At the helm of Noir Désir, he became one of the most prominent figures of French music in the 90s. His left leaning political views saw him take position against globalisation, desertification of urban areas in Bordeaux and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
In July 2003, while rowing with his girlfriend Marie Trintignant in a hotel apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania, he punched her repeatedly, which resulted in her falling into a coma and eventually dying few days later. This death caused considerable emotion in France. Nadine Trintignant, Marie's mother, actively sought a heavy sentence; Cantat's friends claimed he had been out of his mind and had not intended to cause harm. He was sentenced in March of 2004 to 8 years in prison for murder committed with indirect intent. The verdict was at first appealed by Marie's family, then by Bertrand Cantat, but both parties ultimately decided to cancel their appeals, which rendered the first 8 years judgment final. At the request of his lawyers, Cantat was moved from a Lithuanian prison to a prison near Muret, France on September 28, 2004.
His house in Landes was burned down on September 11, 2003. Many suspect this was related to the death of Marie Trintignant.Cantat has been released early due to good behaviour at october 16th 2007, and immediatly retreated to his house near Bordeaux, not leaving any time for interviews about his musical future.
In 2013 Détroit released their debut album Horizons, followed by a live album in 2014.
EXCUSE MY FRENCH
Bertrand Cantat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
La rue est une alliée qui recueille tes confidences
Les boutiques alliées
Un défilé de couleurs et de désirs factices
Des kaléidoscopes sur tous les édifices
C'est ta ville, putain, merde
Excuse my French
Cette fille qui vient de passer c'est l'amour de ta vie dans une autre dimension
Ouais c'est fou, c'est fou tous ces transports qu'on a en commun
Tous ceux qu'on garde pour soi qu'on rêve de voir sortir enfin la lampe d'Aladin
Et la destination toujours la même tu l'sais bien
En attendant t'es seul
C'est pas la panacée
Excuse my French
Fait chier, un peu
Un peu comme dans non, fuck, non, fuck
Excuse my French
On n'espérait rien du tout mais quand même
Et tout ce temps perdu même pas répertorié aux objets trouvés
À ramper, serpenter dans les dédales du mental
Comment le font les [?]
Comme un anaconda
Va trouver la nanda dans un bordel pareil
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
La bonne attitude
C'est la béatitude
Alors tu traverses la rue la tête dans les nuages
T'es plein de gratitude envers les mots des sages
Mais, excuse my French, ce con qui klaxonne n'a pas du lire la bonne partie du livre sacré
Tu marches, tu marches, tu marche encore
Y'a comme des angles morts dans ta mémoire de sablier, de mandragore
Excuse my French
Ces putains d'dinosaures
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Citoyen lambda tu ne connais pas ton bonheur, ton malheur
À quelle sauce tu seras dévoré
The song "Excuse My French" by Bertrand Cantat explores themes of urbanity, isolation, and the complexities of human emotions. The lyrics depict a person walking through the city streets, finding solace in its bustling atmosphere and seeking connection amidst the crowds. The phrase "Excuse my French" is used throughout the song as a way to apologize for expressing strong emotions and opinions.
In the first paragraph, the singer is described as walking through the streets, finding comfort in the city as it becomes a confidant for their thoughts and secrets. The shops and their colorful displays are seen as illusions of desire, like a kaleidoscope on the buildings. The repeated line "C'est ta ville, putain, merde, Excuse my French" emphasizes the strong connection the singer feels towards their city, while also acknowledging the need to apologize for their passionate language.
The second and third paragraphs delve into the singer's longing for connection and the frustration that comes with unfulfilled desires. There is mention of strangers who could potentially be friends, and the passing of a girl who is perceived as the love of their life in a parallel dimension. Despite the shared experience of public transport, there is still a sense of isolation as the singer keeps certain thoughts and dreams hidden, not knowing if they will ever come true. The repeated phrase "Excuse my French" implies that the singer's frustrations and disappointments may be seen as excessive or inappropriate by others.
The fourth paragraph delves into the singer's internal struggles and mental state. There is imagery of crawling and winding through the maze of their mind, comparing it to the way an anaconda moves. The mention of "nanda" and a chaotic brothel suggests a search for meaning or clarity in a chaotic environment. The repetition of "Excuse my French" implies that the singer recognizes the complexity and difficulty of expressing their thoughts and emotions in a coherent way.
In the final paragraph, the singer reflects on the concept of happiness and explores the idea that one may not fully appreciate their own circumstances until they are consumed by them. The line "À quelle sauce tu seras dévoré" can be translated as "In what way you will be devoured." It suggests that the singer is unaware of the extent to which their circumstances may shape their fate, whether positively or negatively.
Overall, "Excuse My French" explores the multifaceted nature of human emotions, the complexities of urban life, and the struggle to connect and find meaning in a seemingly chaotic world. The repeated phrase "Excuse my French" serves as a recurring acknowledgment of the singer's desire to express themselves authentically, regardless of societal expectations or judgment.
Line by Line Meaning
Tu marches, tu marches
You walk, you walk
La rue est une alliée qui recueille tes confidences
The street is an ally that gathers your confessions
Les boutiques alliées
The allied shops
Un défilé de couleurs et de désirs factices
A parade of fake colors and desires
Des kaléidoscopes sur tous les édifices
Kaleidoscopes on all the buildings
C'est ta ville, putain, merde
It's your city, damn it
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Tous ces inconnus qui pourraient être tes amis
All these strangers who could be your friends
Cette fille qui vient de passer c'est l'amour de ta vie dans une autre dimension
That girl who just passed by is the love of your life in another dimension
Ouais c'est fou, c'est fou tous ces transports qu'on a en commun
Yeah, it's crazy, it's crazy all these transports we have in common
Tous ceux qu'on garde pour soi qu'on rêve de voir sortir enfin la lampe d'Aladin
All those we keep to ourselves, dreaming of seeing them finally come out of Aladdin's lamp
Et la destination toujours la même tu l'sais bien
And you know well that the destination is always the same
En attendant t'es seul
In the meantime, you're alone
C'est pas la panacée
It's not a panacea
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Fait chier, un peu
It sucks, a little
Un peu comme dans non, fuck, non, fuck
A bit like in no, fuck, no, fuck
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
On n'espérait rien du tout mais quand même
We didn't expect anything at all but still
Et tout ce temps perdu même pas répertorié aux objets trouvés
And all this lost time not even listed in the lost and found
À ramper, serpenter dans les dédales du mental
Crawling, slithering in the maze of the mind
Comment le font les [?]
How do the [?] do it
Comme un anaconda
Like an anaconda
Va trouver la nanda dans un bordel pareil
Go find the nanda in such a mess
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
La bonne attitude
The right attitude
C'est la béatitude
It's the bliss
Alors tu traverses la rue la tête dans les nuages
So you cross the street with your head in the clouds
T'es plein de gratitude envers les mots des sages
You're full of gratitude towards the words of the wise
Mais, excuse my French, ce con qui klaxonne n'a pas du lire la bonne partie du livre sacré
But, excuse my French, this idiot who honks didn't read the right part of the sacred book
Tu marches, tu marches, tu marches encore
You walk, you walk, you walk again
Y'a comme des angles morts dans ta mémoire de sablier, de mandragore
There are blind spots in your hourglass, mandrake memory
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Ces putains d'dinosaures
These fucking dinosaurs
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Excuse my French
Citoyen lambda tu ne connais pas ton bonheur, ton malheur
Average citizen, you don't know your happiness, your misfortune
À quelle sauce tu seras dévoré
In what sauce you will be devoured
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Bertrand Cantat, Bruno Green
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind