Born on the 24th August 1916 in Monaco, Ferré mixed lyricism with slang; love with anarchy. He took a central place in the world of French song. He was involved in anarchism, and worked with Radio Libertaire, an anarchist free-radio broadcasting in Paris and around France. He died on the 14th July 1993.
Tahiti
Léo Ferré Lyrics
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A Tahiti Tahiti
Sur un bateaux qui pass'ra
Par Paris par Paris
J' mettrai mes beaux habits
Et mon chapeau
Tout en haut
Le vent me f'ra crédit
Qu' est pas chien
Le jour où j' m'en irai
A Tahiti Tahiti
Je saluerai bientôt
Tous les oiseaux
Les goélands de majesté
Viendront piquer le pain
Dans mes mains étoilées
Et de loin me feront
Des signes d'amitié
Comm' des baisers
Si des fois j'arrivais
A Tahiti, Tahiti
Ça s'rait comme dans la rue
De Rivoli, Rivoli
J' mettrais mes yeux d'enfant
Et mon ciné tout exprès
Et pour tuer le temps
Deux sous de gin
Dans mon spleen
Si des fois j'arrivais
A Tahiti, Tahiti
Je saluerais bientôt
Monsieur Gerbault
Sa goélette en majesté
Viendrait traîner sa traîne
Dans le ciel mouillé
Et partout il flotterait
Des signes d'amitié
Comme des regrets.
Moi qui n'irai jamais
A Tahiti, Tahiti
Car il faut bien des sous
Pour faire Paris-Tahiti
J' mettrai la Tour Eiffel
Dans mon chapeau et d'en haut
Je confondrai les ciels
De Tahiti à Paris
Moi qui n'irai jamais
A Tahiti, Tahiti
Je reconnaîtrai bien
Monsieur Gauguin
Et ses pinceaux de majesté
Qui v'naient piquer
Un peu de mauve
Sur les quais de la Seine
Quand la Seine ressemble
A Tahiti
Comme une amie
The lyrics of Léo Ferré's song "Tahiti" reflect the longing to escape to an idyllic place, symbolized by the paradisiacal island of Tahiti. The song depicts the day when the singer will leave for Tahiti on a boat that will pass through Paris. It creates a contrast between the bustling city life and the serene beauty of the island.
In the first verse, the singer envisions himself dressed in his best clothes and hat, as the wind generously allows him credit. This highlights the idea of setting aside societal constraints and embracing a carefree lifestyle. The usage of the word "chien" (meaning stingy) implies that in Tahiti, things will be different and people will be more generous and kind-hearted.
The second verse continues the dream-like narrative, imagining the singer in Tahiti, comparing it to the famous Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Here, the singer emphasizes the childlike wonder and innocence he will adopt, as well as his desire to indulge in simple pleasures such as gin, as a means to pass the time. The mention of Monsieur Gerbault, a famous French sailor, and his goélette (a small sailing ship) adds a touch of adventure and exploration.
The final verse acknowledges the financial reality that prevents the singer from ever going to Tahiti. However, he symbolically places the Eiffel Tower in his hat, suggesting that he can still merge the beauty and essence of Tahiti with his everyday life in Paris. The mention of Paul Gauguin, the renowned artist who famously painted Tahitian scenes, further emphasizes the fusion of two worlds. The song ends with the singer imagining the Seine River resembling Tahiti and offering an endearing comparison between the two, like old friends.
Overall, "Tahiti" explores the yearning for escape, the longing for a simpler and more beautiful existence, and the possibility of finding elements of Tahitian paradise within the confines of everyday life in Paris.
Line by Line Meaning
Le jour où j' m'en irai
The day when I will leave
A Tahiti Tahiti
To Tahiti, Tahiti
Sur un bateaux qui pass'ra
On a boat that will pass by
Par Paris par Paris
Through Paris, through Paris
J' mettrai mes beaux habits
I will wear my beautiful clothes
Et mon chapeau Tout en haut
And my hat, high up
Le vent me f'ra crédit
The wind will give me credit
C'est un copain Qu' est pas chien
He's a friend who's not stingy
Je saluerai bientôt Tous les oiseaux
I will soon greet all the birds
Les goélands de majesté
The majestic seagulls
Viendront piquer le pain
Will come and steal the bread
Dans mes mains étoilées
In my starry hands
Et de loin me feront Des signes d'amitié
And from afar, they will make signs of friendship
Comm' des baisers
Like kisses
Si des fois j'arrivais
If by any chance I arrived
A Tahiti, Tahiti
To Tahiti, Tahiti
Ça s'rait comme dans la rue
It would be like in the street
De Rivoli, Rivoli
Of Rivoli, Rivoli
J' mettrais mes yeux d'enfant
I would put on my child's eyes
Et mon ciné tout exprès
And my cinema just for that
Et pour tuer le temps
And to kill time
Deux sous de gin Dans mon spleen
Two cents of gin in my melancholy
Je saluerais bientôt Monsieur Gerbault
I would soon greet Monsieur Gerbault
Sa goélette en majesté
His majestic schooner
Viendrait traîner sa traîne
Would come and drag its tail
Dans le ciel mouillé
In the wet sky
Et partout il flotterait Des signes d'amitié
And everywhere, signs of friendship would float
Comme des regrets
Like regrets
Moi qui n'irai jamais
Me, who will never go
A Tahiti, Tahiti
To Tahiti, Tahiti
Car il faut bien des sous
Because it takes a lot of money
Pour faire Paris-Tahiti
To go from Paris to Tahiti
J' mettrai la Tour Eiffel
I will put the Eiffel Tower
Dans mon chapeau et d'en haut
In my hat, from above
Je confondrai les ciels
I will merge the skies
De Tahiti à Paris
From Tahiti to Paris
Je reconnaîtrai bien
I will recognize
Monsieur Gauguin
Mr. Gauguin
Et ses pinceaux de majesté
And his majestic brushes
Qui v'naient piquer Un peu de mauve
Who came to steal a bit of purple
Sur les quais de la Seine
On the banks of the Seine
Quand la Seine ressemble A Tahiti
When the Seine looks like Tahiti
Comme une amie
Like a friend
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, LES NOUVELLES EDITIONS MERIDIAN
Written by: Léo FERRE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind