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.
En Passant
Jean-Jacques Goldman Lyrics
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Lambeaux de nuit quand nos ombres s'éteignent
Des routes m'emmènent, je ne sais où
J'avais les yeux perçants avant, je voyais tout
Doucement reviennent à pas de loup
Reines endormies, nos déroutes anciennes
Coulent les fontaines jusqu'où s'échouent
C'était des ailes et des rêves en partage
C'était des hivers et jamais le froid
C'était des grands ciels épuisés d'orages
C'était des paix que l'on ne signait pas
Des routes m'emmènent, je ne sais où
J'ai vu des oiseaux, des printemps, des cailloux
En passant
Toutes nos défaites ont faim de nous
Serments résignés sous les maquillages
Lendemains de fête, plus assez saouls
Pour avancer, lâcher les regrets trop lourds
Déjà ces lents, ces tranquilles naufrages
Déjà ces cages qu'on n'attendait pas
Déjà ces discrets manques de courage
Tout ce qu'on ne sera jamais, déjà
J'ai vu des bateaux, des fleurs, des rois
Des matins si beaux, j'en ai cueilli parfois
En passant
The first verse of Jean-Jacques Goldman's song "En passant" speaks of meeting at a prearranged location "all the ebonies," or black trees, when our shadows fade into tatters of night. The singer is being led by roads he does not know. He once had keen eyes and saw all. In the second verse, the sleepwalking queens of old defeats softly return as our paths once again intersect. The fountains flow until the deceased promises and dissolved vows reach its end. Memories of shattered dreams of hope fill the singer's mind as he says goodbye to his former life.
The third verse speaks of the wings and dreams that the singer and someone else once shared that is now gone. There were winters with never any cold and vast skies drained of storms. It was a peace that one would not sign up for. The final verse speaks of how regrets consume us and resign us to hardship. The next day after the party, we're not drunk enough to bear the heavy-hearted regret. The singer observes the slow, peaceful shipwrecks and unanticipated cages, as well as the discreet lack of courage. Everything that we will never be is already happening. In passing, the singer sees boats, flowers, and kings, and sometimes he gathers in lovely mornings.
Line by Line Meaning
Toutes les ébènes ont rendez-vous
All the ebony trees have an appointment to meet.
Lambeaux de nuit quand nos ombres s'éteignent
Tatters of night when our shadows disappear.
Des routes m'emmènent, je ne sais où
Roads take me, I do not know where.
J'avais les yeux perçants avant, je voyais tout
I had piercing eyes before, I saw everything.
Doucement reviennent à pas de loup
Softly return like a wolf's pace.
Reines endormies, nos déroutes anciennes
Sleeping queens, our ancient defeats.
Coulent les fontaines jusqu'où s'échouent
Fountains flow until they crash.
Les promesses éteintes et tous nos vœux dissous
Promises extinguished and all our wishes dissolved.
C'était des ailes et des rêves en partage
It was wings and shared dreams.
C'était des hivers et jamais le froid
It was winters but never the cold.
C'était des grands ciels épuisés d'orages
It was big skies tired from the storms.
C'était des paix que l'on ne signait pas
It was peace that one did not sign.
Des routes m'emmènent, je ne sais où
Roads take me, I do not know where.
J'ai vu des oiseaux, des printemps, des cailloux
I saw birds, springs, and rocks.
En passant
In passing.
Toutes nos défaites ont faim de nous
All our defeats hunger for us.
Serments résignés sous les maquillages
Resigned promises under makeup.
Lendemains de fête, plus assez saouls
The day after the party, no longer drunk enough.
Pour avancer, lâcher les regrets trop lourds
To move on, let go of regrets that are too heavy.
Déjà ces lents, ces tranquilles naufrages
Already these slow, peaceful shipwrecks.
Déjà ces cages qu'on n'attendait pas
Already these unexpected cages.
Déjà ces discrets manques de courage
Already these subtle lacks of courage.
Tout ce qu'on ne sera jamais, déjà
All that we will never be, already.
J'ai vu des bateaux, des fleurs, des rois
I saw boats, flowers, kings.
Des matins si beaux, j'en ai cueilli parfois
Such beautiful mornings, I picked some at times.
En passant
In passing.
Lyrics © JRG MUSICALES
Written by: Eric Benzi, Jean-Jacques Goldman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind