SOS
Allain Leprest Lyrics
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Allain Leprest
Aux grands parapets
La mer m´a coupé
L´algue sous les pieds
S.O. Estropié
M´a laissé pour mort
En m´ tranchant l´ cordon
S.O. Espadon
Et moi, foi d´ morue
Qui m´a toujours cru
L´âme insubmersible
S.O. Est-ce possible?
Je plonge, j´éponge
Je longe, je ronge
La coque des cargos
S.O. Escargots
Pas un albatros
A voulu d´ mes os
Dans son escadrille
S.O. Espadrille
J´ finirai carafe
Dans la rue d´ la soif
Défroqué ou mac
S.O. Estomac
Capitaine bidon
Sur une boîte de thon
Ou d´ cabine de douche
S.O. Escarmouche
Ou comme dit Loïc
Poète italique
De marie-salope
S.O. Escalope
La mer, y f´rait belle
Qu´un jour a m´ rappelle
La mer aura beau
S.O. Escabeau
Largué pour largué
Orphelin de quai
Matelot-pupille
S.O. Escarbille
Narguant l´Océan
J´ crèverai en rev´nant
D´ la pêche aux crevettes
S.O. Estafette
À moins qu´une sirène
À marier m´entraîne
Dans ses transparences
S.O. Espérance {x3}
The lyrics of "SOS" by Allain Leprest paints a vivid picture of a man lost at sea. The first few lines describe the singer standing on a grand shoreline as the sea firmly cuts him off from the rest of the world. The use of natural imagery such as algae underfoot and the sea's remorseless nature highlights the indifferent and dangerous environment surrounding the character. He describes himself as "Estropié" (injured) while using marine terms such as "Espadon" (swordfish) to describe the sea's actions. The singer displays his resilience with a hint of disbelief and desperation when he asks, "Est-ce possible?" (Is it possible?) in response to his situation.
As the song progresses, the man's situation worsens as he explains how he tries to cling onto anything for survival, even if it's just the rusty hull of a cargo ship, and how there are no rescue possibilities. He describes his inevitable drowning in the "street of the thirsty" in a pitiful and self-pitying tone. The song ends on a note of hope, with the singer stating that he might find his salvation in the form of a mermaid, leading to a sense of optimism and anticipation.
Overall, "SOS" is a poignant and melancholic song with a tone of desperation and hopelessness throughout the lyrics. It represents the struggle of a man fighting against the harsh reality of the sea while coping with his inevitable fate.
Line by Line Meaning
Aux grands parapets
Standing at the great cliffs
La mer m'a coupe
The sea cut me off
L'algue sous les pieds
Algae under my feet
S.O. estropie
S.O. Disabled
La mer sans remords
The sea without remorse
M'a laisse pour mort
Left me for dead
En m' tranchant l' cordon
By cutting my cord
S.O. espadon
S.O. Swordfish
Et moi, foi d' morue
And me, a cod's faith
Qui m'a toujours cru
Who always believed me
L'ame insubmersible
The unsinkable soul
S.O. est-ce possible?
S.O. Is it possible?
Je plonge, j' eponge
I dive, I sponge
Je longe, je ronge
I edge, I gnaw
La coque des cargos
The hulls of the cargoes
S.O. escargots
S.O. Snails
Pas un albatros
Not one albatross
A voulu d' mes os
Wanted my bones
Dans son escadrille
In its squadron
S.O. espadrille
S.O. Espadrille
J' finirai carafe
I'll end up as a carafe
Dans la rue d' la soif
In the street of thirst
Defroque ou mac
Defrocked or Mac
S.O. estomac
S.O. Stomach
Capitaine bidon
Fake captain
Sur une boite de thon
On a can of tuna
Ou d' cabine de douche
Or a shower cabin
S.O. escarmouche
S.O. Skirmish
Ou comme dit Loic
Or as Loic says
Poete italique
Italic poet
De marie-salope
Of Mary-slut
S.O. escalope
S.O. Scallop
La mer, y f'rait belle
The sea would make it beautiful
Qu'un jour a m' rappelle
That one day will remind me
La mer aura beau
The sea will have done
S.O. escabeau
S.O. Step stool
Large pour large
Abandoned for abandoned
Orphelin de quai
Quay orphan
Matelot-pupille
Sailor-ward
S.O. escarbille
S.O. Cinder
Narguant l'Ocean
Defying the Ocean
J' creverai en rev'nant
I'll die on my way back
D' la peche aux crevettes
From shrimp fishing
S.O. estafette
S.O. Messenger
A moins qu'une sirene
Unless a mermaid
A marier m'entraine
Leads me to marry
Dans ses transparences
In its transparencies
S.O. esperance
S.O. Hope
Contributed by Lily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.