La Java Des Squelettes
Alain Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dans une jolie petite guinguette
J'étais le seul invité à danser
Au grand bal des squelettes
Je n'avais jamais valsé
Leur java j'étais apeuré
Quand une squelette vint m'initier.
Avec tonus lever l'humérus remuer remuer radius et cubitus puis côte à côte cambrer l'ossature frétiller frétiller des tibias des fémurs
Va La Java Des Squelettes elle te secoue les gambettes ah les beaux os qui cliquettent qui cliquettent à l'heure où se lèvent les chouettes
En se caressant l'occipital
Onduler onduler la colonne vertébrale
Appuyer sternum contre sternum
Tapoter tapoter pointe et calcaneum
Refrain
ça va peut être jazzer si les gens voient valser des squelettes
Mais ils sont tellement doués pour la java et pour les claquettes
On a beaucoup à leur envier
Suivons ces maîtres de ballet
Apprenons à bien gigoter
Refrain
The song "La Java des squelettes" by Alain Schneider tells the story of the singer attending a dance party by the river Yvette. The party was hosted at a small guinguette, and the singer was the only human guest dancing among the skeletons. He was initially scared of their dance moves but was soon initiated to participate by a female skeleton. The song describes various body parts of the skeletons moving in dance, including the hands on the hips and the elbows and knees moving back and forth. The spine also oscillates to the beat, and the singer is encouraged to move his own hips and legs. The chorus of the song describes the joy of dancing with the skeletons as their bones clatter with the rhythm, and the party continues until sunrise.
The song is a playful exploration of death and the afterlife, romanticizing the idea of dancing with skeletons as equal participants in a party. The lyrics also suggest a message of inclusivity, as the singer is welcomed by the skeletons and encouraged to join in their dance. The song has a lighthearted tone and uses humor to address a morbid subject matter, making it a popular children's song in France.
Line by Line Meaning
Au bord de l'eau de l'Yvette
I was at the riverside of the Yvette, near a charming little pub.
Dans une jolie petite guinguette
I was at a nice little tavern.
J'étais le seul invité à danser
I was the only guest dancing.
Au grand bal des squelettes
I was at a dance party with skeletons.
Je n'avais jamais valsé
I had never danced before.
Leur java j'étais apeuré
Their dance style scared me.
Quand une squelette vint m'initier.
Then, a skeleton came and offered to teach me to dance.
Tes métacarpes sur mes os iliaques chalouper chalouper souple des omoplates crâne incliné sur les clavicules tricoter tricoter des coudes et des rotules
Your hands on my hip bones, swaying, flexible shoulder blades, tilted skull on collarbones, knitting elbows and knees.
Avec tonus lever l'humérus remuer remuer radius et cubitus puis côte à côte cambrer l'ossature frétiller frétiller des tibias des fémurs
With energy and strength, lift the upper arm and move, move the forearm bones, then bend the skeleton side by side, shake, shake the leg bones.
Va La Java Des Squelettes elle te secoue les gambettes ah les beaux os qui cliquettent qui cliquettent à l'heure où se lèvent les chouettes
The Skeletons' Java will shake up your legs, oh the beautiful bones that click, click at the time when the owls rise.
En se caressant l'occipital onduler onduler la colonne vertébrale appuyer sternum contre sternum tapoter tapoter pointe et calcaneum
While caressing the occipital bone, wave, wave the spine, press sternum against sternum, tap, tap the toes and heels.
Refrain
Chorus
ça va peut être jazzer si les gens voient valser des squelettes
Perhaps it will seem jazzy if people see skeletons dancing.
Mais ils sont tellement doués pour la java et pour les claquettes
But they are so skilled at Java and tap-dancing.
On a beaucoup à leur envier
We have much to envy them for.
Suivons ces maîtres de ballet apprenons à bien gigoter
Let us follow these dance masters and learn to move well.
Refrain
Chorus
Writer(s): Alain Schneider
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.