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).
Lisa
Alain Souchon Lyrics
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Fais pas ta Mona Lisa
Pleure pas sur ta pizza
Parce que j'ai fait ma valisa
Lisa, on s'écrira
Puis on s'écrira pas
Lisa, on s'oubliera
Ainsi va la vie, Lisa
Lisa, l'hôtel de la plage
A fermé, il faut plier bagage
L'été est terminé
Et la boucle est bouclée
Lisa, on s'écrira
Puis on s'écrira pas
Lisa, on s'oubliera
Ainsi va la vie, Lisa
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
À tes grands yeux, Lisa
La tristesse ne sied pas
Oh Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
Lisa, Lisa, on s'écrira
Puis on s'écrira pas
Lisa, on s'oubliera
Ainsi va la vie, Lisa
The lyrics to Alain Souchon's "Lisa" describe a farewell to a woman named Lisa. The repetition of her name throughout the song is a way to emphasize her importance to the singer. The refrain "Lisa, on s'écrira, puis on s'écrira pas, Lisa, on s'oubliera" (Lisa, we'll write to each other, then we won't, Lisa, we'll forget each other) creates a sense of bittersweet nostalgia, as the relationship between the singer and Lisa seems to be coming to an end. The reference to Mona Lisa, as well as the line "à tes grands yeux, Lisa, la tristesse ne sied pas" (Sadness doesn't suit your big eyes, Lisa), suggests that Lisa has a certain beauty or mystique that the singer finds irresistible.
The second verse of the song introduces some additional details about the relationship between the two characters. The reference to the "hôtel de la plage" closing suggests that they may have shared a summer romance, but now it's time to move on. The line "la boucle est bouclée" (the loop is closed) implies that this is a chapter in their lives that has now come to an end. While the singer says they might write to each other, the repetition of the line "puis on s'écrira pas" suggests that they both know deep down that they are unlikely to keep in touch.
Overall, "Lisa" is a wistful and romantic song about things coming to an end. It captures the bittersweetness of saying goodbye, acknowledging that life moves on and relationships change, even when we wish they wouldn't.
Line by Line Meaning
Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
The singer is addressing Lisa multiple times to get her attention.
Fais pas ta Mona Lisa
The singer is telling Lisa not to act like the Mona Lisa painting, which has a stoic and emotionless expression.
Pleure pas sur ta pizza
The singer is telling Lisa not to cry over her pizza, which may symbolize something small and insignificant in the grand scheme of life.
Parce que j'ai fait ma valisa
The artist has packed his suitcase, indicating that he is leaving or moving on.
Lisa, on s'écrira
The artist and Lisa will write to each other, indicating that they will stay in touch.
Puis on s'écrira pas
Despite their intentions to write, they may not actually end up doing so.
Lisa, on s'oubliera
The singer and Lisa may forget about each other over time as their lives move on in different directions.
Ainsi va la vie, Lisa
This is how life goes, Lisa—people come and go, and memories fade over time.
Lisa, l'hôtel de la plage
The artist mentions a specific hotel near the beach that may hold memories for them.
A fermé, il faut plier bagage
The hotel has closed down, indicating that it is time to move on and leave behind any memories associated with it.
L'été est terminé
Summer has ended, marking the end of a season or chapter in their lives.
Et la boucle est bouclée
The cycle is complete, symbolizing the end of a journey or experience.
À tes grands yeux, Lisa
The singer comments on Lisa's eyes, suggesting that they are beautiful or captivating.
La tristesse ne sied pas
Sadness does not suit Lisa's demeanor or personality.
Oh Lisa, Lisa, Lisa
The singer repeats Lisa's name with emotion, possibly indicating some regret or nostalgia.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Julien Voulzy, Mireille Davidovici, Pierre Andre Grillet, Pierre Souchon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind