would be,
I have always been an artist, not a saint.
Now the moonlights are dimming,
no more costumes, no more paint.
I admit that I was selfish, I have lived.

I have lived a life of running, after joy and happiness,
with a new dream always tearing at my heart.
Oh my Lord, I should have thought of my salvation at the start,
but on Earth so many mornings I was told,
you would take a sinner back into the fall.

If my reasons seem too fragile and my words have no effect
and forgiveness is the one thing I must win,
I'll explain my live and show you all I am and all I've been
and I'll say for my defence that I have lived.

I have lived with soul on fire, with desire in my skin,
in the name of all the women I have known.
I have worshipped every shrine of love and if I must at all,
I'll be ready then to kneel and pay the price,
for the yesterdays I spent in Paradise.

I have lived my life.