After their first 1999 se… Read Full Bio ↴Debout Sur Le Zinc is a French music band.
After their first 1999 self-titled album, their subsequent album L’homme à tue-tête released in May, 2001 gained them media acclaim and public popularity. By the time their 2004 album Des singes et les moutons enhanced their repertoire, they were selling out venues such as La Cigale and touring internationally. Songs from their latest album Les Promesses were featured in their first concert at the oldest music hall in Paris, the Olympia, where they played to a full house on May 16, 2006.
The band acknowledges influences from traditional French and Irish music, rock, klezmer, and many styles that are considered dance hall music, such as gypsy jazz, tango, waltz. Music critics and fans admire their ability to mix these different styles into an exuberant, cohesive whole.
They are known to be friends with bands like La Rue Kétanou or Les Ogres de Barback.
Le Grand Chemin
Debout sur le zinc Lyrics
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Plus de vingt ans que je meurs demain, que je meurs demain.
Plus de vingt ans que je revis la veille, que je revis la veille.
Plus de vingt ans et je n'y comprend rien et je n'y comprend rien.
Plus de vingt ans à se lever le matin avec ce mal de crâne et cette douleur aux reins !
Plus de vingt ans à se poser des questions, à quoi bon ?
Ne t'en fais pas, tu n'es pas seul, mon gars.
« Ça ne me rassure pas, ça ne me rassure pas »
Fermer les yeux et ne plus rien entendre, et ne plus rien entendre.
Plus inspiré pour soupirer moins, pour soupirer moins.
C'est la p'tite voix contre le chagrin, contre le chagrin.
C'est la p'tite voie, c'est le grand chemin, le grand chemin.
Rester de glace lorsque la fièvre monte ou rester planté par la douleur aiguë !
Passer sa vie à se dire à quoi bon, pas question.
Ne t'en fais pas, tu n'es pas seul, mon gars.
Ils seront bientôt des milliers comme toi...
« Ça ne me rassure pas, ça ne me rassure pas »
The song "Le Grand Chemin" by Debout sur le Zinc is a reflection on the passage of time and the existential questions that come with it. The lyrics express a sense of confusion and exhaustion with life's struggles, as the singer laments "more than 20 years that I struggle, that I will die tomorrow, that I relive yesterday, and I don't understand anything." This sense of disillusionment is compounded by physical pain and questioning the purpose of it all, asking "more than 20 years to wake up in the morning with this headache and pain in my back! More than 20 years of asking myself, what's the point?"
However, despite the feelings of isolation, the chorus offers a glimmer of hope, as the singer assures the listener that they are not alone in their struggles, that there are soon to be thousands like them. But even this reassurance is met with skepticism, as the singer declares "that doesn't reassure me." The song ultimately presents a complex and nuanced exploration of the human experience and the uncertainties that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Plus de vingt ans que je me démène, que je me démène.
I have been struggling for over 20 years, relentlessly.
Plus de vingt ans que je meurs demain, que je meurs demain.
I have been feeling like I am going to die tomorrow for over 20 years.
Plus de vingt ans que je revis la veille, que je revis la veille.
I have been reliving the past for over 20 years.
Plus de vingt ans et je n'y comprend rien et je n'y comprend rien.
I have been unable to understand anything for over 20 years.
Plus de vingt ans à se lever le matin avec ce mal de crâne et cette douleur aux reins !
I have been waking up every morning with a headache and pain in my back for over 20 years!
Plus de vingt ans à se poser des questions, à quoi bon ?
I have been questioning everything for over 20 years, what's the point?
Ne t'en fais pas, tu n'es pas seul, mon gars.
Don't worry, you're not alone, my friend.
Ils seront bientôt des milliers comme toi...
There will soon be thousands like you.
« Ça ne me rassure pas, ça ne me rassure pas »
"That doesn't reassure me, that doesn't reassure me."
Fermer les yeux et ne plus rien entendre, et ne plus rien entendre.
Closing my eyes and not hearing anything anymore, and not hearing anything anymore.
Plus inspiré pour soupirer moins, pour soupirer moins.
Less inspired to sigh more, to sigh less.
C'est la p'tite voix contre le chagrin, contre le chagrin.
It's the small voice against grief, against grief.
C'est la p'tite voie, c'est le grand chemin, le grand chemin.
It's the small path, it's the grand road, the grand road.
Rester de glace lorsque la fièvre monte ou rester planté par la douleur aiguë !
Staying ice cold when the fever rises or standing still in acute pain!
Passer sa vie à se dire à quoi bon, pas question.
Spending your life questioning what's the point, not an option.
Ne t'en fais pas, tu n'es pas seul, mon gars.
Don't worry, you're not alone, my friend.
Ils seront bientôt des milliers comme toi...
There will soon be thousands like you.
« Ça ne me rassure pas, ça ne me rassure pas »
"That doesn't reassure me, that doesn't reassure me."
Contributed by Adrian K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.