Souchon signed his first contract in 1971, but had no success until he began to collaborate with composer/arranger Laurent Voulzy ; they would write together, but each released albums under his own name. Souchon's first hit was "J'ai 10 ans" (1974), from the album of the same name. Souchon's biggest hit was probably "Foule Sentimentale" from 1995's C'est Deja ca. His recent album is from 2005, called La Vie Theodore which features his song "Et si en plus, y'a personne" [What if, even more, there is no one], a song condemning religious intolerance.
He wrote the theme for François Truffaut's 1979 film Love on the Run (L'amour en fuite).
La vie ne vaut rien
Alain Souchon Lyrics
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Pour savoir si ça avait un sens l'existence
Il a demandé leur avis à des tas de gens ravis
Ravis, ravis, de donner leur avis sur la vie
Il a traversé les vapeurs des derviches tourneurs
Des haschich fumeurs et il a dit
La vie ne vaut rien, rien, rien, la vie ne vaut rien
Mais moi quand je tiens, tiens
Là dans mes mains éblouies
Les deux jolis petits seins de mon amie
Là je dis rien, rien, rien, rien ne vaut la vie
Il a vu l'espace qui passe
Entre la jet set les fastes, les palaces
Et puis les techniciens de surface
D'autres espèrent dans les clochers, les monastères
Voir le vieux sergent pépère mais ce n'est que Richard Gere
Il est entré comme un insecte sur site d'Internet
Voir les gens des sectes et il a dit
La vie ne vaut rien, rien, rien, la vie ne vaut rien
Mais moi quand je tiens, tiens
Là dans mes mains éblouies
Les deux jolis petits seins de mon amie
Là je dis rien, rien, rien, rien ne vaut la vie
Il a vu manque d'amour, manque d'argent
Comme la vie c'est détergeant
Et comme ça nettoie les gens
Il a joué jeux interdit pour des amis endormis
Et il a dit
La vie ne vaut rien, rien, rien, la vie ne vaut rien
Mais moi quand je tiens, tiens
Là dans mes mains éblouies
Les deux jolis petits seins de mon amie
Là je dis rien, rien, rien, rien ne vaut la vie
The song "La vie ne vaut rien" by Alain Souchon expresses a sense of disillusionment with life and the human search for meaning. The singer describes turning his life around in search of something that would give it some purpose, asking other people's opinion about how to live. Despite his travels and experiences, he comes to the conclusion that life is worth nothing. However, the singer also recognizes that in his hands, he holds something that makes life valuable: the breasts of his lover. He takes comfort in this intimate connection, acknowledging that despite his doubts and questions, their love makes life worth living.
The lyrics also touch on themes of social hierarchy, spirituality, and addiction. The singer observes the differences between the luxurious lifestyles of the wealthy and the more humble existence of those who clean their homes. He mentions the search for deeper meaning through religious devotion, contrasting the idea of finding peace in a monastery with the celebrity culture that surrounds figures like Richard Gere. The references to the use of drugs and other forbidden pleasures suggest a darker side of life, one that may initially provide escape but does not ultimately satisfy.
Overall, "La vie ne vaut rien" speaks to the human struggle to find purpose and happiness in life, and the recognition that true fulfillment may be found in the simplest of pleasures.
Line by Line Meaning
Il a tourné sa vie dans tous les sens
He turned his life upside down
Pour savoir si ça avait un sens l'existence
To know if existence had any meaning
Il a demandé leur avis à des tas de gens ravis
He asked the opinions of many delighted people
Ravis, ravis, de donner leur avis sur la vie
Delighted to give their opinions on life
Il a traversé les vapeurs des derviches tourneurs
He went through the vapors of the whirling dervishes
Des haschich fumeurs et il a dit
Of the hashish smokers and said
La vie ne vaut rien, rien, rien, la vie ne vaut rien
Life is worth nothing, nothing, nothing, life is worth nothing
Mais moi quand je tiens, tiens
But when I hold, hold
Là dans mes mains éblouies
There in my dazzled hands
Les deux jolis petits seins de mon amie
The two pretty little breasts of my girlfriend
Là je dis rien, rien, rien, rien ne vaut la vie
There I say nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing is worth life
Il a vu l'espace qui passe
He saw the passing space
Entre la jet set les fastes, les palaces
Between the jet set, the splendor, and the palaces
Et puis les techniciens de surface
And then the surface technicians
D'autres espèrent dans les clochers, les monastères
Others hope in the steeples, the monasteries
Voir le vieux sergent pépère mais ce n'est que Richard Gere
See the old sergeant Pepe but it's only Richard Gere
Il est entré comme un insecte sur site d'Internet
He entered like an insect on an internet site
Voir les gens des sectes et il a dit
To see the people in the sects and he said
Il a vu manque d'amour, manque d'argent
He saw a lack of love, a lack of money
Comme la vie c'est détergeant
As life is like detergent
Et comme ça nettoie les gens
And how it cleans people
Il a joué jeux interdit pour des amis endormis
He played forbidden games for sleeping friends
Et il a dit
And he said
La vie ne vaut rien, rien, rien, la vie ne vaut rien
Life is worth nothing, nothing, nothing, life is worth nothing
Mais moi quand je tiens, tiens
But when I hold, hold
Là dans mes mains éblouies
There in my dazzled hands
Les deux jolis petits seins de mon amie
The two pretty little breasts of my girlfriend
Là je dis rien, rien, rien, rien ne vaut la vie
There I say nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing is worth life
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS ALAIN SOUCHON
Written by: Alain Souchon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind