Jean Ferrat (born Jean Tenenbaum on 26 December 1930 in Vaucresson, Hauts-d… Read Full Bio ↴Jean Ferrat (born Jean Tenenbaum on 26 December 1930 in Vaucresson, Hauts-de-Seine, and died on 13 March 2010) was a French author, poet and singer. In the early 1950s he started in Parisian cabaret, and since then has not attempted to adhere to any particular musical style but remain faithful to himself, his friends and public. Sometimes referred to as the "romantique rebelle de la chanson française".

In 1961 he married Christine Sèvres. During his carrer, Ferrat has had some difficulty with the authorities owing to his humanist perpective and links with communism.

His most famous songs are: Que serais-je sans toi, Heureux celui qui meurt d'aimer, Potemkine, La montagne, Les feux de Paris, L'amour est cerise and many others.
His lyrics are very much influenced by french poet Aragon.

Devine
Jean Ferrat Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Un grand champ de lin bleu parmi les raisins noirs
Lorsque vers moi le vent l'incline frémissant
Un grand champ de lin bleu qui fait au ciel miroir
Et c'est moi qui frémis jusqu'au fond de mon sang

Devine

Un grand champ de lin bleu dans le jour revenu

Longtemps y traîne encore une brume des songes
Et j'ai peur d'y lever des oiseaux inconnus
Dont au loin l'ombre ailée obscurément s'allonge

Devine

Un grand champ de lin bleu de la couleur des larmes
Ouvert sur un pays que seul l'amour connaît
Où tout a des parfums le pouvoir et le charme
Comme si des baisers toujours s'y promenaient

Devine

Un grand champ de lin bleu dont c'est l'étonnement
Toujours à decouvrir une eau pure et profonde
De son manteau couvrant miraculeusement
Est-ce un lac ou la mer les épaules du monde

Devine

Un grand champ de lin bleu qui parle rit et pleure
Je m'y plonge et m'y perds dis-moi devines-tu
Quelle semaille y fit la joie et la douleur
Et pourquoi de l'aimer vous enivre et vous tue

Devine

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jean Ferrat's song Devine paint a vivid image of a vast blue flax field among black grapes, which quivers in the wind and reflects the sky above. The singer is deeply moved and trembles to the core at the sight. The blue flax field is described as a mirror to the heavens, and it seems to capture a certain mystery and beauty that is both enchanting and haunting. The singer is hesitant to explore the field more, afraid of discovering unknown birds that cast ominous shadows, yet drawn by its ethereal charm.

As the day returns, the blue flax field is still enveloped in a dream-like haze, and the singer is intimidated by the thought of encountering unfamiliar birds whose wings cast a dark silhouette. The blue flax field seems to be a place that only love knows, where everything exudes the power and charm of fragrances as if kisses perpetually wander about. It is a field with a color that evokes the tears of pain, yet it is open to a place whose secrets only love can divulge.

The blue flax field is astounded that even after its cloak mystically unveils pristine and profound waters, it still remains a source of wonder. It is a field that speaks, rejoices, and mourns, and the singer is caught up in its powerful spell. The singer implores the listener to divine the kind of farming that took place in this field of blue flax that brought both joy and pain and left one intoxicated and slain by its beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

Un grand champ de lin bleu parmi les raisins noirs
A vast blue flax field amidst the black vineyard, with the wind blowing it towards me causing a shiver in my being.

Et c'est moi qui frémis jusqu'au fond de mon sang Devine
And it is me who shudders deeply down to my blood. Guess why.

Un grand champ de lin bleu dans le jour revenu Longtemps y traîne encore une brume des songes Et j'ai peur d'y lever des oiseaux inconnus Dont au loin l'ombre ailée obscurément s'allonge Devine
A grand blue flax field in the renewed day, still bearing the mist of dreams. I dread waking unknown birds whose dark, furtive shapes stretch into the distance. Guess why.

Un grand champ de lin bleu de la couleur des larmes Ouvert sur un pays que seul l'amour connaît Où tout a des parfums le pouvoir et le charme Comme si des baisers toujours s'y promenaient Devine
A grand blue flax field colored like tears, revealing a land that only love knows. Where everything holds the power and charm of fragrances, and as if kissed continuously. Guess why.

Un grand champ de lin bleu dont c'est l'étonnement Toujours à decouvrir une eau pure et profonde De son manteau couvrant miraculeusement Est-ce un lac ou la mer les épaules du monde Devine
A grand blue flax field that causes astonishment, forever discovering pure and deep water underneath. Its coat covering it magically, is it a lake or the sea, the shoulders of the world? Guess why.

Un grand champ de lin bleu qui parle rit et pleure Je m'y plonge et m'y perds dis-moi devines-tu Quelle semaille y fit la joie et la douleur Et pourquoi de l'aimer vous enivre et vous tue Devine
A grand blue flax field that speaks, laughs and cries. I plunge into it and lose myself, tell me, can you guess what happiness and pain it has sown? And why loving it intoxicates and kills you? Guess why.

Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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