Alain Souchon (born May 27, 1944, Casablanca, Morocco) is a French pop sing… Read Full Bio ↴Alain Souchon (born May 27, 1944, Casablanca, Morocco) is a French pop singer, songwriter and actor. He has released 15 albums and has played roles in seven films.

Souchon signed his first contract in 1971, but had no success until he began to collaborate with composer/arranger Laurent Voulzy ; they would write together, but each released albums under his own name. Souchon's first hit was "J'ai 10 ans" (1974), from the album of the same name. Souchon's biggest hit was probably "Foule Sentimentale" from 1995's C'est Deja ca. His recent album is from 2005, called La Vie Theodore which features his song "Et si en plus, y'a personne" [What if, even more, there is no one], a song condemning religious intolerance.

He wrote the theme for François Truffaut's 1979 film Love on the Run (L'amour en fuite).

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Alain Souchon Lyrics

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Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Écoutez d'où ma peine vient

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Elles disent toutes que j'ai l'air fin
Que j'ai le museau finaud malin
Mais de la vie, de la vie, je ne sais rien

Est-ce que c'est le TGV si vite arrivé
Ou la paresse de l'Express du temps passé?
Est-ce que c'est 87, les chaussons dans la cuisine
Ou le pauvre petit 27 de Janis Joplin?
Est-ce que c'est long ou court la vie?
Est-ce que c'est con ou lourd?

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Elles disent toutes que j'ai l'air fin
Que j'ai le museau finaud malin
Mais de l'amour, de l'amour, je ne sais rien

Est-ce que c'est la longue distance et les caresses au long cours
Ou est-ce qu'on est pour le parcours court?
Est-ce que c'est les cloches qui sonnent, les chapeaux King Size
Ou les petites Paris Hilton à la tequila sunrise?
Est-ce que c'est long, court l'amour?
Est-ce que c'est con et lourd?

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient

Les ours blancs nous regardent avec des yeux drôles
Est-ce qu'une "Hard rain is gone fall"
Est-ce que c'est long, court, con, lourd?

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Écoutez d'où ma peine vient

Overall Meaning

In Alain Souchon's song, "Ecoutez D'où Ma Peine Vient," he sings of his pain and confusion about life and love. The song begins with him asking the listener to listen to where his pain comes from. He then acknowledges that people perceive him as clever and sly, but he confesses that he knows nothing of life. This is an ironic statement because, later in the song, he lists numerous experiences that he's gone through, including travelling on a high-speed train, listening to Janis Joplin's music, and having the weight of life and love on his shoulders. However, despite what he's been through, he feels lost and weighed down by the complexities of existence.

Souchon's lyrics question the nature of life and love. He wonders if love is about long-term commitment or short-term flings. He asks if it's about grand gestures like church bells ringing or small moments like drinking tequila at a bar. He's looking for answers but seems to find none. The song ends on a somber note, with Souchon observing the polar bears and wondering if the world will end in a "hard rain" as Bob Dylan famously sang. The ambiguity and uncertainty of life and love are palpable throughout the song, making it a poignant and thought-provoking piece of music.

Line by Line Meaning

Écoutez d'où ma peine vient
Listen to where my pain comes from

Elles disent toutes que j'ai l'air fin
They all say I look foolish

Que j'ai le museau finaud malin
That I have a sly, sharp nose

Mais de la vie, de la vie, je ne sais rien
But about life, I know nothing

Est-ce que c'est le TGV si vite arrivé
Is it the fast arrival of the TGV

Ou la paresse de l'Express du temps passé
Or the laziness of the Express of past times

Est-ce que c'est quatre-vingt dix-sept les chaussons dans la cuisine
Is it '97 and the slippers in the kitchen

Ou le pauvre petit vingt-sept de Janis Joplin
Or the poor little 27 of Janis Joplin

Est-ce que c'est long ou court
Is it long or short

La vie
Life

Est-ce que c'est con ou lourd
Is it stupid or heavy