Les Gospels
La clinique Lyrics
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The song “Les Gospels” by La clinique tells the story of three different individuals who are dealing with illnesses and traumas. The main focus is on a 16-year-old, who was previously living a life full of fun and friends but is now stuck in a hospital, undergoing chemotherapy for his cancer. The singer watches over him and tries to provide him with words of encouragement, even in the face of his fear and despair. The second story is about a man who was infected with HIV due to a medical error, and now experiences the crushing weight of his consequent immobility and the strain it puts on his relationships with others. Lastly, the song touches on the singer's own journey after a car accident that left him paralyzed and living with guilt and a sense of ruin.
The song “Les Gospels” was created as a tribute to the friends and family of the band who had passed away due to illness or accidents.
The band La clinique was originally called Les Clini-clowns, but they had to change their name because it was too similar to another band.
The song’s name "Les Gospels" is a reference to the songs sung by African-American slaves when they were working in cotton fields.
The song was the second single of the album “Les Oiseaux Ne Meurent Pas” released in 2001.
The song is often described as one of the most touching songs of La clinique, with deep and poetic lyrics.
The band members have stated that the character of the 16-year-old who is battling cancer was based on a real-life teenager who had passed away after going through similar experiences.
Many of the lyrics in the song are written in a colloquial, casual manner to provide a more emotional and personal touch.
The song is often played at funerals or memorials for loved ones who have passed away from cancer or other illnesses.
The chords for the song are not officially released, but online tutorials and covers are available on various platforms.
The song has been covered by different artists and translated into different languages, including Spanish and Portuguese.
Line by Line Meaning
Les minutes passent et l 'orage ne cesse de gronder
Time passes and the storm continues to roar
L 'estomac noué depuis 2 jours je ne peux rien manger
My stomach has been tied up for 2 days, I cannot eat anything
Rien à faire je r'pense à lui sur son lit d' hôpital; putain d'cancer c'est pas une vie pour un enfant d'la balle à 16 piges
Can't do anything, thinking about him lying in his hospital bed; damn cancer, not a life for a 16-year-old ball player
Normalement tu t 'éclates avec tes potes; et pas sous chimiothérapie sous les lumières du bloc j'repense à lui la main tendue vers nous en concert criant de joie;
Normally you have fun with your friends; not under chemotherapy lights in the operating room, I remember him with his hand reaching out towards us, screaming in joy during the concert
Oubliant ses peines avant d'rentrer à Necker c 'que j'vois une jeunesse abrutie par la violence faudrait l 'emmener dans les chambres; où la mort n 'a plus d 'importance sa maladie l'emporte sur le désir de vaincre plaisir simple;
Forgetting his troubles before going back to Necker, what I see is a youth consumed by violence, they should be taken to the rooms where death has no importance, his illness outweighs the desire to win, a simple pleasure
Savourer sa jeunesse; laisser une empreinte emprunter le couloir de la vie sans prendre de raccourcis raviver la seule et unique flamme qui sommeille en lui faut pas pleurer p'tit frère; on va s'en sortir ai la foi et la croyance, commence par un sourire!
Savor his youth; leave his imprint, walk the path of life without taking shortcuts, rekindle the only flame that sleeps within him, don't cry little brother; we'll make it, have faith and belief, start with a smile!
C 'est dur je sais maïs faut pas que tu baisses les bras! parole de ton ange gardien celui qui veille sur toi!
It's hard, I know, but you must not give up! It's the word of your guardian angel, who watches over you!
C'est d'la tristesse que tu peux lire dans mes yeux!
It's sadness that you can read in my eyes!
Minuit pile il se réveille en sueur comme chaque nuit chacun de ses pas claque sur le sol de l'ennui enfant déjà habitué aux soins intensifs; parents attentifs pour un virus au mal progressif;
At midnight he wakes up in sweat like every night, each of his steps resonate on the floor of boredom, a child already accustomed to intensive care; attentive parents for a virus with progressive illness
Erreur médicale ce 12 mai 90 la maladie dans l'aiguille de l'hémophile plus que passif thème hospital mauvaise transfusion le sida injecté dans ses veines coule à profusion
Medical mistake on May 12th, 1990, the disease in the needle of the hemophiliac more than passive hospital theme, bad transfusion, AIDS injected into his veins flowing profusely
Pour lui c'est tri thérapie cachetons qui filent la nausée expérience interdite de plus en plus de mal à causer à son chevet ses potes ne l'ont pas oublier malgré la maladie ils se sont jurer de rester liés
For him, it's tritherapy, pills that give him nausea, a forbidden experience, increasingly difficult to talk to him at his bedside, his friends have not forgotten him despite the illness, they have sworn to remain tied to him
Lui recherche dans les yeux de ses proches le reflet de son image un regard flanche, une larme coule sur son visage il dît qu'il voudrait dormir y'a que dans ses rêves qu'il retrouve le sourire désir similaire il voudrait partir
He searches in the eyes of his loved ones for the reflection of his image, his gaze falters, a tear falls on his face, he says he wants to sleep, he only finds a smile in his dreams, a similar desire, he wants to leave
On était fier de nous, jeunes prometteurs et talentueux faqueux, bac mention, bref chanceux remplis d'ambition
We were proud of ourselves, young promising and talented ones, with honours degrees, briefly lucky, full of ambition
Cette nuit était nôtre, soirée entre potes, ambiance alcoolisée champagne et rosé, pétés sous les spots Attablés au night -club une fille chacun, ragga-dub, daube au bec, blagues, tout s'annonçait bien
This night was ours, a party with friends, alcohol-filled atmosphere, champagne and rosé, high under the lights, seated at the nightclub each with a girl, ragga-dub, kebab in mouth, jokes, everything seemed to be going well
5 heures l'heure de rentrer à 6 dans ma caisse, tous l'esprit au dessous de la ceinture, l'amour après l'ivresse, Tu sais, d'habitude je contrôle, volant de la gauche une clop dans la main droite cette nuit j'ai dû snobé un stop, phares, dérapage, camion, tonneaux
5 o'clock, time to go home at 6 in my car, all of us thinking below the waist, love after drunkenness, you know, usually I'm in control, driving with my left hand and a cigarette in my right hand, tonight I had to ignore a stop sign, headlights, skid, truck, barrels
Giclées de sang, à mon réveil paraplégiques à 20 ans tu sais Papa je regrette, Maman je m'en veux je suis seul à me sortir sain et sauf, comment les regarder dans les yeux, coupable, à vie instable, jeune minable haine de moi même, ma vie s'est arrêtée au pied d'un chêne
Sprays of blood, when I woke up I was 20 years old and paralyzed you know Dad, I'm sorry, Mom, I'm sorry, I'm the only one who survived, how can I look them in the eye, guilty, unstable for life, a young loser, hating myself, my life ended at the foot of an oak tree
Refrain (x 4)
Chorus (x4)
Contributed by Isabelle Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.