Les Enfoirés (French for "The Tossers"), is the name given to the singers a… Read Full Bio ↴Les Enfoirés (French for "The Tossers"), is the name given to the singers and performers in the yearly charity concert for the Restaurants du Cœur (Les Restos du Cœur).

On January 26, 1986, French humorist Coluche, who had set up Les Restos du Cœur a few months earlier, invited a number of artists and public figures to appear on television as a promotional move. The band, whose line-up was never the same, was dubbed "Les Enfoirés" in reference to one of Coluche's catchwords. After Coluche died in a motorbike accident (June 19, 1986) his widow, Véronique Colucci, called on those who had participated to continue his actions, and the band was revived for a further television show. The concept has since evolved into an annual concert, bringing together up to forty artists and celebrities from various backgrounds. The funds raised by the concerts and derived records under the name "Enfoirés" are donated to Les Restos du Cœur.

One of the key features of Les Enfoirés is "La Chanson des Enfoirés", a song which became a sort of hymn to the charity, written by Jean-Jacques Goldman, a long-time supporter of the organisation.

Je suis un homme
Les Enfoirés Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Les coups de poings dans l'âme
Le froid de la lame qui court
Chaque jour me pousse
Un peu plus vers la fin
Quand je monte sur scène
Comme on prend le dernier train

Même les soirs de drame

Il faut trouver la flamme qu'il faut
Pour toucher les femmes
Qui me tendent les mains
Qui me crient qu'elles m'aiment
Et dont je ne sais rien

C'est pour ça qu'aujourd'hui
Je suis fatigué
C'est pour ça qu'aujourd'hui
Je voudrais crier

Je ne suis pas un héros
Mes faux pas me collent à la peau
Je ne suis pas un héros
Faut pas croire ce que disent les journaux
Je ne suis pas un héros
Un héros
Je ne suis pas un héros
Mes faux pas me collent à la peau
Je ne suis pas un héros
Faut pas croire ce que disent les journaux
Je ne suis pas un héros
Un héros

Quand les cris de femmes
S'accrochent à mes larmes je sais
Que c'est pour m'aider
A porter tous mes chagrins
Et je me dis qu'elles rêvent
Mais ça leur fait du bien

A coups de poings dans l'âme
J'ai trouvé la trame qu'il faut
Mais pour mourir célèbre
Il ne faut rien emporter
Que ce que les autres
N'ont pas voulu garder

C'est pour ça qu'aujourd'hui
Je suis fatigué
C'est pour ça qu'aujourd'hui
Je voudrais crier

Je ne suis pas un héros
Mes faux pas me collent à la peau
Je ne suis pas un héros
Faut pas croire ce que disent les journaux
Je ne suis pas un héros
Un héros
Je ne suis pas un héros
Mes faux pas me collent à la peau
Je ne suis pas un héros
Faut pas croire ce que disent les journaux

Je ne suis pas un héros
Un héros

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Je suis un homme" by Les Enfoirés touch on themes of struggle, loneliness, and the pressures of fame. The singer feels the emotional blows in their soul and the coldness of a sharp blade that looms overhead. Each day pushes them further towards a breaking point, but they find solace and motivation when they step on stage, likening it to catching the last train. Even on nights of tragedy or personal turmoil, they must find the fire within themselves to connect with the women who reach out to them and declare their love, even though the singer remains ignorant of their depths.

The singer voices their weariness in the present, possibly hinting at exhaustion from the constant battles they face. They express a desire to shout out their frustrations, perhaps as a form of release or a plea for understanding. In the chorus, they repeat that they are not a hero and that their mistakes stick to them like a second skin. They dismiss the portrayal of themselves in the media, urging others not to believe what is being said. In doing so, they reject the inflated, exaggerated image that may have been constructed around their persona.

As the cries of women cling to their tears, the singer acknowledges that these emotional connections bring them comfort in bearing their own sorrows. However, they also recognize that these women may be living in a dream, finding solace in their presence and validation of their affection. Through the blows dealt to their soul, the singer has discovered the right path to be famous but believes that one must not carry anything to the grave except what others have rejected. This suggests a certain detachment or cynicism towards fame and material possessions, emphasizing the importance of human connection.

Overall, "Je suis un homme" explores the internal struggles, conflicting emotions, and the desire for genuine connection in the midst of fame and adversity. It delves into the themes of identity, the burdens of public perception, and the quest for authenticity. The lyrics highlight the singer's weariness and longing for release, as well as their acknowledgement that they are not superheroes, despite societal expectations or media portrayals.

Line by Line Meaning

Les coups de poings dans l'âme
The emotional punches that hit me deep inside

Le froid de la lame qui court
The cutting cold that spreads

Chaque jour me pousse
Every day pushes me

Un peu plus vers la fin
A bit closer towards the end

Quand je monte sur scène
When I step onto the stage

Comme on prend le dernier train
Like taking the last train

Même les soirs de drame
Even on nights of drama

Il faut trouver la flamme qu'il faut
You have to find the necessary flame

Pour toucher les femmes
To touch the women

Qui me tendent les mains
Who reach out their hands to me

Qui me crient qu'elles m'aiment
Who shout that they love me