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).
Oh La Guitare
Alain Souchon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Moi qui ne fus qu'un chien bâtard, je n'ai vécu que de sanglots
La guitare! Quand on aime et l'autre ne vous aime pas
Qu'on fasse taire le poème! Entendez-moi pleurer tout bas
Sur la guitare, la guitare
Oh la guitare, oh la guitare! Elle fait nuit mieux que la nuit
Les larmes sont mon seul nectar, tout le reste n'est que du bruit
Le verre à quoi la main le lève, à l'âge où l'on dort dans les lits
Sans la guitare, la guitare
Oh la guitare, ma guitare, il me la faut pour que je croie
À ce triste air, à ce triste art qui m'aide à mieux porter ma croix
Oh la guitare du calvaire, oh la guitare sans tes yeux
Brûlez ma voix, brûlez mes vers! Oh la guitare d'être vieux
Guitare, guitare, guitare, guitare
The song "Oh La Guitare!" by Alain Souchon is a heartfelt ode to the guitar, expressing its power to give solace and comfort to the singer's troubled heart. The song begins with the singer declaring his love for the guitar, revealing that his heart is enclosed within its strings. The singer describes himself as a "chien bâtard" (a mongrel dog), who has lived only on sobs and tears. He then proceeds to praise the guitar for its ability to soothe and comfort a rejected lover. The guitar becomes the tool for conveying his unsaid words, and the grief that he was carrying within himself slowly starts to dissipate.
As the song progresses, the guitar becomes all-encompassing, providing a sanctuary of sorts for the singer. He finds solace in playing the guitar, knowing that in that moment, nothing else matters. The guitar becomes his world, and the melody that it creates acts as a healing balm for his soul. The guitar then becomes symbolic of the singer's struggle, his pain and longing, his hope and recovery, and his love and devotion towards the instrument.
Overall, "Oh La Guitare!" is a beautifully written song that celebrates the power of music and the guitar. It speaks to the listener’s soul, encouraging the listener to let go of their fears, frustrations, and pain, and to find peace and healing through the instrument's soothing sounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh la guitare, oh la guitare! En sa gorge est mon cœur enclos
The guitar is like a part of my body, and it holds my heart within its strings.
Moi qui ne fus qu'un chien bâtard, je n'ai vécu que de sanglots
I never felt like I was anything special, and all I ever did was cry my heart out.
La guitare! Quand on aime et l'autre ne vous aime pas
The guitar is a companion when you love someone who doesn't love you back and all you can do is cry.
Qu'on fasse taire le poème! Entendez-moi pleurer tout bas
I wish I could stop writing songs about my sadness, but I can't help crying quietly into my guitar.
Sur la guitare, la guitare
The guitar is my only solace.
Oh la guitare, oh la guitare! Elle fait nuit mieux que la nuit
The guitar can create a darkness that is even more intense than the night itself.
Les larmes sont mon seul nectar, tout le reste n'est que du bruit
My tears are my only source of sustenance, everything else is just noise.
Oh la guitare pour le rêve, oh la guitare pour l'oubli
The guitar helps me dream and forget my troubles.
Le verre à quoi la main le lève, à l'âge où l'on dort dans les lits
At the age where people are supposed to be sleeping, I drink to forget my pain and lift my glass to my guitar.
Sans la guitare, la guitare
Without my guitar, I feel lost and alone.
Oh la guitare, ma guitare, il me la faut pour que je croie
My guitar is so important to me, I need it to help me believe and cope with my sadness.
À ce triste air, à ce triste art qui m'aide à mieux porter ma croix
The guitar helps me bear my cross, even when I'm feeling sad and lonely.
Oh la guitare du calvaire, oh la guitare sans tes yeux
Even when I'm suffering on the cross, my guitar is always with me, even when I can't see it.
Brûlez ma voix, brûlez mes vers! Oh la guitare d'être vieux
Even as time passes and I grow old, the guitar remains my constant companion and confidante.
Guitare, guitare, guitare, guitare
My guitar is my world, my one true love and my savior.
Lyrics © LES EDITIONS ALAIN SOUCHON, LOUIS ARAGON
Written by: Alain SOUCHON, Louis ARAGON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind