Benjamin Biolay is a songwriter, musician, singer, and record producer who … Read Full Bio ↴Benjamin Biolay is a songwriter, musician, singer, and record producer who was born January 20, 1973 in Villefranche-sur-Saone, France.
He first came to the music industry's attention with his collaboration with, and arrangements for, Keren Ann and his sister Coralie Clément. Finally earning a solo contract after many years of struggle, Biolay released his debut album, Rose Kennedy, in 2002. A concept album, Rose Kennedy looks at early 1960s America through the cataractic eyes of the late matriarch, who went from attending dinner parties to suffering the assassination of two of her sons.

Next up was Négatif, a double CD full of sometimes violent imagery surrounding a group of drifters, which included a disaffected, oddly sympathetic, american named Billy Bob. Biolay released two albums in 2005, A L'origine (translated: In The Beginning) is a darker, denser work than his previous outings, while Home is a light, sunny duet album with his wife, started when they noticed that they needed good road trip CD to listen to while on vacation. He has also written film scores, songs and arrangements for such beloved french stars as Francoise Hardy, Juliette Greco and Henri Salvador.
He worked with Elodie Frégé on her second album Le Jeu des 7 erreurs
(including lead single "La Ceinture") which was released in autumn 2006.

15 Août
Benjamin Biolay Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tu-tu-tu
Tu-tu-tu

Je marche sur les rails
Et je trompe la mort
En frôlant le train corail
Qui me rate encore
Je n'ai pas trop le moral

Il y a du soleil dehors

Tu-tu-tu
Tu-tu-tu

Je marche sur les rails
Je porte encore à même le corps
Ton vieux chandail
Qui me gratte à mort
Je n'ai pas trop le moral
Il y a du soleil dehors
Qui me réchauffe le corps

Tu-tu-tu
Tu-tu-tu

Je marche sur les rails
Et je trompe le sort
Comme un très vieil animal
Je m'attache encore
Je vais mal, en général
Il y a du soleil dehors

Tu-tu-tu
Tu-tu-tu

Je marche sur les rails
Comme un matador
Et, de bâbord, je déraille
Jusqu'à tribord
Loin du navire amiral
Il y a du soleil dehors
Qui me réchauffe le corps

Paris, le 15 août
Je t'écris du Bristol
Où j'ai déjeuné seule
Une salade sans sauce, dégueulasse
Cet été est sans fin, c'est même un été pourri!
Voilà, je suis partie hier
Je t'ai laissé un mot sur la commode noire dans l'entrée
Je voudrais bien tout t'expliquer
Mais évidemment c'est pas si simple
C'est même compliqué
Je ne demande rien, naturellement
De toute façon, j'ai horreur de quémander
Je t'appellerai dans quelques jours
Le temps de digérer un peu
Moi, ça va
Ne reste pas seul
Essaie de voir des amis

Je t'embrasse
PS, j'ai vu ta sœur dans le 41

Overall Meaning

The song "15 août" starts with a repetitive melody, the "tu-tu-tu" of a train, while the singer Benjamin Biolay walks on the rails, cheating death by narrowly avoiding the "train corail". He is wearing an old sweater that scratches him but keeps him warm in the sunshine outside. The singer tells us that he is not feeling well at all, but he carries on walking the rails as if he were an old animal that still clings to life. Further on, he says he is like a matador, going left and right, trying to avoid a ship that he strayed far from. Then the song transitions to a letter the singer is writing to someone from Bristol, where he had lunch by himself, having a nasty salad. He apologizes for leaving suddenly, leaving a note for the recipient on a black dresser. He tells the person that he would like to explain everything but that it would be complicated. He ends the letter with a request to not be left alone, to see friends, and promises to call in a few days.

Overall, the song seems to be about the singer's struggles with life and his desire to cling to it despite his pains. The train and the rails signify the idea of moving forward despite any obstacles, while the sweater represents something from the past that still brings comfort even if it irritates. The singer's sense of 'walking the tightrope' continues when he describes himself like a matador who is trying to avoid something he's strayed too far from.

Line by Line Meaning

Tu-tu-tu Tu-tu-tu
Instrumental intro

Je marche sur les rails Et je trompe la mort En frôlant le train corail Qui me rate encore Je n'ai pas trop le moral Il y a du soleil dehors
I walk on the rails and cheat death by narrowly missing the Coral train which also passes by. I don't feel great but at least the sun is shining outside.

Je marche sur les rails Je porte encore à même le corps Ton vieux chandail Qui me gratte à mort Je n'ai pas trop le moral Il y a du soleil dehors Qui me réchauffe le corps
As I walk on the rails, I still wear your old sweater that scratches me a lot. I don't feel great but the sun outside warms me up a little bit.

Je marche sur les rails Et je trompe le sort Comme un très vieil animal Je m'attache encore Je vais mal, en général Il y a du soleil dehors
I walk on the rails and deceive fate like a very old animal that still hangs on. In general, I feel bad but there is sunlight outside.

Je marche sur les rails Comme un matador Et, de bâbord, je déraille Jusqu'à tribord Loin du navire amiral Il y a du soleil dehors Qui me réchauffe le corps
I walk on the rails like a matador and sway from left to right. Away from the flagship, there is still sunlight that warms my body.

Paris, le 15 août Je t'écris du Bristol Où j'ai déjeuné seule Une salade sans sauce, dégueulasse Cet été est sans fin, c'est même un été pourri! Voilà, je suis partie hier Je t'ai laissé un mot sur la commode noire dans l'entrée Je voudrais bien tout t'expliquer Mais évidemment c'est pas si simple C'est même compliqué Je ne demande rien, naturellement De toute façon, j'ai horreur de quémander Je t'appellerai dans quelques jours Le temps de digérer un peu Moi, ça va Ne reste pas seul Essaie de voir des amis Je t'embrasse PS, j'ai vu ta sœur dans le 41
In Paris on August 15th, I am writing to you from Bristol where I had a solo lunch with a disgusting, unsauced salad. This summer seems to never end and it's even a terrible one! I left yesterday and left you a note on the black dresser in the hallway. I'd like to explain everything to you, but of course, it's not that simple; it's even complicated. Naturally, I'm not asking for anything as I detest begging. I'll call you in a few days after digesting a bit. I'm doing alright. Don't stay alone, try to see some friends. Hugs. PS: I saw your sister in the 41.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Benjamin Biolay

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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