Her first solo presentation at the Voutes des Frigo in December 2002 as well as the creation of a six title demo with Antoine Gaillet in 2003 allowed her to meet Christelle Lassort who soon joined the band. Christelle's violin and her voice brought a new harmonic impulse and strengthened the project. She also introduced Christophe Beaudriard (Bass / Double Bass) and Bertrand Perrin (Drums) to the band. They joined as well and smoothly adapted their sound to the rhythms imposed by the machines. Then, with the arrival of Antoine & Nicolas, from fellow band Narrow Terence, Etyl is finally complete.
Somewhere between organic acoustic and hypnotic machines, Etyl lays her doubts and hopes down in words and sounds. Like a question mark, Etyl's name ("Is it?"/"Is he?" in French) stands up to the questions raised in her lyrics.
For independence's sake, the album "La Tortue" was co-produced at the Microbe Studio by Julien Trimoreau and Eglantine herself for Lady Blue (her own label). However, Etyl recently signed with Recall Group and re-released her first album.
Le sillon
Etyl Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chacun sur son sillon
Rien ne manque, tour à tour
Les caresses, le bâton
Toutes ces cases à cocher
Garder haut le menton
Sans dépasser,
Placer ses pions
Fuis-moi que j't'attrape
Suis-moi, que j'te frappe
Cet écosystème, moi
J'en ai ma claque
Tu me touches, je te coule
On valse à contretemps
Chien battu, tu me saoules
C'n'était pas le moment
Tu me donnes trop,
Trop vite, trop fort ou trop tôt
Tu m'enivres, m'étouffes et m'aspires
Même si je dois sangler mon désir
Entre deux pas de deux
On s'accroche à du vent
On s'réveille, on s'en veut
D'préférer les méchants
"Dominant - dominé",
Y a t'il une position ?
Lequel de nos genres
Est pour toi le plus con ?
Tu me donnes trop,
Trop vite, trop fort ou trop tôt
Tu m'enivres, m'étouffes et m'aspires
Même si je dois sangler mon désir
Deux narcisses assemblés
catalysent les tourments
(x2)
Tu me donnes trop,
Trop vite, trop fort ou trop tôt
Tu m'enivres, m'étouffes et m'aspires
Même si je dois sangler mon désir
The song "Le sillon" by Etyl portrays the struggle of two individuals in a relationship where one person is seeking too much too quickly while the other is overwhelmed and suffocated. The lyrics open with the imagery of horses pulling a plow in a field, each on its own furrow, and the challenges that come with the work. This metaphor sets the stage for the difficulty in trying to maintain balance and not overstep boundaries in the relationship.
The verses then describe the push and pull dynamic of the relationship, where one person is pursuing the other while the other is resisting but also struggling with their own desires. The chorus emphasizes the overwhelming feelings that arise, using the images of suffocation and drowning. The bridge poses the question of power dynamics in relationships and the conflict that arises from this dynamic.
Overall, the song portrays a struggle for balance and boundaries in a relationship, as well as the complexities and challenges of power dynamics.
Line by Line Meaning
Chevaux de labour,
We are all working hard, each in our own path
Chacun sur son sillon
Each of us is focused on our own work
Rien ne manque, tour à tour
Everything we need comes to us in turn
Les caresses, le bâton
We receive both gentle touches and harsh discipline
Toutes ces cases à cocher
There are many boxes to check off, and rules to follow
Garder haut le menton
We must keep our heads held high, even in difficult situations
Sans dépasser,
But we must not go beyond our bounds
Placer ses pions
We must carefully place our pieces in the game of life
Fuis-moi que j't'attrape
If you try to run away from me, I'll catch you
Suis-moi, que j'te frappe
If you follow me, I'll hit you
Cet écosystème, moi
This system that we are part of,
J'en ai ma claque
I'm sick of it
Tu me touches, je te coule
If you touch me, I'll drown you
On valse à contretemps
Our dance is out of sync
Chien battu, tu me saoules
You annoy me like a beaten dog
C'n'était pas le moment
This wasn't the right time for us
Tu me donnes trop,
You give me too much,
Trop vite, trop fort ou trop tôt
Too quickly, too forcefully, or too soon
Tu m'enivres, m'étouffes et m'aspires
You intoxicate, suffocate, and drain me
Même si je dois sangler mon désir
Even if I have to restrain my desire
Entre deux pas de deux
Between two dance steps
On s'accroche à du vent
We hold onto nothingness
On s'réveille, on s'en veut
We wake up and regret
D'préférer les méchants
Preferring the bad guys
"Dominant - dominé",
The power dynamics
Y a t'il une position ?
Is there a right position?
Lequel de nos genres
Which of our gender
Est pour toi le plus con ?
Do you think one is more stupid?
Deux narcisses assemblés
Two egotistical people together
catalysent les tourments
Aggravating the troubles
(x2)
Tu me donnes trop,
You give me too much,
Trop vite, trop fort ou trop tôt
Too quickly, too forcefully, or too soon
Tu m'enivres, m'étouffes et m'aspires
You intoxicate, suffocate, and drain me
Même si je dois sangler mon désir
Even if I have to restrain my desire
Contributed by Natalie I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.