Padam Padam
?dith Piaf Lyrics
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Cet air n'est pas né d'aujourd'hui
Il vient d'aussi loin que je viens
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Un jour cet air me rendra folle
Cent fois j'ai voulu dire pourquoi
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
Il parle toujours avant moi
Padam, padam, padam
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam, padam, padam
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
Padam, padam, padam
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
Et je traîne après moi comme une drôle d'erreur
Cet air qui sait tout par cœur
Il dit: "Rappelle-toi tes amours
Rappelle-toi puisque c'est ton tour
Y'a pas d'raison pour qu'tu n'pleures pas
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras"
Et moi je revois ceux qui restent
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
Toute la comédie des amours
Sur cet air qui va toujours
Padam, padam, padam
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze-juillet
Padam, padam, padam
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
Padam, padam, padam
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin d'la rue
Sur l'air qui m'a reconnue
Écoutez le chahut qu'il me fait
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
J'en ai tout un solfège sur cet air qui bat
Qui bat comme un cœur de bois
The song "Padam Padam" by Edith Piaf is a poignant ode to the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. The opening lines of the song declare, "This tune that obsesses me day and night / This tune wasn't born today / It comes from as far back as I do / Dragged along by a hundred thousand musicians." This sets the stage for a narrative about the persistence of musical memory and its connection to personal history.
As the song progresses, the singer describes how this tune "will drive me crazy someday." She reveals that she has "tried a hundred times to say why" she is so affected by it, but the tune always seems to speak first: "Its voice covers up mine." The singer goes on to describe how the tune keeps reminding her of past loves and joys, and how it makes her feel both happy and sad at the same time. The song's refrain, "Padam Padam," becomes a kind of musical incantation that captures and conveys this complex emotional landscape.
One interesting aspect of "Padam Padam" is the way that it incorporates both personal and collective history into its lyric. The tune that obsesses the singer is not just a private memory, but a shared one that has been passed down through generations of musicians. This idea of music as a kind of collective cultural inheritance is a recurring theme in Piaf's work, and it reflects her own background as a performer who emerged from the working-class streets of Paris.
Another notable aspect of the song is its use of repetition and rhyme. The repetition of the phrase "Padam Padam" creates a kind of sing-song quality that can be both comforting and unsettling. Meanwhile, the internal rhyme scheme of the lyrics gives the song a sense of rhythm and momentum, propelling the listener forward through the narrative.
Line by Line Meaning
Cet air qui m'obsède jour et nuit
This melody that obsesses me day and night
Cet air n'est pas né d'aujourd'hui
It wasn't born today
Il vient d'aussi loin que je viens
It comes from as far as I do
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Dragged by a hundred thousand musicians
Un jour cet air me rendra folle
One day this melody will drive me crazy
Cent fois j'ai voulu dire pourquoi
A hundred times I wanted to ask why
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
But it always cuts me off
Il parle toujours avant moi
It always speaks before me
Et sa voix couvre ma voix
And its voice drowns out mine
Padam, padam, padam
Padam, padam, padam
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
It runs after me
Padam, padam, padam
Padam, padam, padam
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
It plays the remember game with me
Padam, padam, padam
Padam, padam, padam
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
It's a melody that points at me
Et je traîne après moi comme une drôle d'erreur
And I carry it around like a strange mistake
Cet air qui sait tout par cœur
This melody that knows everything by heart
Il dit: "Rappelle-toi tes amours
It says: "Remember your loves
Rappelle-toi puisque c'est ton tour
Remember, it's your turn now
Y'a pas d'raison pour qu'tu n'pleures pas
There's no reason why you shouldn't cry
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras"
With your memories on your shoulders"
Et moi je revois ceux qui restent
And I see those who remain
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
My twenties beat like a drum
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
I see gestures clashing
Toute la comédie des amours
All the comedy of love
Sur cet air qui va toujours
To the tune that never stops
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze-juillet
"I love yous" of Bastille Day
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
"Forever" that one buys for cheap
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
"Do you want tos" by the dozen
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin d'la rue
And all of that just to fall right around the corner
Sur l'air qui m'a reconnue
To the melody that recognized me
Écoutez le chahut qu'il me fait
Listen to the commotion it makes for me
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
As if my whole past was passing me by
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
I must keep some sorrow for later
J'en ai tout un solfège sur cet air qui bat
I have a whole solfège on this beating tune
Qui bat comme un cœur de bois
Beating like a wooden heart
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRI ALEXANDRE CONTET, NORBERT GLANZBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@romagl4298
Cet air qui m'obsède jour et nuit
Cet air n'est pas né d'aujourd'hui
Il vient d'aussi loin que je viens
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Un jour cet air me rendra folle
Cent fois j'ai voulu dire pourquoi
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
Il parle toujours avant moi
Et sa voix couvre ma voix
Padam, padam, padam
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam, padam, padam
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
Padam, padam, padam
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
Et je traîne après moi comme une drôle d'erreur
Cet air qui sait tout par cœur
Il dit "rappelle-toi tes amours
Rappelle-toi puisque c'est ton tour
Y a pas d'raison pour qu'tu n'pleures pas
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras"
Et moi je revois ceux qui restent
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
Toute la comédie des amours
Sur cet air qui va toujours
Padam, padam, padam
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze-juillet
Padam, padam, padam
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
Padam, padam, padam
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin d'la rue
Sur l'air qui m'a reconnue
Écoutez le chahut qu'il me fait
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
J'en ai tout un solfège sur cet air qui bat
Qui bat comme un cœur de bois
@jonf568
Here is the translation:
This air that obsesses me day and night
This air is not born today
He comes from as far as I come
Dragged by one hundred thousand musicians
One day this air will drive me crazy
A hundred times I wanted to say why
But he cut me off
He always speaks before me
And his voice covers my voice
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
He comes running behind me
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
He reminds me of that
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
It's an air that shows me the finger
And I'm hanging out after me like a funny mistake
This air that knows everything by heart
He says, "Remember your loves
Remember since it's your turn
There is no reason for you not to forget
With your memories on your arms ... "
And I see those who remain
My twenty years make drum beat
I see gestures
All the comedy of loves
On this air that always goes
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
Of the "I love you" of fourteen-July
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
"Always" that we buy at a discount
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
"Do you want" here in packages
And all that to fall just around the corner
On the air that has recognized me
...
