In 1972, he formed the duo Jim et Bertrand with Bertrand Gosselin and began performing in the Eastern Townships. During the 1970s, the group was associated with Quebec folk music. Corcoran began a solo career in francophone music after the group disbanded in 1979.
In the late 1980s, he became host of the CBC Radio program À Propos, featuring French music artists to the English network's audiences. À Propos remains on the CBC Radio One schedule as of 2006.
He also portrayed the part of David in performances of the opera Nelligan in 1990.
Prête moi ton regard
Jim Corcoran Lyrics
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Paroles : Jim Corcoran
Prête-moi ton regard
ou quelques pas de danse
quelques espoirs quelquefois
s'écartent, se jouent et s'oublient
or prête-moi ton regard
J'me suis trompé encore
une fois de plus une fois de trop
t'as raison et j'ai tort
j'me suis trompé encore
alors qu'est-ce qu'on fait
on s'accuse, on s'ignore?
oh non! prête-moi ton regard
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
in the forest of the night*
si je savais c'qui nous sépare
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
in the forest of the night
j'me suis trompé encore
Prête-moi ta plume, griffonne-moi
griffonne-moi de mots gras
de beaux barbots
ou de barbots bêtes
mais griffonne-moi
Et je tombe encore
sans mise en scène
sans remords et sans regret
je tombe encore
je m'abandonne
je me défais de moi
si tu me prêtes ton regard
Malgré les revers
malgré la peur
malgré les rêves ébréchés
je te poursuis
te poursuivrai
au bout du compte
sans garde-fou
je pourrai me laisser glisser
et je pourrai brûler
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
in the forest of the night
si je savais c'qui nous sépare
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
in the forest of the night
j'me suis trompé encore
Prête-moi ton regard is a poignant and reflective song that expresses the singer's desire for connection and understanding in a relationship that seems to be fractured. The lyrics evoke a sense of longing and desperation, as the singer repeatedly asks for the other person's gaze, pen, and attention in order to bridge the gap between them. The image of the tiger burning bright in the forest of the night is a symbol of the intensity and passion that the singer feels, as well as the danger and potential for destruction that this brings.
The first verse sets the tone for the song, with the singer asking for the other person's gaze or a few dance steps. These simple gestures, which are often taken for granted, become powerful symbols of intimacy and closeness in the context of the song. The second verse acknowledges the singer's mistakes and the tension that exists between them, but instead of blaming or accusing, the singer asks for the other person's gaze again as a way of transcending these conflicts. The reference to the tiger burning bright in the forest of the night is a nod to William Blake's poem "The Tiger," which also explores themes of power, passion, and mystery.
The third verse shifts to the image of the pen and the power of words to connect people. The singer asks for the other person to write him some "fat words," which can be interpreted as either beautiful or foolish words, as long as they come from the heart. The final verses express the singer's willingness to take risks and overcome obstacles in pursuit of the other person, even if it means being vulnerable and exposed. The repeated refrain of "Tiger! Tiger! burning bright" reinforces the intensity of this desire and the sense of danger that it contains.
Overall, Prête-moi ton regard is a complex and nuanced portrayal of the challenges and rewards of human relationships. The song captures the highs and lows of love, as well as the importance of communication and empathy in overcoming obstacles.
Line by Line Meaning
Prête-moi ton regard
Lend me your gaze to see what I cannot on my own
ou quelques pas de danse
Or maybe dance with me to escape reality
quelques espoirs quelquefois
We let a few hopeful thoughts slip away from us sometimes
s'écartent, se jouent et s'oublient
They move away, dance around, and eventually fade away from memory
en quelque part
Off somewhere, far from here
or prête-moi ton regard
But still, lend me your gaze
J'me suis trompé encore
I've made a mistake once more
une fois de plus une fois de trop
One more time, one time too many
t'as raison et j'ai tort
You're right and I'm wrong
alors qu'est-ce qu'on fait
So what do we do now?
on s'accuse, on s'ignore?
Do we blame each other or just ignore it?
oh non! prête-moi ton regard
No, lend me your gaze instead
Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
Oh great tiger, fierce and illuminated
in the forest of the night*
In this dark and mysterious place
si je savais c'qui nous sépare
If only I knew what keeps us apart
j'me suis trompé encore
I've made a mistake once more
Prête-moi ta plume, griffonne-moi
Lend me your pen to scribble something
griffonne-moi de mots gras
Scribble for me some bold words
de beaux barbots
Or silly, fun nonsense
ou de barbots bêtes
Or something foolish and ridiculous
mais griffonne-moi
Just scribble something for me
Et je tombe encore
And once again, I fall
sans mise en scène
Without any theatrics
sans remords et sans regret
Without guilt or remorse
je tombe encore
I fall again
je m'abandonne
I surrender myself
je me défais de moi
I let go of myself
si tu me prêtes ton regard
If you lend me your gaze
Malgré les revers
Despite the setbacks
malgré la peur
Despite the fear
malgré les rêves ébréchés
Despite the shattered dreams
je te poursuis
I pursue you
te poursuivrai
I will continue to pursue you
au bout du compte
In the end
sans garde-fou
Without hesitation
je pourrai me laisser glisser
I might just let myself go
et je pourrai brûler
And I might just burn
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
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