Florent Pagny was born on November 6, 1961 in Chalons sur Saone, France. He… Read Full Bio ↴Florent Pagny was born on November 6, 1961 in Chalons sur Saone, France. He showed an interest in singing at a very early age by belting Luis Mariano and Michel Sardou songs to the great delight of his mother. When he turned 15, he moved to Paris and assiduously followed singing lessons at the academy of Levallois Perret while earning his living by doing odd jobs. While working as a barman, he was spotted by the casting agent Dominique Besnehard who found him a part in the Jean Jacques Beineix movie Diva which unfortunately ended up on the cutting floor.

From a series of minor parts, Pagny moved from cinema to TV. In 1985, he got co-writing credits for Michel Gerard's film "Blessure". Two years later, he recorded its first single "N'importe quoi". The success was immediate for this non-conformist.

He won a Victoire, a prestigious French music award, in 1989, yet the following year his second album bombed following a media boycott. "Don't bite the hand that feeds you"!

After a long period of reflection, he came back on top with his album "Rester Vrai" in 1994. In 1997, his album "Savoir aimer" brought him enormous popularity.

He now spends his time between France and Patagonia where he lives with his wife on a 4000 hectare farm pursuing his two passions: motor biking and fishing.

In 2004, Pagny took on an ambitious project: "Baryton", an album made up of titles of the traditional repertory with an amazing 70 member string orchestra and a 60 member choir under the direction of Yvon Cassar. This album was a true success.

In 2006 with the album "Abracadabra" Pagny returned to more of a pop style and delivered a superb album with poignant lyrics "Le Mur" or "Là où je t'emmènerai".

In 2007, "Pagny Chante Brel", launched a tribute album containing eleven songs by the great singer Jacques Brel.

In 2009, "C'est comme ça" came out as a spanish language album. Recorded in Miami with latin composers and musicians, this worthwhile effort showed the extend of his talent across language barriers.

On Nov 12th 2010, "Tout et son contraire" is Pagny's lucky 13th album. With a french album with songs penned by Grégoire, Calogéro, Pascal Obispo and Marc Lavoine, this album is more conventional fare for this now Miami Resident.

In 2010, Pagny also released Baryton. Gracias a la vida his first of two Spanish albums.
In 2013, Viellir avec toi, 2016 Habana his second spanish album, 2017 Le présent d'abord, 2018 Tout Simplement and 2019 Aime La vie.
Remarquably, since 1990 Pagny's albums have always reached the top 5 in the French market, a remarkable 30 year run.
Pagny is a recurring figure as a judge of the French version of the Voice.

Volver
Florent Pagny Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Un letrero la pared
Y una calle sin final
Un secreto en la distancia
La sombra de lo que fue
Una cabaña detrás
Solo sus manos me alcanzan

Y me quedé sin saber

Y me quedé sin hablar
Pero se me que fui feliz

Recostado a la pared
Sin más nada que ofrecer
Nos contamos esperanzas
Creo que el amanecer
Sin palabras sin café
Los mentimos en la cama

Y me sentí respirar
Recostada junto a mi
Lo demás vendrá mañana

Porque
Hay que volar otra vez
Volverlo a intentar
Confiar en los sueños
Hay que cambiarse la piel
Reír sin parar
Meterse en el centro

Hay que intentar otra vez
Volver a cantar
Sin prisa y sin miedo
Hay que querer ser feliz
Ganar o perder es parte del juego
Parte de mi

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Veo la gente pasar
Me da gusto comprender
Que nadie vivido todo
Siempre busca la ilusión
Que te vuelve a despertar
Y que te llene de ganas
Luego sigue por ahí
Intentando ser feliz
Los demás vendrá mañana

Porque
Hay que volar otra vez
Volverlo a intentar
Confiar en los sueños
Hay que cambiarse la piel
Reír sin parar
Meterse en el centro

Hay que intentar otra vez
Volver a cantar
Sin prisa y sin miedo
Hay que querer ser feliz
Ganar o perder es parte del juego

Hay que volar otra vez
Volverlo a cantar
Confiar en los sueños
Hay que cambiarse la piel
Reír sin parar
Meterse en el centro

Hay que tentar otra vez
Volver a cantar
Sin prisa y sin miedo
Hay que querer ser feliz
Ganar o perder es parte del juego
Hay que querer ser feliz
Ganar o perder es parte del juego
Es parte de ti (oh)
Es parte de ti (oh)
Es parte de ti (oh)

Es parte de ti (oh)
Es parte de ti

Overall Meaning

The song "Volver" by Florent Pagny speaks about finding happiness through change and self-reflection. The first verse describes a person looking at a sign on the wall and feeling like they are on an endless street. They have a secret that keeps a distance between them and someone from their past, and only memories of a cabin with their hands held behind them remain. The second verse is about being honest with someone about their hopes and dreams, the comfort of being close, and the realization that tomorrow is a new day with possibilities.

The chorus emphasizes the need to "fly again," to try again, to have faith in one's dreams, and to laugh and enjoy life. The line "Hay que cambiarse la piel" translates to "one must change their skin," which suggests that true happiness can only come when someone is willing to change themselves. The song ends with the repetition of "it's part of you," emphasizing that the past is a part of who a person is, but they can choose to move forward and make a new beginning.

Overall, "Volver" is a hopeful and uplifting song that encourages people to embrace change and have faith in their dreams. The lyrics speak to the universal desire for happiness and the constant effort it takes to achieve it.

Line by Line Meaning

Un letrero la pared
A sign on the wall

Y una calle sin final
And a never-ending street

Un secreto en la distancia
A secret in the distance

La sombra de lo que fue
The shadow of what was

Una cabaña detrás
A cabin behind

Solo sus manos me alcanzan
Only his/her hands reach me

Y me quedé sin saber
And I was left not knowing

Y me quedé sin hablar
And I was left speechless

Pero se me que fui feliz
But I know I was happy

Recostado a la pared
Laying against the wall

Sin más nada que ofrecer
With nothing else to offer