Aufray represented Luxembourg in the 1964 Eurovision Song Contest, performing the song "Dès que le printemps revient" and finishing fourth. His most famous songs are "Santiano," "Céline," "Stewball" and in Spanish, "Barco de Papel."
Aufray is well known for his French adaptations of Bob Dylan's songs.
His sister was actress Pascale Audret (1936–2000) and his niece is actress Julie Dreyfus.
Loin De Toi
Hugues Aufray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Je suis sans vie
Loin de toi
Les jours ressemblent aux nuits
Oh, loin de toi
Je suis perdu
Loin de toi
Sans les oiseaux, que serait le printemps?
Sans le ruisseau, plus de fleurs dans les champs
Et sans la pluie, plus d'eau dans le torrent
Et toi sans moi
La voile sans le vent
Oh, près de toi
Tout refleurit
Près de toi
Un arc-en-ciel sous la pluie
Oh, près de toi
Tout m'assouvit
Oh, près de toi
Le ciel de plomb s'éclaircit
Mais les oiseaux reviennent au printemps
Mais les ruisseaux vont inonder les champs
Et sous la pluie chantera le torrent
Et toi pour moi
La voile pour le vent
Oh, loin de toi
Je suis sans vie
In the song "Loin de toi" by Hugues Aufray, the lyrics express the feelings of emptiness, loss, and longing when separated from a loved one. The first verse states, "Loin de toi, je suis sans vie" (Far from you, I am lifeless), indicating that being away from the person he loves drains all life and energy out of him. The days blend into nights, symbolizing the bleakness and lack of distinction in his existence without his loved one.
The chorus emphasizes the despair and disorientation that he experiences when apart from his loved one, stating, "Loin de toi, je suis perdu" (Far from you, I am lost). The imagery of wandering aimlessly in the streets underscores the feeling of being adrift and disconnected from himself and the world around him.
The second verse introduces the idea that the presence of his loved one brings vitality and beauty into his life. The lyrics suggest that without birds, spring would lose its essence, without streams, flowers would not bloom in the fields, and without rain, there would be no water in the torrent. Comparing his loved one's absence to a sail without wind further emphasizes the incomplete and stagnant state he is in without their presence.
In the third verse, the lyrics shift to a more hopeful tone as the singer expresses how everything comes alive and flourishes in the presence of his beloved. Being close to them rejuvenates him, giving him a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment. The image of a rainbow appearing even in the rain underlines the transformative power of their love.
The final verse reiterates the idea that with the return of the birds in spring, streams flooding the fields, and the sound of singing in the rain, the singer longs for their loved one's presence just like a sail longing for the wind. The closing line, "Oh, loin de toi, je suis sans vie" (Oh, far from you, I am lifeless), serves as a melancholic conclusion, emphasizing the overwhelming emptiness and longing he feels in their absence.
Line by Line Meaning
Loin de toi
Being far from you
Je suis sans vie
I am lifeless
Loin de toi
Being far from you
Les jours ressemblent aux nuits
Days resemble nights
Oh, loin de toi
Oh, being far from you
Je suis perdu
I am lost
Loin de toi
Being far from you
Je vais errant dans les rues
I wander through the streets
Sans les oiseaux, que serait le printemps?
Without birds, what would spring be?
Sans le ruisseau, plus de fleurs dans les champs
Without the stream, no more flowers in the fields
Et sans la pluie, plus d'eau dans le torrent
And without the rain, no more water in the torrent
Et toi sans moi
And you without me
La voile sans le vent
The sail without the wind
Oh, près de toi
Oh, near you
Tout refleurit
Everything blooms again
Près de toi
Near you
Un arc-en-ciel sous la pluie
A rainbow in the rain
Oh, près de toi
Oh, near you
Tout m'assouvit
Everything satisfies me
Oh, près de toi
Oh, near you
Le ciel de plomb s'éclaircit
The leaden sky clears up
Mais les oiseaux reviennent au printemps
But the birds come back in the spring
Mais les ruisseaux vont inonder les champs
But the streams will flood the fields
Et sous la pluie chantera le torrent
And the torrent will sing in the rain
Et toi pour moi
And you for me
La voile pour le vent
The sail for the wind
Oh, loin de toi
Oh, being far from you
Je suis sans vie
I am lifeless
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Hugues Aufray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind