This hasn't stopped him having success as a solo artist. Well-known for his concerts, Jean-Louis Aubert is an integral part of the French rock scene.
Stockholm
Jean-Louis Aubert Lyrics
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J'ai délaissé l'enfer
Autant que faire se peut
J'ai extrait le métal de son minerai
Laissé les médailles, et les minarets
En pays Viking
J'ai cueilli le hard
J'ai rencontré les hordes
J'ai cueilli le paradigme
Stockholm
Restons calmes, restons affables
Restons à table
Ne nous dérangeons pas
Puisqu'il ne s'agit plus de se battre
Puisqu'il ne s'agit plus de combattre
Notre état paye pour nous
Notre état paye pour nous
Laissons-nous bercer par les aurores boréales
Stockholm
Assis sur la banquise
J'ai brisé la glace
Me suis regardé
Me suis vu en face
J'ai descendu l'aquavit et vite
J'ai pris le premier vol
Et j'ai volé le feu
Stockholm, Stockholm,
Notre état paye pour nous.
The first stanza of "Stockholm" by Jean-Louis Aubert speaks about leaving behind the hardships and difficulties in life, represented by the phrase "j'ai délaissé l'enfer" (I left hell behind). The singer speaks of extracting metal from its ore, disregarding medals and minarets (symbolic of religious and military power respectively), and collecting what is hardy or resilient, while meeting hordes in a Viking land. The true paradigm, or model of life, he suggests, is found in Stockholm, Sweden.
In the next stanza, the singer seems to be relaxing in Stockholm, asking to remain calm, affable and at the table, since there's no need to fight anymore as the state pays for them. The singer seems to be at ease, letting himself be lulled by the aurora borealis (northern lights) while indulging in some aquavit (a Scandinavian distilled spirit) and planning his next action - taking the first plane back home and stealing fire, which could be interpreted as a symbol of rebirth or change.
The theme of the song seems to be about leaving behind what weighs us down and finding a better way of living, both physically and spiritually. The singer finds this in Stockholm, where there's no need to fight or strive for material gains. Instead, he can sit back and appreciate the beauty and simplicity of life.
Line by Line Meaning
J'ai ramassé le fer
I picked up the iron
J'ai délaissé l'enfer
I left hell behind
Autant que faire se peut
As much as possible
J'ai extrait le métal de son minerai
I extracted metal from its ore
Laissé les médailles, et les minarets
Left behind the medals and minarets
En pays Viking
In Viking land
J'ai cueilli le hard
I picked up the hard
J'ai rencontré les hordes
I met the hordes
En pays Viking
In Viking land
J'ai cueilli le paradigme
I picked up the paradigm
Stockholm
Stockholm
Restons calmes, restons affables
Let's stay calm, let's stay amicable
Restons à table
Let's stay at the table
Ne nous dérangeons pas
Let's not bother each other
Puisqu'il ne s'agit plus de se battre
Since it's no longer about fighting
Puisqu'il ne s'agit plus de combattre
Since it's no longer about combatting
Notre état paye pour nous
Our state pays for us
Notre état paye pour nous
Our state pays for us
Laissons-nous bercer par les aurores boréales
Let's be rocked by the auroras
Stockholm
Stockholm
Assis sur la banquise
Sitting on the ice floe
J'ai brisé la glace
I broke the ice
Me suis regardé
I looked at myself
Me suis vu en face
I faced myself
J'ai descendu l'aquavit et vite
I quickly drank the aquavit
J'ai pris le premier vol
I took the first flight
Et j'ai volé le feu
And I stole the fire
Stockholm, Stockholm,
Stockholm, Stockholm,
Notre état paye pour nous.
Our state pays for us.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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