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.
Vivre cent vies
Jean-Jacques Goldman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Quand mon singulier me ronge les ailes
Etre une star en restant anonyme
Vivre à la campagne mais en centre ville
Effacer mes solitudes
Sans dieu, ni famille et sans habitude
Blanche princesse, ou masseuse à Bangkok
Sage philosophe et puis chanteur de rock
Brûler mes nuits, noyer mes jours
Etre fidèle à des milliers d'amours
Vivre sa vie, rien que sa vie
Crever d'envies, un petit tour et fini
Ça fait trop mal, c'est pas moral
Vivre même à demi, tant pis, mais vivre cent vies
J'aimerais tant changer de sang
Changer de rêves et de têtes et d'accent
Une terre, une maison, un grand feu
Vivre en nomade et libre, coucher sous les cieux
Mais qui est qui ? Et qui n'est qu'un ?
Rien que le juge et jamais l'assassin
Vivre sa vie, rien que sa vie
Crever d'envies, un petit tour et fini
Ça fait trop mal, c'est pas moral
Vivre même à demi, tant pis, mais vivre cent vies
The song Vivre cent vies by Jean-Jacques Goldman is about the desire to live multiple lives, free from the constraints and limitations of the current one. The first verse reflects the longing to be in the plural form instead of the singular form. The persona wishes they were a star who could remain anonymous or live in the city while enjoying the countryside. They yearn to erase their loneliness, live life without any obligations, and be anything they want to be, from a white princess to a masseuse in Bangkok, from a wise philosopher to a rock star, among others. The second verse expresses the desire to change everything, from blood to dreams, heads to accent, and to live a nomadic life under the stars. However, the persona is also uncertain about their identity and where they belong. They recognize the existence of a judge and an assassin, of right and wrong, and the pain and immorality of living life only halfway. Despite this, the song emphasizes the imperative of living one’s life to the fullest, of satisfying one’s needs and settling nothing less than that.
Line by Line Meaning
J'aimerais tant être au pluriel
I wish to be plural, when my singular self is holding me back
Quand mon singulier me ronge les ailes
When my singular self is eating away at my wings
Etre une star en restant anonyme
To be a star while remaining anonymous
Vivre à la campagne mais en centre ville
To live in the countryside but in the city center
Effacer mes solitudes
To erase my solitudes
Sans dieu, ni famille et sans habitude
Without god, nor family, and without habit
Blanche princesse, ou masseuse à Bangkok
White princess, or massage therapist in Bangkok
Sage philosophe et puis chanteur de rock
Wise philosopher and then rock singer
Brûler mes nuits, noyer mes jours
To burn my nights, drown my days
Etre fidèle à des milliers d'amours
To be loyal to thousands of loves
Vivre sa vie, rien que sa vie
To live one's life, only one's life
Crever d'envies, un petit tour et fini
To die of desires, take a little tour, and it's finished
Ça fait trop mal, c'est pas moral
It hurts too much, it's not moral
Vivre même à demi, tant pis, mais vivre cent vies
To live even half, too bad, but to live a hundred lives
J'aimerais tant changer de sang
I wish to change my blood
Changer de rêves et de têtes et d'accent
To change dreams, heads, and accents
Une terre, une maison, un grand feu
A land, a house, a big fire
Vivre en nomade et libre, coucher sous les cieux
To live as a nomad and be free, sleep under the skies
Mais qui est qui ? Et qui n'est qu'un ?
But who is who? And who is only one?
Rien que le juge et jamais l'assassin
Only the judge and never the assassin
Vivre sa vie, rien que sa vie
To live one's life, only one's life
Crever d'envies, un petit tour et fini
To die of desires, take a little tour, and it's finished
Ça fait trop mal, c'est pas moral
It hurts too much, it's not moral
Vivre même à demi, tant pis, mais vivre cent vies
To live even half, too bad, but to live a hundred lives
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.