Heavily influenced by American rock & roll, Mitchell (who went solo in 1963) has often recorded outside France, at first in London, but later in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Guitarist Jimmy Page and drummer Bob Graham were among the British session musicians who regularly supported him in London.
Les Pattes Folles
Eddy Mitchell Lyrics
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Après mon show, je me sentais fatigué
J'ai atterri avec mes musiciens
Dans un bar sordide dans un monde fellinien
Où dansaient, maquillés
Des hommes qui n'étaient sûrement pas des routiers
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Mon bassiste a voulu faire le malin
Il effleura l'un des danseurs de la main
Et sur un slow, il l'invita à flirter
Mais l'autre lui apprit le karaté
Pour calmer ces beautés
J'ai offert le champagne jusqu'au jour levé
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
Sous leurs apparences étaient vraiment des hommes
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Hey, disco queen, oh
Ils dansaient maquillés
Ces hommes qui n'étaient sûrement pas des routiers
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
Faisaient du disco sur du vieux rock 'n' roll
Aah-aah
Oh, j'aurais mieux fait de rester à l'hôtel
Bien à l'aise, bien au chaud avec une belle
Mais c'est toujours, toujours, toujours, toujours pareil
Dès que le soir arrive, c'est la galère, aah
The lyrics of Eddy Mitchell's song "Les Pattes Folles" tell the story of the singer's experience after a show. Feeling tired, he and his musicians end up in a seedy bar that seems to belong to another world, evoking the atmosphere of a Fellini film. In this bar, there are men dancing and wearing makeup, who are clearly not truck drivers. These men, with their wild moves and "pattes folles" (crazy legs), are disco dancing to old rock 'n' roll songs. The singer's bassist tries to show off by lightly touching one of the dancers, only to be confronted by the dancer's karate skills. To pacify the situation, the singer offers champagne until sunrise. Despite their appearances, these "pattes folles" dancers are revealed to be genuine men underneath.
The lyrics portray a sense of surprise and intrigue as the singer enters this unfamiliar and unconventional environment. The use of vivid imagery, such as the bar being described as "sordid" and the reference to Fellini's world, adds to the surreal atmosphere. The contrast between disco dancing and old rock 'n' roll music, along with the unexpected display of karate skills, demonstrates the unpredictable nature of the situation. Ultimately, the singer reflects on how he should have stayed in the comfort of his hotel, but acknowledges the inevitable allure and chaos that comes with the arrival of the night.
Line by Line Meaning
L'autre soir, vers la fin de ma tournée
On another night, towards the end of my tour
Après mon show, je me sentais fatigué
After my show, I felt tired
J'ai atterri avec mes musiciens
I landed with my musicians
Dans un bar sordide dans un monde fellinien
In a seedy bar in a Fellini-esque world
Où dansaient, maquillés
Where they danced, disguised
Des hommes qui n'étaient sûrement pas des routiers
Men who surely weren't truck drivers
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
These wild legs, these wild legs
Faisaient du disco sur du vieux rock 'n' roll
Were dancing disco to old rock 'n' roll
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Mon bassiste a voulu faire le malin
My bassist wanted to show off
Il effleura l'un des danseurs de la main
He brushed one of the dancers with his hand
Et sur un slow, il l'invita à flirter
And on a slow song, he invited him to flirt
Mais l'autre lui apprit le karaté
But the other one taught him karate
Pour calmer ces beautés
To calm these beauties
J'ai offert le champagne jusqu'au jour levé
I offered champagne until daybreak
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
These wild legs, these wild legs
Sous leurs apparences étaient vraiment des hommes
Beneath their appearances, they were truly men
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo
Hey, disco queen, oh
Hey, disco queen, oh
Ils dansaient maquillés
They danced with makeup
Ces hommes qui n'étaient sûrement pas des routiers
These men who surely weren't truck drivers
Ces pattes folles, ces pattes folles
These wild legs, these wild legs
Faisaient du disco sur du vieux rock 'n' roll
Were dancing disco to old rock 'n' roll
Aah-aah
Aah-aah
Oh, j'aurais mieux fait de rester à l'hôtel
Oh, I would have been better off staying at the hotel
Bien à l'aise, bien au chaud avec une belle
Comfortable, warm with a beauty
Mais c'est toujours, toujours, toujours, toujours pareil
But it's always, always, always, always the same
Dès que le soir arrive, c'est la galère, aah
As soon as the evening comes, it's a mess, aah
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Pierre Papadiamandis, Claude Moine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind