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.
Va t'en
Étienne Daho Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Va t'en, ferme bien la porte derrière toi
Le jour où je t'ai trouvée là
J'crois pas qu'j'avais la baraka
J'ai été séduit par ton air gavroche
Le chapeau sur un oeil et les poings dans les poches
Mais à qui donc avais-je affaire
Sourire gentil et coeur de fer
Une araignée cruelle mais ta toile s'effiloche
Je tire un trait sur cette histoire
Dépêche-toi il se fait tard
Prends ta valise et ferme bien la porte
Sans larmes ni soupir, que la diable t'emporte
The lyrics to Etienne Daho's song Va t'en convey a sense of regret and disappointment, with the singer urging someone to leave and close the door behind them. The song tells the story of an encounter with someone whom the singer found attractive and intriguing at first, but who turned out to be cruel and untrustworthy. The person seemed to have a tough exterior, with a hat pulled over one eye and their fists in their pockets, but the singer soon realized that there was more to them than met the eye.
As the relationship progressed, the singer came to see that this person was not who they appeared to be. They had a cruel streak and their actions were destroying the singer's life. Finally, the singer decides to end the relationship and urges the other person to leave, telling them to take their suitcase and close the door without any tears or regrets. The song captures the pain and sadness of realizing that someone you thought you loved was not the person you thought they were.
Overall, Va t'en is a hauntingly beautiful song that captures the complexity of relationships and the emotional toll that they can take. The lyrics are introspective and thoughtful, and the music perfectly captures the mood of the song. It is a song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt deceived by a relationship, and it reminds us that sometimes the hardest thing to do is to let go and move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Va t'en, ferme bien la porte
Go away, close the door firmly behind you
Va t'en, ferme bien la porte derrière toi
Go away, close the door firmly behind you
Le jour où je t'ai trouvée là
The day I found you there
J'crois pas qu'j'avais la baraka
I don't think I had good luck
J'ai été séduit par ton air gavroche
I was seduced by your gavroche air
Le chapeau sur un oeil et les poings dans les poches
Hat over one eye and fists in pockets
Mais à qui donc avais-je affaire
But who was I dealing with
Sourire gentil et coeur de fer
Kind smile and heart of iron
Je savais pas c'qu'y avait dans ta caboche
I didn't know what was in your head
Une araignée cruelle mais ta toile s'effiloche
A cruel spider but your web is unraveling
Je tire un trait sur cette histoire
I draw a line on this story
Dépêche-toi il se fait tard
Hurry up, it's getting late
Prends ta valise et ferme bien la porte
Take your suitcase and close the door firmly
Sans larmes ni soupir, que la diable t'emporte
Without tears or sighs, let the devil take you
Contributed by Audrey K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@user-bn7ms5pj6w
J'adore j'adore...simplement géniale
@mrshariandavidian9129
Leurs voix se marient tellement bien :-)
@fwedetnath5961
Daho / Gainsbourg duo imparable : quels talents...
c'est tellement envoutant...
Bravo ! et ils sont tellement beaux.
J'adoooore !
@laurence.MusicAndSights
Il s'agit d'un duo extraordinaire de 2 voix douces et malicieuses avec des rimes en IF ...SI en anglais, si vous analysez les paroles ci après dans les commentaires. Amour toxique, dépendance affective extrême. 🎉 depuis toutes ces années, le charme irrésistible de cette chanson m ensorcèle 🦄 🧚♀️ ❤
@mayebil
Fan d'Étienne Daho j'adore l'association de sa voix avec celle de Charlotte cette chanson est une pépite cette interprétation j'adorei 🦋
@fabienne282
J'adore ces deux là
Très beaux duo
@1970gah
Des réminiscences du tandem Hardy/Gainsbourg pour une écriture qui évoque le papa de la petite Charlotte (les rimes en if, les amours malheureux par trop... expéditifs !) qui prend ici des faux airs de dame Françoise tant physiquement que vocalement. Une vraie réussite.
Au passage, une pensée pour ma sœur ainée disparue il y a quatre ans et qui était fan du monsieur (et moi admirateur du père de la donzelle).
@GourmetGhouless
Their voices complete each other's so well! ❤️
@martinecaste4619
Je suis addictive à ce merveilleux texte.
On retrouve l'inspiration de Gainsbourg.
@myosotis6003
Deux voix que j’adore et qui se complètent parfaitement !! Et ce texte... perfect!!