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).
C'était un soir
Alain Souchon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient
C'était un soir orange et vert
Y a des fumées au fond de l'air à Paris
C'était un soir de temps qui passe
Avec ses mégots, ses palaces
Et ces visages fatigués, fatigués
J'avais des soirs de poésie tout là bas, quand j'étais petit
Avec des rires de confiture coulant sur des pages d'écriture
J'avais des soirs de tragédie, de larmes et de piqûres d'orties
De vrais chagrins au fond des nuits de mes nuits
Mais c'est un soir comme tous les soirs
Au bout d'mon lit passent des autos
Au bout d'ma vie, coulent des bateaux, mes bateaux
Mais c'est un soir orange et vert
Sous le soleil des réverbères de Paris
C'était un soir comme tous les soirs
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient
C'était un soir orange et vert
Y a des fumées au fond de l'air à Paris
C'était un soir comme tous les soirs
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient, qui pleuraient
The lyrics to Alain Souchon's song "C'était un soir" describe a typical evening in Paris. Souchon starts by telling us that it's just an ordinary night, like any other. He points out that on the radio he can hear The Rolling Stones playing a sad song, which adds to the atmosphere of the evening. He then notes the orange and green colors in the evening sky, a reference to the streetlights and the smog that notoriously blankets the city.
Paris, with its distinctive smoky haze, is the backdrop for this song, and Souchon takes note of the atmosphere of the night, emphasizing the passage of time and the weariness of the people around him. The final lines of the first verse refer to the discarded cigarette butts and luxurious hotels that he sees around him, suggesting a sense of faded grandeur in the city.
In the second verse, Souchon reminisces about nights of his childhood, filled with laughter and joy. He also recalls darker moments in his past, hinting at struggles with addiction and loss. Ultimately, however, he returns to the present moment and to the city of Paris, where even the sad music of The Rolling Stones can't detract from the beauty of the streetlights and the riverboats on the Seine.
Overall, "C'était un soir" captures the bittersweet quality of life, as we move through ordinary moments that are nevertheless filled with beauty and meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
C'était un soir comme tous les soirs
This was an ordinary evening, similar to all the others.
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
The newspaper had words printed on it.
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient
The Stones were playing on the radio, singing a sad song.
C'était un soir orange et vert
The evening had an orange and green color scheme.
Y a des fumées au fond de l'air à Paris
There were smoke and haze in the air in Paris.
C'était un soir de temps qui passe
This was an evening marking the passing of time.
Avec ses mégots, ses palaces
The evening was marked by cigarette butts and grand buildings.
Et ces visages fatigués, fatigués
And there were tired, tired faces.
J'avais des soirs de poésie tout là bas, quand j'étais petit
I had evenings full of poetry far away, when I was young.
Avec des rires de confiture coulant sur des pages d'écriture
With laughter like dripping jam on pages of writing.
J'avais des soirs de tragédie, de larmes et de piqûres d'orties
I had evenings of tragedy, tears and stinging nettles.
De vrais chagrins au fond des nuits de mes nuits
Real sorrows at the depths of my nights.
Mais c'est un soir comme tous les soirs
But this is an ordinary evening, like all the others.
Au bout d'mon lit passent des autos
Cars pass by at the end of my bed.
Au bout d'ma vie, coulent des bateaux, mes bateaux
At the end of my life, my boats sail away.
Sous le soleil des réverbères de Paris
Under the sun of the Parisian streetlights.
C'était un soir comme tous les soirs
This was an ordinary evening, like all the others.
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
The newspaper had words printed on it.
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient
The Stones were playing on the radio, singing a sad song.
C'était un soir orange et vert
The evening had an orange and green color scheme.
Y a des fumées au fond de l'air à Paris
There were smoke and haze in the air in Paris.
C'était un soir comme tous les soirs
This was an ordinary evening, like all the others.
Sur le journal, y avait des mots
The newspaper had words printed on it.
Y avait les Stones à la radio qui pleuraient, qui pleuraient
The Stones were playing on the radio, crying out their grief.
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS ALAIN SOUCHON
Written by: ALAIN SOUCHON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@sensation1767
Super version ! Encore mieux que tonton Alain ;)
@MUSKATNUSSHERMULLER
Superbe reprise ! Où avez-vous trouvé les accords ?