After a huge success at the most famous French Festival in Bourges in 2004, Amélie-les-crayons then won the 2 Prizes of Montauban French Chanson Festival. In july, Quebec offered her the renowned Felix Leclerc Prize for her work and 6 months later, it was Belgium who congratulated Amélie with the Charleroi Festival Great Prize. The album "et pourquoi les crayons ?" released in June sold about 30 000 copies in a year, which is rather exceptional for a French independant band.
Sweet and serene in real life, Amélie metamorphoses on stage: the young girl becomes an astonishing show girl! And the boys show a great talent for playing the piano, tuba, clarinet (Heiko), accordion (Michel) or double bass (Laurent).
Les Manteaux
Amélie-les-crayons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quand il faut que je sorte mon manteau tout vieux tout moche,
Y'a des cadeaux dans ses poches,
Des merveilles et des surprises,
J'oublie le temps des cerises.
J'ai vu des bouts de ma vie
Dans la feutrine de mon vieil ami
Ne lavons plus nos manteaux, Ils seront toujours chauds,
Ils sont remplis de trésors,
Nous aurions tort.
(Sifflements)
Quand j'suis sur le pas de ta porte,
Quand je fais la fille forte dur comme la pierre et la roche,
Y'a des mouchoirs dans mes poches et puis plein ma valise,
Je pense au temps des cerises.
J'ai vu des bouts de ma vie
Dans tes pupilles mon ami
J'ai vu (j'ai vu) et j'ai grandi
Ne plaquons pas nos amours,
Et c'est au fil des jours,
Qu'elles se remplissent de trésors,
Nous aurions tort
(Sifflements)
Et le jour qu'il me verra morte,
Quand je pass'rais la porte,
Les grelots et les cloches chanteront un air qui s'approche,
A ma grande surprise,
Au temps des cerises.
Et tout les bouts de ma vie
Resterons chez vous mes amis
Resterons chez vous mes amis
(Sifflements)
Seront tous en paix (x10)
The lyrics of Amélie-les-crayons's song "Les Manteaux" talk about the idea of treasuring things that have been with you for a long time, even if they may seem old and worn out. The singer talks about how, when winter comes, and she has to pull out her old coat, she finds surprises and wonders in its pockets. She forgets the times of cherries, a reference to a French song about love and happiness during the summer, and instead embraces the present moment with all its mysteries.
The singer also reminisces about her life while looking at the old coat, and how she has grown since then. She mentions that the coat is filled with treasures, and it is unnecessary to wash it because it will always keep her warm. She compliments her friend's eyes and how she has seen parts of her life in them, and they have also grown together. She also mentions not to let go of love and friendships as they become more valuable over time.
The song ends on a melancholic note, talking about death's inevitability and how, when the singer is gone, the memories of her life will remain in the people she loves. The bells will ring a tune, taking her back to the summers of love - the times of cherries. She hopes to leave behind something valuable in the hearts of her friends.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand revient l'hiver à ma porte,
When winter comes to my door,
Quand il faut que je sorte mon manteau tout vieux tout moche,
When I have to take out my old, tattered coat,
Y'a des cadeaux dans ses poches,
There are gifts in its pockets,
Des merveilles et des surprises,
Wonders and surprises,
J'oublie le temps des cerises.
I forget the time of cherries.
J'ai vu des bouts de ma vie
I have seen bits of my life
Dans la feutrine de mon vieil ami
In the felt of my old friend
J'ai vu (j'ai vu) et j'ai grandi
I saw (I saw) and I grew
Ne lavons plus nos manteaux, Ils seront toujours chauds,
Let's not wash our coats anymore, they will always be warm,
Ils sont remplis de trésors,
They are full of treasures,
Nous aurions tort.
We would be wrong.
(Sifflements)
(Whistling)
Quand j'suis sur le pas de ta porte,
When I'm on your doorstep,
Quand je fais la fille forte dur comme la pierre et la roche,
When I act like a tough girl, hard as stone and rock,
Y'a des mouchoirs dans mes poches et puis plein ma valise,
There are handkerchiefs in my pockets and plenty in my suitcase,
Je pense au temps des cerises.
I think of the time of cherries.
J'ai vu des bouts de ma vie
I have seen bits of my life
Dans tes pupilles mon ami
In your eyes, my friend
J'ai vu (j'ai vu) et j'ai grandi
I saw (I saw) and I grew
Ne plaquons pas nos amours,
Let's not give up on our loves,
Et c'est au fil des jours,
And it's over time,
Qu'elles se remplissent de trésors,
That they fill with treasures,
Nous aurions tort
We would be wrong
(Sifflements)
(Whistling)
Et le jour qu'il me verra morte,
And the day he sees me dead,
Quand je pass'rais la porte,
When I pass through the door,
Les grelots et les cloches chanteront un air qui s'approche,
The bells and chimes will sing a tune that approaches,
A ma grande surprise,
To my great surprise,
Au temps des cerises.
In the time of cherries.
Et tout les bouts de ma vie
And all the bits of my life
Resterons chez vous mes amis
Will stay with you my friends
Seront tous en paix (x10)
Will all be at peace (x10)
Contributed by Nicholas M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.