This is a 1973 ballad from Italian / French singer Dalida.
The song quickly became an international success and was then recorded in Italian, German, Spanish, Japanese and English.
In her real life, when Dalida was 34 years old, she had a secret relationship with a 22-year-old student. Their romance resulted in an unwanted pregnancy, and Dalida chose to have an abortion. Subsequently, she became sterile, and it became the tragedy of Dalida’s life.
The song tells the story of a mature woman having an encounter with a young man. It focuses on the woman’s feelings and thoughts.
A few expressions in context:
“C’était l’été, évidemment (It was summer, obviously)
Et j’ai compté en le voyant (And when I saw him, I was counting)
Mes nuits d’automne” (My autumnal nights)
In French poetry, Autumn is often used as a metaphor for later stages in life. And Autumnal nights for cold and loneliness.
“C’était le plus bel argument (It was the best argument)
De sa victoire” (Of his victory)
An argument in French can be a counter-opinion, a point of persuasion or an asset.
“Il avait vu au cinéma (At the movie, he had seen)
Le blé en herbe”(Le blé en herbe)
This is a French bildungsroman by Colette. The story is about the emotional and sexual awakening of two teenagers on holiday.
“Au creux d’un lit improvisé (In the hollow of a makeshift bed)
J’ai découvert, émerveillée (With wonder, I discovered)
Un ciel superbe” (A superb sky)
Au creux du lit is a French expression that is often used to convey comfort and intimacy, and a place where one seeks refuge (from weariness), or lovers find intimacy. Looking at French literature, for example, the translated work of Colette is often translated as the warm imprint of a bed.
The magnificent sky is a poetic expression that could mean that the subject found heaven (from sexual pleasure) or optimism (a bright future, as she described herself as an ageing woman in her twilight years)
“Et pendant qu’il se rhabillait (And whilst he was getting dressed)
Déjà vaincue, je retrouvais (I was beaten, I found again)
Ma solitude” (My loneliness)
Vaincu in French can be used to mean to be beaten in a battle or game, as well as being conquered in a war. Indicating the subject has been beaten by her own hope from her glimpse into youthfulness, or her heart was conquered by the boy, only to be pushed back into loneliness.
“Pourtant, je l’ai laissé partir (Yet, I let him go)
Sans faire un geste” (Without a move)
This conveys that she let the boy go without a fuss as she realised this was a one-off sexual experience rather than a blossoming romance.
Il venait d’avoir dix-huit ans
Il était beau comme un enfant
Fort comme un homme
C’était l’été, évidemment
Et j’ai compté en le voyant
Mes nuits d’automne
J’ai mis de l’ordre à mes cheveux
Un peu plus de noir sur mes yeux
Ça l’a fait rire
Quand il s’est approché de moi
J’aurais donné n’importe quoi
Pour le séduire
Il venait d’avoir dix-huit ans
C’était le plus bel argument
De sa victoire
Il ne m’a pas parlé d’amour
Il pensait que les mots d’amour
Sont dérisoires
Il m’a dit “j’ai envie de toi”
Il avait vu au cinéma
Le blé en herbe
Au creux d’un lit improvisé
J’ai découvert,
émerveillée
Un ciel superbe
Il venait d’avoir dix-huit ans
Ça le rendait presque insolent
De certitude
Et pendant qu’il se rhabillait
Déjà vaincue, je retrouvais
Ma solitude
J’aurais voulu le
retenir
Pourtant, je l’ai laissé partir
Sans faire un geste
Il m’a dit “c’était pas si mal”
Avec la candeur infernale
De sa jeunesse
J’ai mis de l’ordre à mes cheveux
Un peu plus de noir sur mes yeux
Par habitude
J’avais oublié simplement
Que j’avais deux fois
Dix-huit ans
He had just turned 18.
He was beautiful as a child,
strong as a man.
It was summer, of course
And when I saw him, I was counting
my twilight years
I tidied my hair
a little more black on my eyes
It made him laugh.
When he approached me,
I would have given anything
to seduce him.
He had just turned 18.
That was the ultimate weapon
of his victory.
He didn’t talk to me about love.
He thought that romantic words
were trivial.
He said to me
“I want you.”
He had seen the movie
“Le blé en herbe”
In a makeshift bed, I discovered
in wonder
a beautiful sky.
He had just turned 18.
It made him almost bold
with convictions.
And while he was getting dressed
already defeated, I went back to
my loneliness
I would have loved
to hold him back
Yet, I let him go
without a fuss
He said to me, “it wasn’t too bad”
with the devilish innocence
of his youth.
I tidied my hair
a little more black on my eyes.
Out of habit,
I had just forgotten
that I was twice
18 years old.
Between the French lyrics 
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