Born: 1948 (age 73 years)
Sanatorium
Cayouche Lyrics
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Je l'ai composée toute en me reposant
Couché sur mon lit, pensant à mes amis
Pour me désennuyer jme suis mis à chanter
La vie est monotome au sanatorium
C'est ben désolant pour une jeune fille de 20 ans
Être si jeune encore, sa santé épuisée
Assis à ma fenêtre, r'gardant le firmament
Je pense à moi-même, maudit que l'temps est long
J'regard' vers le ciel, du côté d'mon pays
Je pense à mes amis, je pleurs et je m'ennuie
J'dois encore subir in'autre opération
C'est le seul moyen qui guide mes desseins
J'dois encore subir qu'i m'enlève un poumon
Et là j'pourrais peut-être avoir la guérison
Oh si j'tais hirondelle, j'pourrais m'envoler
J'irais vous raconter ce qui m'est arrivé
Oh j'ai un ptit conseil avant de vous quitter
Soignez vot' santé si Dieu vous la donné
Soignez vot' santé si Dieu vous la donné
In "Sanatorium," Cayouche sings about his experiences in a sanatorium, a place where people with long-term illnesses or injuries receive medical treatment and rest. The song’s lyrics are a reflection of the isolation, boredom, and sadness that can be associated with being in a sanatorium. The song's opening lines convey the intention behind the song: “Listen, my friends, listen to my song. I composed it while resting.” As he lay in his bed, he sang to ward off boredom and to think of his friends.
He goes on to describe the monotony of life in the sanatorium, especially for a young girl of twenty with her health depleted: "It's so sad for a young girl of twenty to be so young still, her health depleted, trying to pass the time at the San de St-Jean." The singer spends his time looking out the window, thinking of his homeland and friends, and feeling trapped and lonely. He realizes that the only way he has to find a cure is by undergoing another operation, which causes him anxiety.
Through the song, Cayouche advises listeners to take care of their health as it is essential. He expresses his desire to escape the confines of the sanatorium if he could transform into a swallow and fly away to his friends to tell them of his experiences. The song concludes with a reminder that health is precious and should not be taken for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
Écoute mes amis, écoute ma chanson
Listen my friends, listen to my song
Je l'ai composée toute en me reposant
I composed it while resting
Couché sur mon lit, pensant à mes amis
Lying on my bed, thinking about my friends
Pour me désennuyer jme suis mis à chanter
To entertain myself, I started singing
La vie est monotome au sanatorium
Life is monotonous at the sanatorium
C'est ben désolant pour une jeune fille de 20 ans
It's really sad for a 20-year-old girl
Être si jeune encore, sa santé épuisée
To be so young and have her health exhausted
Qui essaye à passer le temps, au San de St-Jean
Trying to pass the time, at the Sanatorium of St-Jean
Assis à ma fenêtre, r'gardant le firmament
Sitting at my window, looking at the sky
Je pense à moi-même, maudit que l'temps est long
Thinking to myself, damn time is so long
J'regard' vers le ciel, du côté d'mon pays
Looking towards the sky, towards my country
Je pense à mes amis, je pleurs et je m'ennuie
Thinking about my friends, I cry and feel bored
J'dois encore subir in'autre opération
I have to undergo another operation
C'est le seul moyen qui guide mes desseins
It's the only way to achieve my goals
J'dois encore subir qu'i m'enlève un poumon
I have to undergo an operation to remove a lung
Et là j'pourrais peut-être avoir la guérison
And then I might be able to get cured
Oh si j'tais hirondelle, j'pourrais m'envoler
Oh if I were a swallow, I could fly away
J'irais vous raconter ce qui m'est arrivé
I would go tell you what happened to me
Oh j'ai un ptit conseil avant de vous quitter
Oh I have a little advice before leaving
Soignez vot' santé si Dieu vous la donné
Take care of your health if God gave it to you
Soignez vot' santé si Dieu vous la donné
Take care of your health if God gave it to you
Contributed by Keira K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.