Petit Homme
Kolinga Lyrics
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Tu t′es dit que c'était le tien
Ton âme sensible et profonde
Plus tu grandis, plus elle s′abstient
Façonnée de plus en plus tôt
Pour se révéler de plus en plus tard
Avoir du cœur devient un fardeau
Lorsqu'on marche, pressé sur les trottoirs
Cours, petit homme
Cours, petit homme
Continue ta course aux chiffres
Tout en laissant ton esprit en friche
Compte, petit homme
Mais quand on aime, on ne compte pas
Mets le vivant dans des cages
Construis ton monde sur un mirage
Contrôle ce qui vit et respire
Tu as bien des désirs à assouvir
Compte, petit homme
Vas-y, compte sur tes doigts
Mais quand de ta main j'aurai besoin
Pourrai-je compter sur toi?
Compte, petit homme
Compte, petit homme
Tu as appris à compter
Mais sais-tu seulement aimer?
Tu te prives des richesses
Que seul le cœur peut évaluer
La pauvreté de ton âme, elle
Ne cesse d′augmenter
Raconte-moi l′amour
Je veux le vivre peu importe le coût
De tes calculs je me fous en somme
C'est l′infini, le rendez-vous
Arrête-toi, petit homme
Arrête-toi, petit homme
Arrête ta course folle
Tu ne doubleras personne
The lyrics of Kolinga's song "Petit homme" speaks volume about the harsh realities of life, and how one gets engrossed with materialistic gains and misses out on the essence of living - personal fulfillment, love and companionship. The song discusses the journey of life and how one is thrown into the world not knowing the odds, and how the desires for greatness and success shadows the basic needs of companionship and a fulfilled heart.
The first verse speaks about the naivety of youth and how the journey of life begins with a sense of ownership and purpose. However, as one grows, the value of personal fulfillment and satisfaction becomes limited, as the world drives individuals towards selfish desires such as wealth and control. The chorus, "Cours petit homme, cours petit homme, continue ta course aux chiffres", which translates to "Run little man, run little man, continue your race for numbers", is used figuratively, to explain how individuals become submerged in the quest for power, money, and success, and in so doing, they lose track of what's important to them as individuals. The chorus goes on to state how a person can count and accumulate wealth, but when it comes to the essence of love, one cannot count or quantify it.
The second verse talks about how, as a result of the chase for materialism, individuals tend to cage the living, and build their world on a mirage, wherein things that should matter are given little or no attention. The phrase "Tu as bien des désirs à assouvir" meaning "you have many desires to satisfy", further drives this point, revealing how much individuals focus on their needs rather than their personal growth and satisfaction. The phrase "La pauvreté de ton âme, elle ne cesse d'augmenter" meaning "the poverty of your soul keeps increasing", further elucidates on how much individuals get lost in the world of illusions and how their souls become drained in the process. The song's bridge and final chorus speaks about the need to find purpose outside the race for materialism, calling on the little man to stop running and chasing shadows, and to focus on himself, his well-being, and his ability to love and be loved truly.
Line by Line Meaning
Propulsé dans ce monde
You were hurled into this world
Tu t′es dit que c'était le tien
You thought it was yours to conquer
Ton âme sensible et profonde
Your soul is sensitive and profound
Plus tu grandis, plus elle s′abstient
As you grow, it withdraws
Façonnée de plus en plus tôt
Molded earlier and earlier
Pour se révéler de plus en plus tard
To reveal itself much later
Avoir du cœur devient un fardeau
Having a heart becomes a burden
Lorsqu'on marche, pressé sur les trottoirs
Walking hurriedly on sidewalks
Cours, petit homme
Run, little man
Continue ta course aux chiffres
Keep running after numbers
Tout en laissant ton esprit en friche
While leaving your mind barren
Compte, petit homme
Count, little man
Mais quand on aime, on ne compte pas
But when you love, you don't count
Mets le vivant dans des cages
Put the living in cages
Construis ton monde sur un mirage
Build your world on a mirage
Contrôle ce qui vit et respire
Control everything that lives and breathes
Tu as bien des désirs à assouvir
You have many desires to satisfy
Compte, petit homme
Count, little man
Vas-y, compte sur tes doigts
Go ahead, count on your fingers
Mais quand de ta main j'aurai besoin
But when I need your hand
Pourrai-je compter sur toi?
Can I count on you?
Tu as appris à compter
You have learned to count
Mais sais-tu seulement aimer?
But do you even know how to love?
Tu te prives des richesses
You deprive yourself of riches
Que seul le cœur peut évaluer
That only the heart can measure
La pauvreté de ton âme, elle
Your soul's poverty
Ne cesse d′augmenter
Keeps increasing
Raconte-moi l′amour
Tell me about love
Je veux le vivre peu importe le coût
I want to experience it no matter the cost
De tes calculs je me fous en somme
I don't care about your calculations
C'est l′infini, le rendez-vous
It's the infinite, the meeting point
Arrête-toi, petit homme
Stop, little man
Arrête ta course folle
Stop your mad race
Tu ne doubleras personne
You won't surpass anybody
Writer(s): Arnaud Mathias Estor, Rebecca Aymee M Boungou
Contributed by Jackson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.