Listen to the heckling he makes me
...
As if all my past went by
...
Have to keep sorrowing for after
I have all the music on this air that beats ...
Who beats like a heart of wood ...
@mohmadfaadel1313
This air that obsesses me day and night
This tune was not born today
It comes from as far as I come
Dragged by a hundred thousand musicians
One day this tune will drive me crazy
A hundred times I wanted to say why
But he cut me off
He always speaks before me
And his voice covers my voice
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
He comes running behind me
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
It does the blow to me remember
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
It's a tune that points the finger at me
And I'm dragging after me like a funny mistake
This tune that knows everything by heart
He said: "Remember your loves
Remember since it's your turn
there is no reason why you don't cry
With your memories on your arms ... "
And I see those who remain
My twenty years make the drum beat
I see gestures fighting
All the comedy of love
On this tune that always goes
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
Fourteen-July "I love you"
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
"Always" that we buy at a discount
Padam ... padam ... padam ...
"Do you want" here in packages
And all that to fall just around the corner
On the air that recognized me
...
Listen to the ruckus he makes to me
...
As if all my past is scrolling
...
You have to save sorrow for later
I have a whole lot of music theory on this beating tune ...
That beats like a wooden heart ...
@themoonlovers7637
Cet air qui m'obsède jour et nuit
Cet air n`est pas né d`aujourd`hui
Il vient d`aussi loin que je viens
Traîné par cent mille musiciens
Un jour cet air me rendra folle
Cent fois j`ai voulu dire pourquoi
Mais il m'a coupé la parole
Il parle toujours avant moi
Et sa voix couvre ma voix
Padam...padam...padam...
Il arrive en courant derrière moi
Padam...padam...padam...
Il me fait le coup du souviens-toi
Padam...padam...padam...
C'est un air qui me montre du doigt
Et je traîne après moi comme un drôle d`erreur
Cet air qui sait tout par coeur
Il dit: "Rappelle-toi tes amours
Rappelle-toi puisque c`est ton tour
`y a pas d`raison pour qu`tu n`pleures pas
Avec tes souvenirs sur les bras..."
Et moi je revois ceux qui restent
Mes vingt ans font battre tambour
Je vois s'entrebattre des gestes
Toute la comédie des amours
Sur cet air qui va toujours
Padam...padam...padam...
Des "je t'aime" de quatorze-juillet
Padam...padam...padam...
Des "toujours" qu'on achète au rabais
Padam...padam...padam...
Des "veux-tu" en voilà par paquets
Et tout ça pour tomber juste au coin d'la rue
Sur l`air qui m`a reconnue
...
Écoutez le chahut qu`il me fait
...
Comme si tout mon passé défilait
...
Faut garder du chagrin pour après
J`en ai tout un solfège sur cet air qui bat...
Qui bat comme un coeur de bois...
@Mia_____________
A great way for young Kylie fans to discover Piaf. She's incredible.
@jacquesfantastique
Are there young Kylie fans though?
@lennarthelder6002
Gasp
@noxh808
@@jacquesfantastique1355collected
@EthanHackney
gagged
@remingtongraves
@Jacques Fantastique I SCREAMED.
@gsmedia9195
My father was born in Marseille in 1929. He had the privilege of seeing ( edith piaf ) perform in Paris in 1949. He mentioned how tiny she was and that she had a simple black dress on. Nothing like today with all the bells and whistles. Her voice penetrated everything and went straight to your heart. When I listen to her it reminds me of my father and what it must have been like to see her live. It makes me happy to know that so many people have discovered her through TV shows or from word or mouth. C'est merveilleux!
@michaelmika2995
I was born in Paris in 1943 when bombs were falling everywhere. My father put me and my mother on a train to Ellon, Normandy where her mother lived. The last car, the baggage car, was hit by a bomb. We got there with just the clothes on our backs. There was no Woolworth's, Macy's, back then. Clothes were generally hand-made, The house still has one wall standing. We lived just down the road from Caen, a leveled city. I still remember three sunken Liberty ships facing the coast at Arromanches where we would go swimming. We came here, by ship, the "Ile de France," in 1952. I was seasick for six, agonizing days. We settled in Astoria, Queens. Thanks to all the courageous servicemen, we are here to have a safer life. I now live in N.H. I served for 20-years with the N.Y.P.D. Thank you for this song which reminds me of my GREAT mother. My father was born in Czechoslovakia in 1901. Most people don't realize what they have here in this great country.
@hudsony777
This is a very touching recollection, thank you.
@michaelmika2995
@Claudio de Rochefoucault I STILL CRY WHEN READING THIS.