Je Ne Me Reconnais Pas
David Hallyday Lyrics

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Toi
Dans l'fond d'ma tête
C'est quoi ton monde en noir et blanc ?
Toi
Qu'est ce qui t'inquiète
Pourquoi cesser d'être un enfant
Hey

J'écoute c'que tu m'répète tout bas
Oh oh...
J'entends tes mots, tes phrases...
Mais j'les comprends pas
J'connais l'portrait qu'tu m'fais de moi
Oh oh
Mais dans tes mots, tes phrases...
Je m'reconnais pas
J'me reconnais pas
Non

Toi
Dans l'fond d'ma tête
Tu dis qu'tu crois plus trop en moi
Toi...
Mais qu'est ce qui t'embête ?
Es tu vraiment si sur de toi ?
Hey

J'écoute c'que tu me dis sur moi
Oh oh
J'comprends les mots, les phrases...
Mais j'te comprends pas
J'te comprends pas...
J'connais le portrait que tu fais de moi
Mais, c'est qu'des mots, des phrases
Et j'me reconnais pas
J'me r'connais pas Si tu es ma conscience
Tu es pas la part de moi qui danse
Si tu es vraiment ma raison
J'resterai pas dans ma prison

J'écoute c'que tu m'dis tout bas
Oh oh
Tous tes mots, tes phrases...
J'les comprends pas
J'les comprends pas
Le portrait qui'tu me fais de moi
Oh oh
C'est juste des mots, des phrases
Et je m'reconnais pas
J'me r'connais pas
Non

J'écoute c'que tu répètes sur moi
Oh oh
Tous les mots, les phrases...
Mais j'te comprens pas
J'me r'connais pas
J'connais l'portrait qu'tu fais de moi
Oh oh
Mais dans tes mots, tes phrases
Je m'reconnais pas
Je m'reconnais pas
Non...

Je m'reconnais pas
Non...

Overall Meaning

David Hallyday's song Je Ne Me Reconnais Pas is a melancholic reflection about trying to understand oneself through the lens of another person. The lyrics portray a conversation between the singer and a voice in their head, represented by the repetition of the word "toi" (you). The voice challenges the singer's perception of themselves and raises doubts about their identity. The chorus uses a haunting melody to express the disorientation and confusion that the singer experiences, as they fail to recognize themselves in the words and portrait that "toi" paints of them.

The first verse opens with "Toi, dans l'fond d'ma tête, c'est quoi ton monde en noir et blanc?" (You, in the back of my mind, what is your black and white world?). The singer wants to understand the other voice's perspective and the reasoning that underlies their criticism. They want to know what "toi" sees that they don't. However, the second line of the verse ("Qu'est ce qui t'inquiète, pourquoi cesser d'être un enfant") reveals that the voice wants the singer to stay childish, carefree, and ignorant. The tension between the two becomes apparent as the first chorus juxtaposes the singer's inability to understand the other voice's critique with their disillusionment and self-alienation.

The second verse repeats the pattern, but this time, the voice sounds more convinced of their narrow views. They tell the singer that they don't believe in them anymore ("Tu dis qu'tu crois plus trop en moi"). The singer still asks for an explanation ("Mais qu'est-ce qui t'embête ? Es-tu vraiment si sûr de toi?"), but the chorus reinforces the singer's sense of confusion and isolation. The bridge provides a possible answer to the singer's predicament. If "toi" represents the inner voice that enforces rules, obligations, and limits, then the singer must defy it and follow their inner desires. They sing: "Si tu es vraiment ma raison, je ne resterai pas dans ma prison" (If you are truly my reason, I won't stay in my prison).

Line by Line Meaning

Toi Dans l'fond d'ma tête C'est quoi ton monde en noir et blanc ? Toi Qu'est ce qui t'inquiète Pourquoi cesser d'être un enfant Hey
The singer is asking someone what their perspective is on life, and why they've stopped being carefree and innocent.

J'écoute c'que tu m'répète tout bas Oh oh... J'entends tes mots, tes phrases... Mais j'les comprends pas J'connais l'portrait qu'tu m'fais de moi Oh oh Mais dans tes mots, tes phrases... Je m'reconnais pas J'me reconnais pas Non
The singer is acknowledging that they are hearing the other person's critique, but they don't understand it. They feel like the image the other person is painting of them isn't accurate.

Toi Dans l'fond d'ma tête Tu dis qu'tu crois plus trop en moi Toi... Mais qu'est ce qui t'embête ? Es tu vraiment si sur de toi ? Hey
The singer is asking why the other person is losing faith in them, and if they're really so confident in their judgment.

J'écoute c'que tu me dis sur moi Oh oh J'comprends les mots, les phrases... Mais j'te comprends pas J'te comprends pas... J'connais le portrait que tu fais de moi Mais, c'est qu'des mots, des phrases Et j'me reconnais pas J'me r'connais pas
The artist is saying they do understand what the other person is saying about them, but they don't understand why they feel that way. They still don't feel like the image the other person is portraying of them is accurate.

Si tu es ma conscience Tu es pas la part de moi qui danse Si tu es vraiment ma raison J'resterai pas dans ma prison
The artist is saying that if the person they're talking to is their conscience, then they aren't the part of them that enjoys life. And if the person is supposed to be their reason, the artist won't stay in their own prison.

J'écoute c'que tu m'dis tout bas Oh oh Tous tes mots, tes phrases... J'les comprends pas J'les comprends pas Le portrait qui'tu me fais de moi Oh oh C'est juste des mots, des phrases Et je m'reconnais pas J'me r'connais pas
The singer reiterates that they don't understand the other person's perspective on them, and they still don't feel like the image the person is portraying of them is accurate.

J'écoute c'que tu répètes sur moi Oh oh Tous les mots, les phrases... Mais j'te comprens pas J'me r'connais pas J'connais l'portrait qu'tu fais de moi Oh oh Mais dans tes mots, tes phrases Je m'reconnais pas Je m'reconnais pas Non... Je m'reconnais pas Non...
The singer continues to say they don't understand the other person and that they still don't feel like their portrayal is accurate.

Contributed by Liliana N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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