Discography
Her first, self-titled album was released in 1997 ("Françoiz Breut"). Her second album was the 2000 "Vingt à Trente Mille Jours" (20 to 30 thousand days); this second album was long awaited by fans, and helped broaden her exposure and appeal internationally. In 2005, "Une saison volée" was released. Most recently, after numerous tours in France and abroad (notably Germany), she released in 2008 her latest album, "à l'aveuglette" (roughly translated as "blindly" -- as in, searching).
She is on numerous compilations (such as the popular "Le Pop" compilation series of "la nouvelle scène française"), and also appears on Calexico's live DVD "World Drifts In: Live at the Barbican" (2004).
By any other name...
The name "Françoiz Breut" is a pseudonym; this name itself was purportedly adopted by Ms. Breut after her original stage name, Françoiz Brrr, was incorrectly reported in the media. (The sound is roughly similar; "Brrr" (or "Breut") would be pronounced like "brew" or "broot".)
Over All
Françoiz Breut Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The other
Waiting in the dark
Over all it’s been
Behind me
All the time
In the dark shades
Behind a mirror in the dark
Hidden inside the fire burning
In the yard
Bolt-locked chains could not
Keep you
From the werewolf in my eyes
In my bed I can’t stand
The heat
It burns my skin
And the sweat makes a mess
Of my hair
Tonight
You can call it fever
As long as you want to
But I know where it comes from
It’s in my veins beating in my head
And in my heart
Thank you for the moon
And I thank you
For making it full
My tears are sour
And you won’t run away
You’re making it full
The song "Over All" by Francoiz Breut seems to be about feeling haunted and trapped by a past relationship or experience. The "other" that is mentioned suggests another person, perhaps an ex-lover. This person seems to have been waiting in the dark, lurking in the shadows of the singer's life. The repetitive use of "over all" could refer to the fact that this experience is all-encompassing, taking over every aspect of the singer's life. The line "behind me" could mean that the singer is trying to move on from this experience, but is finding it difficult to do so.
The second stanza is very evocative, with imagery that suggests the presence of the "other" is still all around the singer. The bathroom is a place of vulnerability, and the fact that the other is hiding behind a mirror in the dark is particularly unsettling. The fire burning in the yard could represent the passion and intensity of the relationship, but the fact that the other is hidden inside it suggests a sense of danger or threat. The line "bolt-locked chains could not keep you from the werewolf in my eyes" is also very powerful - it seems to suggest that no matter how hard the singer tries to hide or protect herself, the other is always able to see through her and continue to haunt her.
The final stanza, in which the singer is struggling to sleep and experiencing a fever, could suggest that this relationship has left her emotionally drained and physically ill. The line "thank you for the moon / and I thank you for making it full" is particularly interesting - this could suggest that the singer is grateful for the good moments she shared with the other, even if they ultimately led to her feeling trapped and haunted. The fact that the other is "making it full" suggests that they are somehow responsible for the singer's intense emotions, and that they have a power over her that she finds difficult to resist. Overall, the song is a powerful evocation of the lingering effects of a difficult relationship, and the ways in which the past can continue to haunt us even when we try to move on.
Line by Line Meaning
Over all, there’s been
Throughout everything, there has
The other
Something else, something unknown
Waiting in the dark
Lurking unseen in the shadows
Over all it’s been
Throughout everything it has been
Behind me
Following me, unseen and unnoticed
All the time
Continuously, without pause
In the dark shades
In the murky darkness
Of the bathroom
Inside the bathroom
Behind a mirror in the dark
Hidden behind a mirror that reflects nothing in the darkness
Hidden inside the fire burning
Concealed within the flames of a burning fire
In the yard
Outside in the open air
Bolt-locked chains could not
Even locked chains would not be able to
Keep you
Prevent you from coming
From the werewolf in my eyes
From the savage beast that lies within me
In my bed I can’t stand
I cannot bear lying in my own bed
The heat
The oppressive warmth
It burns my skin
Causing my skin to burn
And the sweat makes a mess
Making me drenched in sweat
Of my hair
Soaking my hair
Tonight
This night in particular
You can call it fever
Label it as a fever if you wish
As long as you want to
For as long as you desire
But I know where it comes from
Yet I know from where it truly originates
It’s in my veins beating in my head
It courses through my veins, pounding in my head
And in my heart
And residing within my heart
Thank you for the moon
Grateful for the sight of the glowing moon
And I thank you
I am grateful to you
For making it full
For causing it to reach its fullest phase
My tears are sour
My tears taste bitter
And you won’t run away
Yet you will not flee from me
You’re making it full
You are causing it to become full
Contributed by Zoe P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Nikolas SoDiant
This album is pure bliss...
Magnifique :-D
Christophe Descatoire
J’adore le texte, la mélodie, les arrangements et la lancinante lumineuse de ce chant qui accompagne mes meilleurs mauvais souvenirs
Laarch CupCake.*
Over all, there’s been
The other
Waiting in the dark
Over all it’s been
Behind me
All the time
In the dark shades
Of the bathroom
Behind a mirror in the dark
Hidden inside the fire burning
In the yard
Bolt-locked chains could not
Keep you
From the werewolf in my eyes
In my bed I can’t stand
The heat
It burns my skin
And the sweat makes a mess
Of my hair
Tonight
You can call it fever
As long as you want to
But I know where it comes from
It’s in my veins beating in my head
And in my heart
Thank you for the moon
And I thank you
For making it full
My tears are sour
And you won’t run away
You’re making it full
EDC
Quelle chanson déchirante! J'écoute de tout mais je reviens toujours et régulièrement à Françoiz Breut. Je l'écoute ce soir dans les montagnes de Colombie. Totalement raccord avec mes rencontres et les paysages admirables vus aujourd'hui et aussi si fragiles...
green v470
I also like the very soulful 6Music session with acoustic guitar.
Lavinia Laviosa
♥
Mr. MOOD
Kenne kaum Französische Künstler,
zum Glück aber François Breut,
Ist eigentlich nicht meine Musik ausser einer Handvoll Lieder.
Diese dafür aber liebe ich !
Merci dafür 😘
Horse 16
Il me semble qu'il y a un peu de Herman Dune derrière tout cela