Bonjour Tristesse
Clouds Lyrics


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You have loved before
And will love again
But tonight here and now
You are mine my friend

Play host to my dreams
Cradle me
In a warm sleep
Welcome me inside

Your house of many rooms
Each with its own ghost
Those doors so long closed
Will open at
My touch

Welcome me inside
Cradle me
In a warm sleep
Play host to my dreams

Come over me
Overcome me
Do unto me
Undo me

Saints and sinners both of us

Now these walls I've built
These faces I wear
And these names
Are for
Only one night
Take flight

'Til I stand naked before you

Bonjour tristesse
My own sweetheart




Give up the fight
Embrace the night

Overall Meaning

The song Bonjour Tristesse by Clouds is a beautiful ballad that includes heartfelt lyrics. The lyrics paint the picture of a person who is seeking comfort in a friend's house. The singer tells us that they have loved before and will love again, but for the night, they want to be with their friend. The singer implores their friend to host their dreams and cradle them in a warm sleep. The friend's house is described to have many rooms, and each of them has its own ghost. The singer wants to be welcomed inside the house and promises to open doors that have been closed for a long time.


The singer tells their friend to come over them and overcome them, asking to be undone. The song describes both the singer and the friend as saints and sinners, both of them looking for comfort and solace in each other. The singer talks about the walls they have built and the fake faces they wear, but for one night, they want to let go and be vulnerable. The song ends with the lyrics 'Bonjour Tristesse, my own sweetheart, give up the fight, embrace the night,' where the singer asks their lover to give up the fight and embrace the night.


Line by Line Meaning

You have loved before
You have had previous romantic experiences


And will love again
You will have more romantic experiences in the future


But tonight here and now
At this moment, in the present time


You are mine my friend
You belong to me as my companion


Play host to my dreams
Let me stay with you and experience your dreams


Cradle me
Hold me tenderly


In a warm sleep
In a comfortable state of slumber


Welcome me inside
Let me enter your personal space


Your house of many rooms
Your mind, containing many thoughts and emotions


Each with its own ghost
Each with its own haunting memory or experience


Those doors so long closed
Memories or emotions that have been repressed for a long time


Will open at My touch
I will help you confront and overcome these repressed memories and emotions


Come over me
Be on top of me


Overcome me
Take control of me completely


Do unto me
Treat me the way you desire


Undo me
Bring me to a state of complete vulnerability


Saints and sinners both of us
Both of us have a mix of admirable and immoral qualities


Now these walls I've built
I have created emotional barriers to protect myself


These faces I wear
I present different versions of myself to different people


And these names
Even my name may not be my true identity


Are for Only one night
These walls, faces, and names will only be temporary and will all come down in the end


Take flight
Let go and escape from these emotional barriers


'Til I stand naked before you
Until I reveal my true self to you


Bonjour tristesse
Hello sadness


My own sweetheart
My beloved but painful sadness


Give up the fight
Stop resisting and accept the sadness


Embrace the night
Accept the darkness and pain in life as a natural part of the experience




Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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