Cécile Corbel (born 1980, Pont-Croix, Finistère) is a French singer and har… Read Full Bio ↴Cécile Corbel (born 1980, Pont-Croix, Finistère) is a French singer and harpist. She has released a number of albums of original music and worked for Studio Ghibli as a composer for its 2010 film, The Secret World of Arrietty. Corbel sings in many languages including French, Italian, Breton, and English and has done songs in Irish, Turkish, and Japanese.

Corbel now lives in Paris and performs in France and abroad. Her music blends ancient poems and compositions, celtic tunes and Mediterranean influences. She was noticed during her concerts and had the opportunity to play with the greatest “world music” artists:

Grains de sable
Cécile Corbel Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pour tes rêves d'enfant sage
Et le toit qui craque et gémit sous l'orage, ne te réveilles pas

Un marchand de sable (Ah, tali talila)
Revendeur d'étoiles (Ah, talila)
Comme une tour de garde (Ah, tali talila)
Veille sur ton âme (Ah, talila)

J'en ai conté des histoires
De dragons et de soudards
De sirènes, de brigands pilleurs d'épaves, de magiciennes de l'Orient

Des mots sur le sable (Ah, tali talila)
On tourne les pages (Ah, talila)
Comme Shéhérazade (Ah, tali talila)
Je dirai des fables (Ah, talila)

Ma farouche tête blonde
Tu grandis là, sur la lande
Demain tu iras conquérir la monde, ainsi file le temps

File comme le sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Et tu oublieras (Mmha, talila)

Tes châteaux de sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Battus par les vagues (Mmha, talila)

Overall Meaning

The song "Grains de sable" by Cecile Corbel is a piece about the fleeting nature of childhood and the transition into adulthood. In the first verse, the singer addresses a child who is building sandcastles on the beach, highlighting their innocence and carefree spirit. The sandcastles are described as ephemeral, reminding us that childhood is temporary and fleeting. The use of the phrase "citadelles de vent" (castles of wind) also emphasizes their impermanence.

The second verse takes on a different tone, addressing the child's fears and anxieties. The line "Des nuits blanches comme un barrage" (sleepless nights like a dam) suggests that the child may struggle with anxiety or worry. However, the presence of the "marchand de sable" (sandman) provides comfort, reminding us of the importance of imagination and storytelling in coping with difficult emotions.

The chorus repeats the phrases "tali talila" and "talila" - these are nonsensical words that add a dreamy, mystical quality to the song. The chorus also speaks to the theme of time passing, with the sand serving as a metaphor. The sandcastles will eventually be washed away and forgotten, just as the child's innocence and imagination will fade with time.

The final verse speaks directly to the child, acknowledging their upcoming journey into adulthood. The phrase "Demain tu iras conquérir le monde" (tomorrow you will conquer the world) suggests a mixture of excitement and trepidation about the future. The use of the phrase "file comme le sable" (time passes like sand) reminds us that our experiences and memories are fleeting, but also encourages us to cherish the moments while they last.

Line by Line Meaning

Toi mon bel enfant sauvage
Addressing a wild and carefree child on a beach

Intrépide sur la plage
Fearless and bold on the seashore

Tu bâtis, éphémères sur le rivage, des citadelles de vent
Building temporary sand castles on the shore, swept away by the wind

Des châteaux de sable (Mmh, tali talila)
Building sand castles

Battus par le vagues (Mmh talila)
Washed away by the sea waves

Des nuits blanches comme un barrage
Sleepless nights with a heavy burden

Pour tes rêves d'enfant sage
For your dreams of a wise child

Et le toit qui craque et gémit sous l'orage, ne te réveilles pas
The creaky and moaning roof must not disturb your sleep during the storm

Un marchand de sable (Ah, tali talila)
A sandman lulling the child to sleep

Revendeur d'étoiles (Ah, talila)
Distributor of stars

Comme une tour de garde (Ah, tali talila)
Like a watchtower

Veille sur ton âme (Ah, talila)
Guarding your soul

J'en ai conté des histoires
Telling lots of stories

De dragons et de soudards
About dragons and brave soldiers

De sirènes, de brigands pilleurs d'épaves, de magiciennes de l'Orient
About mermaids, pirates who loot wrecks, and magicians from the East

Des mots sur le sable (Ah, tali talila)
Writing words on the sand

On tourne les pages (Ah, talila)
Turning pages to continue stories

Comme Shéhérazade (Ah, tali talila)
Like Scheherazade from the Arabian Nights

Je dirai des fables (Ah, talila)
Telling more fables

Ma farouche tête blonde
Addressing a fierce blonde head

Tu grandis là, sur la lande
Growing up undisturbed on the moor

Demain tu iras conquérir la monde, ainsi file le temps
Tomorrow you will conquer the world, as time flies by

File comme le sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Time passes like sand slipping through fingers

Et tu oublieras (Mmha, talila)
And you will forget

Tes châteaux de sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Your sandcastles

Battus par les vagues (Mmha, talila)
Washed away by the waves

Writer(s): Cecile Corbel

Contributed by Charlie E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

A person

4y↑12

Toi mon bel enfant sauvage
Intrépide sur la plage
Tu bâtis, éphémères sur le rivage, des citadelles de vent

Des châteaux de sable (Mmh, tali talila)
Battus par le vagues (Mmh talila)

Des nuits blanches comme un barrage
Pour tes rêves d'enfant sage
Et le toit qui craque et gémit sous l'orage, ne te réveilles pas

Un marchand de sable (Ah, tali talila)
Revendeur d'étoiles (Ah, talila)
Comme une tour de garde (Ah, tali talila)
Veille sur ton âme (Ah, talila)

J'en ai conté des histoires
De dragons et de soudards
De sirènes, de brigands pilleurs d'épaves, de magiciennes de l'Orient

Des mots sur le sable (Ah, tali talila)
On tourne les pages (Ah, talila)
Comme Shéhérazade (Ah, tali talila)
Je dirai des fables (Ah, talila)

Ma farouche tête blonde
Tu grandis là, sur la lande
Demain tu iras conquérir la monde, ainsi file le temps

File comme le sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Et tu oublieras (Mmha, talila)
Tes châteaux de sable (Mmha, tali talila)
Battus par les vagues (Mmha, talila)