Après toi
JP Nataf Lyrics
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J'arrivais jusque là?
Au ralenti, oralement,
Par Tanger ou par choix?
Le temps me laisse passer
Je lui dis "après toi"
Ne me reconnait pas
ai-je dormi longtemps, souvent?
Au large de ma voix
Le temps me laisse passer
Je lui dis "après toi"
Mais laisse-moi, si tu veux bien, de quoi
Donner ce que j'ai sur moi
Ai-je soufflé déjà
Tant de vent, brûlé tant de bois?
Que de jambes et des bras
Pour gravir encore dix étés
Ou te fuir
Il m'en reste à peine
Mais il m'en reste assez
Et peu importe qu'il me mène
En bateau, s'il file vite et droit
Je me ferai mousse, je le ferai capitaine
Et l'écume m'écumera
Le temps me laisse passer
Je lui dis "après toi"
Moi, je ne fais que passer
Toi, tu vas plus loin que moi
Le temps me laisse passer
Je lui dis "après toi"
Je lui dis "après toi"
The lyrics of JP Nataf's song "Après toi" reflect on the passing of time and how it affects our lives. The first stanza questions if the singer had any say in where they have ended up in life, or if it was a result of fate or circumstance. The repetition of "après toi" (after you) suggests that the singer may have been following someone else's lead, perhaps a mentor or role model, but now they are left to navigate their own path.
The second stanza refers to the singer's child who does not recognize them, implying that the passing of time has caused them to lose touch with loved ones. The images of the sea and the wind suggest a feeling of being adrift and trying to find direction. However, the singer finds solace in the fact that time continues to move forward, and they can follow its lead.
In the third stanza, the singer acknowledges that they have already experienced and achieved a lot in life, but they have more to give. The image of climbing "ten summers" suggests that the singer is not ready to give up, and they still have the strength to achieve more. The final stanza repeats the main theme of the song, that time is moving forward and the singer needs to follow its lead. However, this time, the singer acknowledges that they are only passing through, and someone else may go further on their path.
Overall, "Après toi" is a reflective and poignant song that explores the passing of time and the uncertainty of life's journey.
Line by Line Meaning
Ai-je eu vent de comment J'arrivais jusque là?
Did I have any idea how I got to where I am now?
Au ralenti, oralement, Par Tanger ou par choix?
In slow motion, verbally, through Tanger or by my own choice?
Le temps me laisse passer Je lui dis 'après toi'
Time lets me go by and I tell it to go first
Et l'enfant qui m'a fait Ne me reconnait pas
And the child who made me doesn't recognize me
ai-je dormi longtemps, souvent? Au large de ma voix
Did I sleep a lot, often? Far away from my voice
Mais laisse-moi, si tu veux bien, de quoi Donner ce que j'ai sur moi
Let me have, if you will, enough to give what I have
Ai-je soufflé déjà Tant de vent, brûlé tant de bois?
Have I already blown so much wind, burned so much wood?
Que de jambes et des bras Pour gravir encore dix étés Ou te fuir Il m'en reste à peine Mais il m'en reste assez
What legs and arms do I need to climb ten more summers or run away from you? I barely have any left, but enough remains
Et peu importe qu'il me mène En bateau, s'il file vite et droit Je me ferai mousse, je le ferai capitaine Et l'écume m'écumera
And it doesn't matter if he leads me on a boat, if he moves fast and straight, I'll become the foam, I'll become the captain, and the foam will foam me
Moi, je ne fais que passer Toi, tu vas plus loin que moi
I'm just passing by, you're going farther than me
Je lui dis 'après toi' Je lui dis 'après toi'
I tell time to go first, I tell time to go first
Contributed by Kaylee G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.