Autre temps
Alcest Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Une prière lointaine que porte le vent du soir
Anime les feuilles dans leur danse alanguie.
C'est le chant des vieux arbres entonné pour toi,
Pour ces bois obscurs maintenant endormis.

Sans nous attendre tant de saisons ont passé;
Les feuilles dorées s'en allant mourir à terre
Renaîtront un jour sous un ciel radieux,
Mais notre monde érodé restera le même




Et demain toi et moi serons partis.

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of "Autre temps" by Alcest speak of a distant prayer carried by the evening wind. This ethereal imagery establishes a mood of contemplation and reflection. The next line describes the leaves swaying in a languid dance, animated by the same wind. The singer sees this as the hymn of the old trees, sung for him in the sleeping woods. The gentle imagery of nature and the reference to an intangible spirituality hint at a sense of longing and nostalgia.


The following lines contain a reflection on the fleeting nature of time. The singer notes that so many seasons have passed without waiting for them. The golden leaves that die and will be reborn anew under a radiant sky serve as a metaphor for the cycle of life. Meanwhile, the world around them will remain largely unchanged. The final line speaks of the inevitability of their own departure, setting a somewhat melancholic tone. Overall, the lyrics of "Autre temps" evoke a sense of loss and the impermanence of life, while also celebrating the beauty of the natural world and the power of spiritual longing.


Line by Line Meaning

Une prière lointaine que porte le vent du soir
A distant prayer carried by the evening wind


Anime les feuilles dans leur danse alanguie.
Brings the leaves to life in their languid dance


C'est le chant des vieux arbres entonné pour toi,
It's the song of the old trees sung for you


Pour ces bois obscurs maintenant endormis.
For these dark woods now asleep


Sans nous attendre tant de saisons ont passé;
So many seasons passed without us noticing


Les feuilles dorées s'en allant mourir à terre
The golden leaves falling to die on the ground


Renaîtront un jour sous un ciel radieux,
Will be reborn one day under a radiant sky


Mais notre monde érodé restera le même
But our eroded world will remain the same


Et demain toi et moi serons partis.
And tomorrow you and I will be gone.




Contributed by Bailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@TuskKult

About a month before my fiancée died, we were on our way driving to a faire and this song came on a satellite radio show that was showcasing a metal song from each European country.

Of all the songs, this one I thought was the most beautiful and fit the mood and the weather of the day. Sunny, warm but with intermittent rain showers, so beautiful cumulous clouds were being ignited with light, and those golden rays were coming between the scattered clouds. She said that she'd sent this song to me before, grabbing onto my arm and asking if I remembered, and though I didn't remember exactly in the moment, it was absolutely familiar.

Exactly a month after her death, Alcest released Spiritual Instinct which I accidentally stumbled on. It made me cry and the energy of the album reminds me of the love her and I shared. It didn't click for some time that this was that same band, but when I inevitably clicked on this song it was as if she was right there with me, I cannot hear this song without crying the most painful but simultaneously happy tears accompanied by a warmth that washes over me.

Not long ago when I finally saw the music video for this song here, I couldn't believe it. It just ripped my heart out in the most painfully beautiful way possible. Still just hits me so damn hard.

In grief, it can be hard especially as a man to find your tears, but when I need the walls to come down, when I need to feel her, this song is a portal to the love her and I bare for each other.



@excalle

Lyrics translation :

"Another Time"

A distant prayer, carried by the evening wind,
Enlivens leaves in their languid dance.
Hear the song of the old trees, singing for you,
For the dark, resting woods.
So many seasons have passed; they did not wait.
The golden leaves dying on the ground,
Will be reborn under bright skies,
As this weatherworn world remains the same,
And tomorrow, you and I will be gone.



@gihanekoraytem3375

Une prière lointaine que porte le vent du soir
Anime les feuilles dans leur danse alanguie.
C'est le chant des vieux arbres entonné pour toi,
Pour ces bois obscurs maintenant endormis.
Sans nous attendre tant de saisons ont passé;
Les feuilles dorées s'en allant mourir à terre
Renaîtront un jour sous un ciel radieux,
Mais notre monde érodé restera le même
Et demain toi et moi serons partis.



@petraalexatoth765

I sing 'Autre Temps' and 'Souvenirs d'un autre monde' for my son as lullaby, he seems to like them. He have no words yet to tell me, but he always sleeps away with a peaceful smile.
Alcest made some of the most beautiful things I have ever heard. This one is really special for me though. I always loved to compare life to falling and fading leaves.
The part 01:50-02:50 is my favorite part, the melody and those lyrics together... when I heard it for the first time, it made me close my eyes and cry silently.
" So many seasons have passed, they did not wait.
The golden leaves dying on the ground
Will be reborn under bright skies
As this weatherworn world remains the same.
And tomorrow, You and I, will be gone."
(impossible to translate it to english as beautifully as it is in french)
Truly transcendent, this song can not be from this corrupted planet... It must be a memory from an other world. Merci Alcest. <3



All comments from YouTube:

@TuskKult

About a month before my fiancée died, we were on our way driving to a faire and this song came on a satellite radio show that was showcasing a metal song from each European country.

Of all the songs, this one I thought was the most beautiful and fit the mood and the weather of the day. Sunny, warm but with intermittent rain showers, so beautiful cumulous clouds were being ignited with light, and those golden rays were coming between the scattered clouds. She said that she'd sent this song to me before, grabbing onto my arm and asking if I remembered, and though I didn't remember exactly in the moment, it was absolutely familiar.

Exactly a month after her death, Alcest released Spiritual Instinct which I accidentally stumbled on. It made me cry and the energy of the album reminds me of the love her and I shared. It didn't click for some time that this was that same band, but when I inevitably clicked on this song it was as if she was right there with me, I cannot hear this song without crying the most painful but simultaneously happy tears accompanied by a warmth that washes over me.

Not long ago when I finally saw the music video for this song here, I couldn't believe it. It just ripped my heart out in the most painfully beautiful way possible. Still just hits me so damn hard.

In grief, it can be hard especially as a man to find your tears, but when I need the walls to come down, when I need to feel her, this song is a portal to the love her and I bare for each other.

@QuiXoLP

really beautiful said :)
i wish you the best, stay strong! :)

@urban_phantom7750

I believe that real love never dies, and across time and space we connect, waiting to reunited in the after life. Live well my friend, and feel comfort knowing that she'll be waiting for you when it comes time for you to depart from this world

@omurcangokgul

Damn... painful

@medusa6491

This is heartbreaking... I'm sorry, the pain might never leave. If so, use it as a strength to move forward !

@meichey00

Thank you for sharing that! I am also a widow. I use bands like this for the same purpose. They give me the moment I need. Feel free to reach out and inbox me if you like.

26 More Replies...

@ReyLangosta

Sometimes hurts me, sometimes heals me.

@xXDannyThePunisherXx

doesn't it...

@ghrtfhfgdfnfg

Duck you

@postthraumaticheamnesia

@Plan B Yes. Best comment ever.

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