La Mer
Béatrice Keeler Lyrics

The lyrics to Béatrice Keeler’s song La mer (The Sea) are a poetic musing on the ocean’s ever-changing nature, as well as the personal impact it has had on the singer. The first verse sets the scene with an image of the sea dancing along the clear shore, its reflective surface shimmering with silver highlights. The next line adds to this image by describing the sea’s ever-changing reflections, particularly in the rain. This visualization of the sea as a shape-shifter captures one of its most alluring qualities.

The second verse begins with a reference to summertime, with the white sea foam blending into the pure white of the angels in heaven. Here, the singer is equating the beauty of the sea with the celestial realm, describing it as a pastoral blue that is infinite. The next two lines return to a more earthly scene and reference the wet reeds, white birds, and rusty houses that can be found beside the sea. The final two lines of the song reveal the personal impact that the sea has had on the singer’s life. It has lulled the houses and birds to rest, and has also rocked the singer’s heart with a love song. This final statement captures the romantic and nostalgic essence of the song, which celebrates the power and beauty of the sea.