Soleil
Léo Ferré Lyrics

The lyrics to Léo Ferré's song "Le Soleil" ("The Sun") speak of the sun's relentless heat and the way it affects the people of the shoreline. The opening lines "Soleil tu coules ton lingot / Voici déjà noire ma peau" (Sun, you pour your gold / Already my skin is black) are a metaphor for the harmful effects of the sun's rays on the skin. The next lines describe the beach and the bodies of those trying to soak up the sun, who are described as "torses recuits / que seins pétris dans du pain" (torsoes cooked, with breasts molded in bread). This description adds to the sense of discomfort and heat that the sun brings.

After describing the bodies on the beach, the next verse moves to the sea and the fishermen. The water is described as "bleue d'une liquide pervenche" (blue of a liquid periwinkle), and the fishermen are keeping one eye on the "peuple marron" (brown people) on the shore. The last verse describes an image of an exhausted child on the beach, while the sun continues to pour its gold. The repeated lines of "Voici déjà noire ma peau" (already my skin is black) serve as a reminder of the harm that can come from exposure to the sun.

Overall, the song is a commentary on the effects of the sun on those living or vacationing on the shoreline. The metaphor of the sun's "gold" represents its value and beauty, but the harmful effects on the people remind us of its dangerous power.