La famille
Henri Tachan Lyrics
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Tu te la chopes quand tu n'es qu'un lardon,
Et à huit ans, lequel de nous conteste
Le père, la mère, la tante ou l'oncle Ernest ?
La famille, c'est comme leur Dieu Tout Puissant,
C'est inventé pour les petits n'enfants.
L'respect filial, c'est comme la calotte :
T'as pas le choix, c'est tes premièr'es menottes...
Heureusement, il y avait ma soeurette,
Ses lèvres chaudes contre ma pauvre tête...
La famille, c'est une bande de gens
Que tu n'connais ni des lèvr'es ni des dents,
Des magistrats qu'on t'a commis d'office,
Des étrangers qui t'appellent " mon fils ".
La famille, il se peut qu'y en ait d'sympas.
Tu sens alors l'envie d'ouvrir tes bras,
L'appel du sang ne fait rien à l'affaire :
J'connais un homme qui est cent fois mon père...
Heureusement, il y avait ma soeur Anne,
Ses lèvres chaudes contre mon bonnet d'âne...
La famille, c'est comme la Société,
Les lois y bouff'ent l'amour et l'amitié.
Mon droit d'aînesse j'l'ai laissé pour des billes,
Pas eu moyen d'trouver un plat d'lentilles.
La famille, la vraie, on se la choisit.
C'est p't'être un chien, c'est peut-être un ami,
Et c'est parfois une amour de rencontre,
Une orpheline qu'a ton heure à sa montre...
Heureusement, tu es v'nue, ma frangine,
Tes lèvres chaudes contre ma poitrine,
Heureusement, tu es v'nue, ma p'tite soeur,
Tes lèvres chaudes sont gravées dans mon coeur !
In Henri Tachan's song La Famille, the singer reflects on his experience growing up with his family. He begins by comparing family to the common childhood illness of the mumps, saying that you catch it when you're young and have no choice but to live with it. He goes on to say that family is like a God invented for children, and that you are bound by filial respect to obey them like you would shackles. However, Tachan adds a glimmer of hope by mentioning his sister, whose warm lips have comforted him during his childhood struggles.
The second verse describes family as a group of people who you don't even know the sound or appearance of, including distant relatives forced upon you as if they were judges in court. Tachan admits that there may be some sympathetic members in a family, but that even if they are blood-related, he knows people who have acted more like fathers to him than his actual father. He again remembers his sister, who has been a source of support and love for him.
The final verse compares family to society, claiming that their laws and customs threaten to starve out love and friendship. Tachan tells a story of giving up his birthright for a mere handful of marbles, and failing to find a bowl of lentils as his ancestor Esau once did in the Bible. He then concludes that true family is chosen, and may be a pet, a friend, or a chance encounter. The song ends with an expression of gratitude to his sister for her warmth and affection.
Line by Line Meaning
La famille, c'est comme les oreillons.
Family is like mumps. You catch it when you're just a kid, and at eight years old, which of us contests the father, mother, aunt, or uncle Ernest?
La famille, c'est comme leur Dieu Tout Puissant,
Family is like their Almighty God. It's invented for little children.
L'respect filial, c'est comme la calotte :
Filial respect is like the cap. You have no choice, it's your first handcuffs.
Heureusement, il y avait ma soeurette,
Fortunately, there was my little sister, her warm lips against my poor head.
La famille, c'est une bande de gens
Family is a group of people you don't know either by their lips or teeth, judges you were assigned to, strangers who call you 'my son.'
La famille, il se peut qu'y en ait d'sympas.
There may be some nice family members. You then feel like opening your arms, the call of blood has nothing to do with it: I know a man who is a hundred times my father...
Heureusement, il y avait ma soeur Anne,
Fortunately, there was my sister Anne, her warm lips against my dunce cap.
La famille, c'est comme la Société,
Family is like society, laws nibble away at love and friendship. I gave up my birthright for marbles, couldn't even find a bowl of lentils.
La famille, la vraie, on se la choisit.
True family is chosen. It may be a dog, a friend, or sometimes a love you meet, an orphan with your time on her watch...
Heureusement, tu es v'nue, ma frangine,
Fortunately, you came, my sister, your warm lips against my chest. Fortunately, you came, my little sister, your warm lips engraved in my heart!
Contributed by Scarlett L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.