Jean-Jacques Goldman is a French singer-songwriter who started his career singing as a back up singer before starting in a rock band Taï Phong before starting his solo career. A number of years later he founded the trio Fredericks - Goldman - Jones, with the British Michael Jones and American Carole Fredericks.
Extremely popular in French-speaking countries, he is a well-known songwriter, composing a number of albums for Céline Dion. He has also collaborated with Johnny Hallyday, Patricia Kaas, Garou, Marc Lavoine, Khaled (Aïcha), Lorie and Florent Pagny
He is also well known in France for getting involved in the homeless charity "Les Restos du Coeur" for which he wrote the main anthem.
Dors Bébé Dors
Jean-Jacques Goldman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bébé, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
Dors, bébé, dors
Bébé, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
S'est perdu sur son chemin
Il nous reste quelques heures
Avant que la nuit de meure
Dors, mon amour, dors
Mon amour, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
Dors, mon amour, dors
Mon amour, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
Il n'est pas tout à fait demain
Rien ne presse ce matin
Il nous reste quelques heures
De quiètude et de tièdeurs
Et moi, j'écoute les bruits de vos silences
Dans notre ilôt de chaleur et de confiance
Quand le soleil sera là, vous partirez
Parce que c'est comme ça
Autre part, autres combats
D'autres que je connais pas
Et je guetterai vos pas
Dors, bébé, dors
Bébé, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
Dors, bébé, dors
Bébé, dors, il pleut dehors
Dors encore
C'est tout juste l'aube et demain
Paresse un peu ce matin
Et moi, pendant que je veille
Je surveille vos sommeils
Si vous saviez comme vos sommeils
Veillent sur mes trop longues veilles
The lyrics to Jean-Jacques Goldman's "Dors Bébé Dors" are a lullaby sung by a parent to their child. The song begins by encouraging the baby to sleep, reminding them that it is raining outside and they should rest. The parent then speaks of the early morning, where time seems to be lost and there are still a few hours before the night ends. The second verse repeats the same idea, but this time the parent calls the child "my love" and reminds them that there is no rush to wake up.
The third verse takes on a more somber tone, as the parent acknowledges that eventually the child will leave them to go off to their own life and battles that they will have to face. The parent will be left to wait and listen for their footsteps, always worrying and wondering where they are. The song then ends with the repeated refrain of "dors bébé dors" and the parent watching over their child as they sleep.
Overall, the song is a beautiful expression of a parent's love and desire to protect their child, even as they grow older and leave the nest. It captures the bittersweet feeling of watching a child grow up and face the world on their own, while also acknowledging the deep bond between them.
Line by Line Meaning
Dors, bébé, dors
Sleep, baby, sleep
Bébé, dors, il pleut dehors
Baby, sleep, it's raining outside
Dors encore
Sleep some more
Il n'est pas tard et le matin
It's not late and morning
S'est perdu sur son chemin
Has lost its way
Il nous reste quelques heures
There are a few hours left for us
Avant que la nuit de meure
Before the night dies
Dors, mon amour, dors
Sleep, my love, sleep
Mon amour, dors, il pleut dehors
My love, sleep, it's raining outside
Il n'est pas tout à fait demain
It's not quite tomorrow yet
Rien ne presse ce matin
Nothing is pressing this morning
De quiètude et de tièdeurs
Of calmness and warmth
Et moi, j'écoute les bruits de vos silences
And I listen to the sounds of your silence
Dans notre ilôt de chaleur et de confiance
In our island of warmth and trust
Quand le soleil sera là, vous partirez
When the sun comes, you will leave
Parce que c'est comme ça
Because that's how it is
Autre part, autres combats
Elsewhere, different battles
D'autres que je connais pas
Others that I don't know
Et je guetterai vos pas
And I will watch your steps
C'est tout juste l'aube et demain
It's just dawn and tomorrow
Paresse un peu ce matin
Laze a little this morning
Et moi, pendant que je veille
And me, while I watch over you
Je surveille vos sommeils
I watch over your sleeps
Si vous saviez comme vos sommeils
If you only knew how your sleeps
Veillent sur mes trop longues veilles
Watch over my too long vigils
Contributed by Julia V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.