La mélancolie française
Lafayette Lyrics

Lafayette's song "La mélancolie française" speaks of the melancholy that is peculiar to the French. The first stanza talks about how the melancholy is sensed in the eyes and souls of the French people. The use of the word "bleus" which can be translated as "blues" in English, indicates a mood that is sullen or sad. The melancholy referenced in this song is not just an individual experience, but it is embedded in the culture, history and identity of France. The second stanza alludes to the French historical and cultural markers that are associated with melancholy such as the Rois de France, chateaux, Victor Hugo, and the resistance. All of these symbols represent moments that are marked by sadness, nostalgia, or a longing for a time past. The third stanza describes some of the technical and material accomplishments that have been achieved by France such as Le Minitel, Saint Tropez, La Fusée Ariane, and Le TGV, but even with these advancements, the melancholy still lingers. Lafayette then goes on to list some of the cultural icons such as Brigitte Bardot, Gainsbourg, and artists like Erik Satie, Claude Debussy that have contributed to the French melancholy. The song ends on the note that the melancholy is not just a part of the French past or a cultural symbol but is present in every person who is French.