La mer
David Newman Lyrics


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La mer
Qu'on voit danser
Le long des golfes clairs
A des reflets d'argent
La mer
Des reflets changeants
Sous la pluie
La mer
Au ciel d'été confond
Ses blancs moutons
Avec les anges si purs
La mer
Bergère d'azur, infinie

Voyez
Près des étangs
Ces grands roseaux mouillés
Voyez
Ces oiseaux blancs
Et ces maisons rouillées

La mer
Les a bercés
Le long des golfes clairs
Et d'une chanson d'amour
La mer
A bercé mon cœur pour la vie

La mer
Qu'on voit danser
Le long des golfes clairs
A des reflets d'argent
La mer
Des reflets changeants
Sous la pluie

La mer
Au ciel d'été confond
Ses blancs moutons
Avec les anges si purs
La mer
Bergère d'azur, infinie

Voyez
Près des étangs
Ces grands roseaux mouillés
Voyez
Ces oiseaux blancs
Et ces maisons rouillées

La mer
Les a bercés
Le long des golfes clairs
Et d'une chanson d'amour




La mer
A bercé mon cœur pour la vie

Overall Meaning

David Newman's song 'La Mer' is a beautiful and poetic homage to the endlessly captivating sea. The song in its opening lines speaks of the sea dancing along the clear coves with a reflection of silver - a reference to the reflection of sunlight on the water. The sea is then described as having reflections that are everchanging under the rain.


Newman then goes on to compare the summer sky to the sea, with its white clouds becoming one with the pure angels, while the sea becomes an infinite azure shepherdess. The next lines invite us to look at the wetland by the sea and the grand reeds, white birds, and rusted houses that can be found along the shore.


The refrain repeats the opening verse, emphasizing the sea's ability to soothe and cradle our heart with love. In essence, 'La Mer' is a love song to the sea, an expression of human's humbling admiration of its vastness and beauty.


Line by Line Meaning

La mer
The sea


Qu'on voit danser
That we see dancing


Le long des golfes clairs
Along the clear gulfs


A des reflets d'argent
Has silver reflections


Des reflets changeants
Changing reflections


Sous la pluie
Under the rain


Au ciel d'été confond
In the summer sky mingles


Ses blancs moutons
Its white sheep


Avec les anges si purs
With the angels so pure


Bergère d'azur, infinie
Blue shepherdess, infinite


Voyez
See


Près des étangs
Near the ponds


Ces grands roseaux mouillés
These tall wet reeds


Ces oiseaux blancs
These white birds


Et ces maisons rouillées
And these rusty houses


Les a bercés
Have rocked them


Et d'une chanson d'amour
And with a love song


A bercé mon cœur pour la vie
Have rocked my heart for life




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ALBERT LASRY, CHARLES LOUIS AUGUSTIN TRENET, WRITER UNKNOWN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@royJazzzz

I love this album. It's got that great Ray Charles feeling going on

@Bd-vl2ft

Got married to this song. More good times than hard times, but the song always brings us back to that day. Magical.

@Iknowknow112

Ray’s solo is so elegant with such articulate phrasing.

@mfreeman313

Great tune that deserves to be better known.

@pondersoa8223

DAMN....  i wish there was something like this today

@davedoyle9623

I do too Pond,,,I do too ,,I really do,,,

@mikelauerman7684

...and me too...an Alto player, favorite piece here. Have it by the Crusaders, but always dug the 'Fathead'...

@squarephantom661

DAMN... is a good album

@multimartinmusic10

Philly boy here too. Remember Mr. Swing and Mr. Soul on Friday nights, with alternating cuts by Sinatra and Ray Charles? This is a great example of Fathead on alto, and he is the reason I play tenor.

@bruceyettra2451

One of the greatest Alto Saxophone songs!

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