Traffic
Lavilliers (Bernard) Lyrics

Traffic vertu, j'aime ou je tue
The fast-paced lifestyle, whether it is virtuous or not, is something that the singer is drawn towards and will even kill for.

Magique exclu, hors de ma vue
The idea of magic and mystery is something that the singer is drawn to, but it is usually out of sight and unattainable.

Je t'aime encore, j'envoie d'abord Le cri des villes, sur du vinyle
The singer still has feelings of love for someone, but their priority is to express their feelings about the city life and the issues that come with it, as recorded on vinyl.

Taxi driver, nœud de vipères Flic solitaire, tombé par terre
The artist highlights the dangerous and complex nature of city life through the metaphor of a taxi driver trapped in a mess of snakes and a lone police officer fallen to the ground.

Amour porno, chacun sa peau Je vends du spleen, tu vends du jean
The artist comments on the way that society has commodified love, sex, and even sadness, with everyone selling something to others, whether it's emotional pain or designer jeans.

Lentement je vois Cet univers-là Glisser vers le froid Le compte à rebours Dans l'air nucléaire Les derniers rebelles Brûlent sous les lasers Du manque d'amour
The singer observes the decline of society as a whole, with the world moving towards a cold and distant fate, and the last remaining countercultural rebels being burned by the oppressive forces of lovelessness.

Que veux-tu que je sois dans cette société-là? Un ange ou un cobra, un tueur ou un rat? Où veux-tu que je vive dans la radioactive? Comment veux-tu que je meure, d'un bel accord mineur?
The singer questions their place in society, and what roles they can possibly play amidst the darkness and confusion. They question where they should live and even how they should die.

Plastic de choc, crédit ou cash? Plus on se cache, plus on décroche Je suis accroc, chez les dingos Milliards de flash qui jouent au squash
The artist continues to comment on the commodification of society, with plastic and money being the main currencies. They observe that the more someone hides from the world, the more disconnected they become. The artist feels like they're addicted and amongst the rest of society, who are all playing a pointless game.

Regarde-toi, regarde-moi On n'se voit plus, on est perdus Reste ou barres-toi, crève ou bats-toi Arrête si slow, entre deux os
The artist comments on the disconnect between people in society, with everyone lost in their own problems and not truly seeing each other. They offer the options of staying or leaving, of living or dying, but ultimately nothing is going to be easy. However, they suggest taking a moment to slow down and be present between two people.

Je t'aime encore, je t'aime encore Je t'aime encore, je t'aime encore Je t'aime encore, je t'aime encore
The artist reiterates their feelings of love for someone, amidst all the confusion and chaos of society.