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).

La mort de l'ours
Alain Souchon Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Où allez–vous Papa Loup
Chapeau mou médaille au cou
Vous a-t’on nommé shériff
Des montagnes et des récifs
Non mon fils j’ai pris un bain
Chaussé guêtres canne en main
Je m’en vais rendre hommage au roi
Si tu veux viens avec moi

Un Orignal ni Carcajou
Je ne connais roi que vous
Peigne plutôt tes poils fous
Et suis-moi à pas de loup
Ils ont marché quatre lieues
Arrivé près d’un torrent
Sauvage et débordant
De cris et de chants d’adieux
Bonjour Sire c’est moi le loup
Voyez-vous m’entendez-vous
Je suis venu à travers bois
Vous saluer comme il se doit
Il se tient droit salue l’ours
Qui a la patte dans le piège
Plein de sang dessus la mousse
Tombe la première neige
Le petit loup est ému
Il voudrait rentrer chez lui
Le gros ours le gros poilu
Prend sa main lui dit merci
Ils sont revenus de nuit
A travers bouleau joli

Le plus vieux marchait devant
Et pleurait abondamment.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Alain Souchon's "La mort de l'ours" tell the story of a young wolf and his father who set out on a journey to pay their respects to the king of the forest, who turns out to be a wounded and dying bear stuck in a trap. The father, who was mistaken for a sheriff because of his hat and medal, takes the opportunity to teach his son about the circle of life and the importance of showing respect to all creatures, big and small. The bear acknowledges the wolf's presence and thanks him for coming, leaving a deep impression on the young wolf. They return home at night through a beautiful birch forest, but the father is seen crying heavily, possibly mourning the loss of the bear and the cycle of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Où allez-vous Papa Loup
Papa Loup, I see that you are wearing a hat and a medal. Have you been made the sheriff of the mountains and the reefs?

Chapeau mou médaille au cou
No, my son. I just took a bath and put on my boots and grabbed my cane. I am going to pay my respects to the king. You are welcome to come with me.

Vous a-t’on nommé shérif
I do not know any other king but you, the Moose or the Wolverine. Brush your wild hair instead and follow me without making noise.

Des montagnes et des récifs
They walked four leagues and arrived near a torrent full of cries and farewell songs.

Non mon fils j’ai pris un bain
Good day, Sire. It is me, the wolf. Do you hear me? I came through the woods to greet you properly.

Chaussé guêtres canne en main
The bear is standing upright with a paw caught in a trap, blood on the moss and the first snow is falling.

Je m’en vais rendre hommage au roi
The little wolf is moved and wants to go home, but the big bear takes his hand and thanks him.

Si tu veux viens avec moi
They came back at night, walking among pretty birches. The oldest in front of all and weeping abundantly.

Un Orignal ni Carcajou

Je ne connais roi que vous

Peigne plutôt tes poils fous

Et suis-moi à pas de loup

Ils ont marché quatre lieues

Arrivé près d’un torrent

Sauvage et débordant