Daho is best known in Britain for his appearence on the number 11 Saint Etienne hit single "He's On The Phone", which is an English-language adaptation of his 1984 French-language hit "Weekend à Rome". He also collaborated with Saint Etienne on the Resurrection EP, his album Eden, and his single "Le Premier Jour", itself based on the track "Ready or Not" from Sarah Cracknell's 1997 solo album "Lipslide".
He has worked with many other artists, such as Chris Isaak, Marianne Faithfull, Elli Medeiros, Astrud Gilberto, Vanessa Daou, the Swingle Singers, and more. His duet with Charlotte Gainsbourg, titled "If", was released in 2004.
His 1996 album Eden featured a mix of electronic-oriented songs, ranging from downtempo ballads to drum 'n' bass-influenced tracks, and HiNRG dance. Corps & armes (2000) saw Daho return to a more orchestral sound fuelled by traditional instruments, such as piano, acoustic guitar, and horns. In 2004, he released Réévolution, which featured a guitar-heavy rock sound.
In 2012, he produced and composed songs for French comedian/singer Lou Doillon for her first album Places.
Étienne Daho is one of the most influential French pop singers of the last four decades. His extensive work has seen him collaborate with many artists, and explore a wide range of musical styles.
Toi Jamais Toujours
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Toi plus jamais, cheval de feu, ô toi toujours, crapaud de Dieu
Cantharide acide, tubéreuse mortelle, mon ange doré
Toi jamais, mais insiste encore un peu, ô toi toujours
Encore et toujours, le jour se lève et je t'adore,
Rubis glorieux, lame d'argent, poignard sculpté dans mon cœur
Toi jamais, toi jamais
Toi jamais, sauf si tu ris dans les matins chagrins
Sauf si tu couches dans les fleurs, loin du malheur
Des migraines folles et des bagues à poison
Alors, toi peut-être, toi toujours ô mon maître, traîtresse
Toi toujours
Toi toujours
Oh oui, toi plus que jamais
Bouquet final, pissotière sacrée, mon âme
Toi jamais, jamais plus loin de toi
Tu brûles, tu flambes dans mes veines
Comme un nectar assassin
Tiens, tiens, prends ma main pour toujours
Pour toujours
Toujours pour toi, les envolées du paradis
Les flammes de la vie
Les amandiers en fleurs sur l'horizon
Toujours toi, à jamais, jamais, jamais
Toujours toi que j'aimais nuit et jour
Ô pleurs de joie, toi, jamais toujours
Toi, jamais toujours
Toi, jamais.
The lyrics to Étienne Daho's song "Toi Jamais Toujours" are complex and open to interpretation. The repetitive use of contradictory imagery and language adds to the haunting and melancholic atmosphere of the song.
The first verse contains a series of paradoxical descriptions that seem to be directed towards a lover or someone significant to the singer. The words "vermine douce" (soft vermin), "satan de soie" (silk Satan), and "cheval de feu" (horse of fire) are all paradoxical descriptions that create a sense of unease and confusion. The singer seems to be torn between wanting this person (represented by the "soleil levant" or rising sun) and fearing them (represented by the "crapaud de Dieu" or toad of God).
The second verse adds to the complexity of the song by giving conditions that the person must meet in order to be with the singer. They must be able to find joy in sadness and be able to escape the pain of the world by retreating into nature. The use of "traitresse" (traitor) indicates that this person may not meet these conditions and cannot be trusted.
Overall, the song creates a sense of longing and conflict within the singer, who is torn between their love for this person and their fear and mistrust of them.
Line by Line Meaning
Toi jamais, vermine douce, satan de soie, soleil levant
You, never - sweet vermin, silk Satan, rising sun.
Toi plus jamais, cheval de feu, ô toi toujours, crapaud de Dieu
You, never again - fire horse, always you - toad of God.
Cantharide acide, tubéreuse mortelle, mon ange doré
Acidic beetle, deadly tuberose, my golden angel.
Toi jamais, mais insiste encore un peu, ô toi toujours
You, never - but insist a little more, always you.
Encore et toujours, le jour se lève et je t'adore,
Again and again, the day rises and I adore you,
Rubis glorieux, lame d'argent, poignard sculpté dans mon cœur
Glorious ruby, silver blade, knife carved into my heart.
Toi jamais, toi jamais
You, never - you, never.
Toi jamais, sauf si tu ris dans les matins chagrins
You, never - except if you laugh in sad mornings,
Sauf si tu couches dans les fleurs, loin du malheur
Except if you lay in flowers, far from misfortune,
Des migraines folles et des bagues à poison
Wild migraines and poison rings.
Alors, toi peut-être, toi toujours ô mon maître, traîtresse
So, maybe you, always you, oh my master, traitor.
Toi toujours
Always you.
Toi toujours
Always you.
Oh oui, toi plus que jamais
Oh yes, you more than ever.
Bouquet final, pissotière sacrée, mon âme
Final bouquet, sacred urinal, my soul.
Toi jamais, jamais plus loin de toi
You, never - never farther from you.
Tu brûles, tu flambes dans mes veines
You burn, you blaze in my veins.
Comme un nectar assassin
Like a deadly nectar.
Tiens, tiens, prends ma main pour toujours
Hold on, hold on, take my hand forever.
Pour toujours
Forever.
Toujours pour toi, les envolées du paradis
Always for you, the soaring of paradise.
Les flammes de la vie
The flames of life.
Les amandiers en fleurs sur l'horizon
The flowering almond trees on the horizon.
Toujours toi, à jamais, jamais, jamais
Always you, forever, never, never.
Toujours toi que j'aimais nuit et jour
Always you, whom I loved day and night.
Ô pleurs de joie, toi, jamais toujours
Oh tears of joy, you, never always.
Toi, jamais toujours
You, never always.
Toi, jamais.
You, never.
Writer(s): Etienne Daho, Xavier Geronimi Copyright: Satori Songs
Contributed by Charlie T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.