Born in Dunrea, Manitoba, Canada, his mother was a musician and he learned to play piano at a young age. In 1967, Lavoie won a singer-songwriter competition for the Société Radio-Canada French language television program, Jeunesse oblige which gave him his first major publicity.
The young franco-manitoban played and sang in English and French with two different groups but his singing career began to blossom following a 1970 tour in the province of Quebec. Within a few years he was equally as popular in France as he was in Canada, headlining at Bobino and the Olympia in Paris. His album Nirvana bleu (recorded in 1979) was one of his bestsellers ever.
Daniel Lavoie starred in the highly successful musical play, Notre-Dame de Paris, in which he played the part of Frollo. He has written music for motion pictures including the Ludovic series of animated short films.
Où est-elle ?
Daniel Lavoie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Qu'on ne voit plus danser à Notre-Dame
Je n'en sais rien pour être honnête
Vous êtes prêtre et moi poète
Nous n'avons pas des femmes
La même religion, la même poésie
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
Elle est seule dans une tourelle
Loin de ceux qui craignent
Qu'on les ensorcelle
Que veux tu dire poète?
Tu as la langue fourchue
Ne fais pas de pirouettes
Dis-moi si tu l'as vue
Où est-elle mon Esmeralda
La Cour de Miracles à perdu sa reine
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Vous la trouverez à la prison de "La Santé"
Si vous ne la sauvez elle sera condamnée
À être pendue
Ne m'en dites pas plus
Où est-elle notre Esmeralda?
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
The lyrics to "Où est-elle" by Daniel Lavoie and Bruno Pelletier are a dialogue between two characters, Gringoire and the Poet. Gringoire, a priest, asks the poet what he has done with his wife, who is no longer seen dancing at Notre-Dame. The poet honestly admits that he does not know, highlighting the difference in their roles as a priest and a poet. They do not have the same obligations towards women and the same views on religion and poetry.
The Poet then asks Gringoire about his beloved, Esmeralda, and expresses how empty and sad the streets of Paris are without her. He reveals that she is alone in a tower, far from those who fear being bewitched by her. Gringoire, not understanding the poet's words, asks him to be straightforward and just tell him if he has seen Esmeralda.
The Poet responds by saying that Esmeralda is similar to a bird with its wings cut off, symbolizing her helplessness and vulnerability. He informs Gringoire that Esmeralda can be found in the "La Santé" prison and if she is not saved, she will be condemned to hanging. Gringoire, not wanting to hear any more details, accepts this information.
In summary, the lyrics depict a conversation between Gringoire and the Poet about the whereabouts of their respective loved ones, highlighting the longing and sadness they feel in their absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Gringoire qu'as tu fais de ta femme?
Gringoire, what have you done with your wife?
Qu'on ne voit plus danser à Notre-Dame
That we no longer see dancing at Notre-Dame
Je n'en sais rien pour être honnête
I honestly don't know
Vous êtes prêtre et moi poète
You are a priest and I am a poet
Nous n'avons pas des femmes
We don't have any women
La même religion, la même poésie
The same religion, the same poetry
Où est-elle ton Esmeralda
Where is your Esmeralda?
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
The streets of Paris are sad without her
Elle est seule dans une tourelle
She is alone in a tower
Loin de ceux qui craignent
Far from those who fear
Qu'on les ensorcelle
That they will be bewitched
Que veux tu dire poète?
What do you mean, poet?
Tu as la langue fourchue
You have a forked tongue
Ne fais pas de pirouettes
Don't make pirouettes
Dis-moi si tu l'as vue
Tell me if you have seen her
La Cour de Miracles a perdu sa reine
The Court of Miracles has lost its queen
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
She resembles a swallow
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Whose two wings have been cut off
Vous la trouverez à la prison de 'La Santé'
You will find her in the prison of 'La Santé'
Si vous ne la sauvez elle sera condamnée
If you don't save her, she will be condemned
À être pendue
To be hanged
Ne m'en dites pas plus
Don't tell me any more
Où est-elle notre Esmeralda?
Where is our Esmeralda?
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
She resembles a swallow
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Whose two wings have been cut off
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL G. LAVOIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind