Autour de Lucie is a French band, led by vocalist Valérie Leulliot. When th… Read Full Bio ↴Autour de Lucie is a French band, led by vocalist Valérie Leulliot. When the group emerged on the French music scene in the early 90's, the trio's jaunty electro/pop/rock did not appear to sound radically different from other 90's French pop groups. However, Autour de Lucie soon went on to establish themselves as leading lights on the French pop scene, and the group's albums rapidly became best-selling exports abroad, helped by exposure in US on the Lilith Fair tour in 1997. The band broke up at the beginning of 2006, as Leulliot began to plan a solo career.

Chanson de l'arbre
Autour de Lucie Lyrics

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Chanson De L'arbre lyrics
Enfoncée dans le sable, je suis à la même place,
L'endroit où tu m'as planté, depuis...
Des feuilles ont pouss au bout de mes mains.

J'ai vu tomber quarante années de pluie,
Et passer des armées en guerre,
J'ai mangé de la terre, mais je n'ai pas bougé.

J'ai des joies simples, des joies d'arbres,
Tu baisse les yeux quand tu passe...

Maintenant, j'ai de l'écorce, celle qui m'a fait défaut,
Celle qui m'a tant fait défaut,
Mais surtout que maintenant j'aime tant.

J'ai des joies simples, des joies d'arbres,
Tu baisse les yeux quand tu passe...

Tu baisse les yeux quand tu passe...

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Autour de Lucie's song Chanson de l'arbre express the perspective of a tree rooted in the same spot where it was first planted by someone. The tree has been standing in the same place for a long time and has seen a lot of things happen around it. It has experienced rain, war, and people walking past it, but it has remained grounded, not moving an inch. The tree has grown leaves at the end of its branches, indicating that it is still alive and flourishing.

The tree derives its pleasure and satisfaction from simple things and joys that are unique to trees. However, when the person who planted the tree walks by, they look away and do not acknowledge the tree's existence. The tree has grown bark, which it previously lacked, and now loves it more than anything else. Despite its lack of movement, the tree has grown and evolved over time.

The song speaks to the beauty of simplicity and the importance of acknowledging and appreciating the natural world. It also serves as a metaphor for the human experience, highlighting the significance of staying true to one's roots and identity while still growing and changing over time.

Line by Line Meaning

Enfoncée dans le sable, je suis à la même place,
I am rooted in the sand, unable to move from the spot where you planted me.

L'endroit où tu m'as planté, depuis...
I have been in this place ever since you planted me.

Des feuilles ont pouss au bout de mes mains.
Over time, leaves have grown from the tips of my branches.

J'ai vu tomber quarante années de pluie,
I have seen rainfall for forty years.

Et passer des armées en guerre,
I have seen armies come and go, fighting wars around me.

J'ai mangé de la terre, mais je n'ai pas bougé.
Although I have consumed the earth, I have remained firmly rooted.

Maintenant, j'ai de l'écorce, celle qui m'a fait défaut,
I now have bark, the element that was missing before.

Celle qui m'a tant fait défaut,
The lack of bark was a significant issue for me.

Mais surtout que maintenant j'aime tant.
Now, I appreciate my bark more than ever.

J'ai des joies simples, des joies d'arbres,
I have simple pleasures, like any tree.

Tu baisse les yeux quand tu passe...
You lower your gaze as you walk by me...