Gela
L (Raphaële Lannadère) Lyrics
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Des bords de mer, au lait d'amande,
À ce bateau vaporetto
Aux promenades dans la lavande
Bien sûr je pense aux terres en friches
Aux figues lourdes comme les prières
Que l'été scande sur la lande
Gela, Gela n'écoute pas les capots
Debout Gela
Lève toi chante tout haut
Non vi bacio le mani (Je ne vous baiserai pas
les mains)
Bien sûr je pense à la fanfare
À nos dimanches sur les faubourgs
Aux tambours qui battent les beaux jours
Aux saints qu'on sort sur les trottoirs
Aux confessions, à la criée
Du soir qui passe en procession
Comme une jeune fille qui va danser
Gela, Gela
Gela, Gela n'écoute pas les capots
Debout Gela
Lève toi chante tout haut
Non vi bacio le mani
Tant pis si je fais pas de vieux os
Je suis un homme, je suis debout
Et leurs hommes, demain m'enterrent,
J'm'en fous
Gela, j'serais fier, j'serais fier
Gela, Gela
Gela, Gela
Gela, Gela n'écoute pas les capots
Debout Gela
Lève toi chante tout haut
Non vi bacio le mani
Non vi bacio le mani
Non vi bacio le mani
Non vi bacio le mani
The song Gela by L (Raphaële Lannadère) is a nostalgic and emotional one. The lyrics describe various images and memories that the singer is fondly reminiscing about. The first verse mentions the scenic coastal road, the frothy almond milk, the Venice vaporetto boat, and walks through fields of lavender. The second verse mentions the brass band, Sunday afternoons spent in the outskirts, the beating of tambourines on sunny days, and the saints that are taken out onto the streets. The singer also talks about feeling proud of their hometown, Gela, even if they don't live long enough to see it change or be buried there. The chorus is a motivational call to action for someone named Gela, to rise up and sing boldly, not listening to any discouragement from others.
The theme of the song is very universal, as everyone has a place they call home and memories associated with it. Gela is a small town in southern Sicily where L spent some time during her childhood. The song is dedicated to her father, who passed away before the album's release. The song also deals with issues of migration and the sense of loss that follows when one leaves their homeland. The lyrics are in Italian and French, a reference to L's own multicultural background. The song is a heartfelt tribute to her roots, which she fears she may never return to.
Line by Line Meaning
Bien sûr je pense à la corniche
I am reminiscing about the coastal road
Des bords de mer, au lait d'amande,
The almond milk-colored seaside
À ce bateau vaporetto
And the vaporetto boat
Aux promenades dans la lavande
Strolling through the lavender fields
Bien sûr je pense aux terres en friches
I also think about the uncultivated lands
Aux figues lourdes comme les prières
The figs that are heavy with prayers
Que l'été scande sur la lande
The summer that marks time on the heath
Gela, Gela
Gela, Gela
Gela, Gela n'écoute pas les capots
Gela, Gela don't listen to the hoods
Debout Gela
Stand up, Gela
Lève toi chante tout haut
Raise your voice and sing out loud
Non vi bacio le mani
I won't kiss your hands
Bien sûr je pense à la fanfare
I am also thinking about the marching band
À nos dimanches sur les faubourgs
Our Sundays in the outskirts
Aux tambours qui battent les beaux jours
The drums that beat during the good times
Aux saints qu'on sort sur les trottoirs
The saints that are brought out onto the sidewalks
Aux confessions, à la criée
The confessions and the street markets
Du soir qui passe en procession
The evening that passes by in procession
Comme une jeune fille qui va danser
Like a young girl who is going to dance
Tant pis si je fais pas de vieux os
Nevermind if I don't live to an old age
Je suis un homme, je suis debout
I am a man, and I am standing tall
Et leurs hommes, demain m'enterrent, j'm'en fous
And when their men bury me tomorrow, I don't care
Gela, j'serais fier, j'serais fier
Gela, I would be proud, I would be proud
Non vi bacio le mani
I won't kiss your hands
Contributed by Nora L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Martha Medina
Yo siento que gela esta tan cerca De Dios que en un sueño ella hizo oración por mi y me sano gracias senor por mandar personas como gela para decirnos que tu estas con nosotros
Susana maria Fabian
Jesús renueva lo qué hay en mi renueva lo que tiene sed de ti.
Te kiero Mucho
Mi orgullo es ser catolico gracias hermana por seguir a cristo
Heydi jackeline Amaya ponce
Que voz tan linda de la hermana gela
Antonia Tello
Gracias hermana GELA,
mi hijo Jonathan a sido sanado en NOMBRE DEL SEÑOR JESUCRISTO.👑
AMEN
Odett San Martin
Por algo es el todopoderoso.
BLANCA JIMENEZ
Bendito sea Cristo Jesús amén
Erika cecilia Chatu morales
Amen hermana
Lucha Diaz
Amen, alabanza y Gloria Al rey de reyes
YESI
Gela transmite un amor inmenso Dios la bendiga