Paris Ailleurs
Étienne Daho Lyrics

The lyrics of Étienne Daho's song Paris Ailleurs depict a person who is lost in the city of Paris, both literally and metaphorically. The song opens with the lines, "Paris, où ca? Paris, ici. Paris, où ca? Ailleurs... te perdre, me perdre..." which mean, "Paris, where is it? Paris, here. Paris, where is it? Somewhere else... to lose you, to lose myself..." suggesting that the person is searching for something, possibly love or meaning, and is unable to find it in Paris. The following lines, "Quoi... tu m'railles? Alors, bye... Enchanté, welcome, vous prenez? Pas-sion-nant !", which translate to "What... you're teasing me? Well then, bye... Nice to meet you, welcome, will you have something? Exciting!" suggest that the person is disenchanted with the city and is ready to leave.

The rest of the lyrics describe the various ways in which people interact in Paris, using phrases like "s'enticher, s'mélanger, s'apprivoiser" (to fall in love with, to mix, to tame), "s'enchevétrer, s'métisser, s'additionner" (to interlock, to mix, to add up), and "s'adorer, s'allonger. Climaxer." (to adore each other, to stretch out, to climax) to show the complexity of relationships and the interactions between people in the city. The final lines, "Paris, tu perds. Paris, tu perds... Je pars. Fin." ("Paris, you lose. Paris, you lose... I'm leaving. The end.") reveal the singer's decision to leave Paris, which has failed to give them what they were looking for.

Overall, Paris Ailleurs is a beautiful and emotional exploration of the complexities and contradictions of life in Paris, and the way that people interact with each other in such a diverse and cosmopolitan city.