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Libertango
Grace Jones Lyrics


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Strange, I've seen that face before
Seen him hanging 'round my door
Like a hawk stealing for the prey
Like the night waiting for the day

Strange, he shadows me back home
Footsteps echo on the stones
Rainy nights, on Hausmann Boulevard
Parisian music drifting from the bars

Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort?
Tu te prends pour qui?
Toi aussi, tu détestes la vie?

Dance in bars and restaurants
Home with anyone who wants
Strange he's standing there alone
Staring eyes chill me to the bone

Dans sa chambre, Joel et sa valise
Un regard sur ses fringues
Sur les murs, des photos
Sans regret, sans mélo
La porte est claquée
Joel est barré

Overall Meaning

The song I've Seen That Face Before by Grace Jones portrays a feeling of being haunted by the past. The lyrics talk about the singer seeing this mysterious man's face before, and how he follows and shadows her wherever she goes. The man seems to be like a hawk waiting to pounce on his prey, and she feels his penetrating gaze that chills her to the bone. The imagery of walking on Hausmann Boulevard's rainy nights with Parisian music and echoes from footsteps on stones bring a sense of melancholy and loss.


The lyrics in French, "Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort? Tu te prends pour qui? Toi aussi, tu détestes la vie?" roughly translates to "What are you looking for, to meet your death? Who do you think you are? Do you hate life too?" These lines seem to ask the man why he is following her and what his intentions are. Grace Jones's powerful voice and the song's moody melody create an eerie feeling of danger and uncertainty.


Overall, the song I've Seen That Face Before depicts a feeling of being haunted by the past, and the feeling that the past is catching up with us no matter how much we try to run from it.


Line by Line Meaning

Strange, I've seen that face before
I feel a sense of familiarity when I see this person's face


Seen him hanging 'round my door
I have noticed him loitering around my house


Like a hawk stealing for the prey
He is watching and waiting for something or someone to capture


Like the night waiting for the day
He is waiting for something to occur, like the night waiting for the day to break


Strange, he shadows me back home
He follows me to my house without my knowledge


Footsteps echo on the stones
I hear his footsteps on the pavement


Rainy nights, on Hausmann Boulevard
It is raining heavily on the street where I am walking


Parisian music drifting from the bars
The sound of Parisian music is wafting out from various bars


Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort?
What are you searching for, death?


Tu te prends pour qui?
Who do you think you are?


Toi aussi, tu détestes la vie?
Do you also hate life?


Dance in bars and restaurants
I enjoy dancing in both bars and restaurants


Home with anyone who wants
I freely go home with anyone who is interested


Strange he's standing there alone
It's odd to see him standing by himself


Staring eyes chill me to the bone
His intense gaze makes me feel uneasy


Dans sa chambre, Joel et sa valise
In his room, Joel is packing his suitcase


Un regard sur ses fringues
He takes a quick look at his clothing


Sur les murs, des photos
The walls are covered in pictures


Sans regret, sans mélo
Without regret or melodrama


La porte est claquée
The door slams shut


Joel est barré
Joel is gone




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: Astor Pantaleon Piazzolla, Natalie Delon, Barry Reynolds, David Wilkey

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@dalian1993

Shes a bit Jamaican,a bit French, a bit American . Totally unique.
Loved her all these years.
And the thing i love most? Shes steadfastly refused to jump on the Corporate Pop Conveyor Belt.
Love you Grace.❤

@GenesisGunn

She is a jamaican who puts on a voice..like Tina Turner was an American woman who put on a bad European voice.

Grace is dope as F though

@dalian1993

@GenesisGunn  Grace has always been a bit different,and influential to so many others.
Her 'One Man Show' recorded almost 45 years ago was groundbreaking at the time. And still sounds great now.
Rather glad I don't understand what 'dope as F' means. And I'm also rather pleased that don't recall Tina Turner trying to talk European !!

@GenesisGunn

@@dalian1993 for Tina I suggest you listen to her in later years. Eddie Griffin references it in his stand up also so it isn't anything new. For Grace, I spent ten years in Janaica, grew up in and around the community so I know exactly what I am talking about. Hell I am british and have been to America more than once. In jamaica that voice and even her features are not a rarity. The voice is not her natural way of speaking. Dope as F is highly complimentary slang. Her abilities and contributions are undeniable whether loved or loathed.

@helencan

МУЗЫКА - КАЙФ!!!❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@user-nl7oc5bf8z

Ямайская еврейка. Шоубизнес для евреев.

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@marianoblas3608

Two legends: Astor Piazolla and Grace Jones. Life is good

@perezzab

Я всегда в дрожь бросало от её голоса. Настоящая волшебница! А уж это исполнение - просто сказка.

@Peloponnesia666

She is unreal. Absolutely gorgeous human being with immense talent. Thank you for blessing us with your art.

@alanawilson6104

This is probably one of the most beautiful and unique models of the 20th century she's such an inspiration

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