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.

La poupée
Les Enfoirés Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Les yeux dans le vide, elle me regarde passer
Dans le creux de ses rides moi j'ai trébuché
Ça me fait mal au bide
Sa belle gueule cassée comme une étoile livide à deux doigts de tomber
Elle tire sur un mégot cent fois rallumé
Et je lui tend la main à travers la fumée

Elle était si belle la poupée

Elle que les anges avaient dû oublier
Et si on l'avait un peu regardé
Peut-être que l'hiver ne l'aurait pas brisé

Un pied dans le vide, elle a déménagé
Elle perd son équilibre entre deux larmes salées
Y'a comme un goût acide qui hante ses baisers
Elle dit qu'elle est lucide, non, plus jamais se caser
Elle tire sur un mégot cent fois rallumé
Et je lui tends la main à travers la fumée

Elle était si belle la poupée
Elle que les anges avaient oublié
Et si on l'avait un peu regardé
Peut-être que l'hiver ne l'aurait pas brisé

Et ton cœur en hiver je le garde au chaud
En attendant le retour du soleil
Et si le mien passe l'hiver au chaud
Sache que sur toi je veille

Elle était si belle la poupée
Elle que les anges avaient oublié
Et si on l'avait un peu regardé
Peut-être que l'hiver ne l'aurait pas brisé
Elle était si belle la poupée
Elle que les anges avaient oublié
Et si on l'avait un peu regardé

Peut-être que l'hiver ne l'aurait pas brisé
Peut-être que l'hiver a déjà trop duré!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "La poupée" by Les Enfoirés depict a poignant portrayal of a woman who is marginalized and forgotten by society. The singer describes encountering this woman with empty eyes, watching him pass by, and in her weary face, he sees the signs of a hard life. He stumbles emotionally at the sight of her sad expression, feeling a deep pang in his gut. The woman's face, once beautiful like a fading star, now broken and on the brink of collapse, reflects the struggles she has faced. Despite her circumstances, she persistently smokes a cigarette, symbolizing her endurance and resilience.

The repetition of the image of the woman smoking a repeatedly relit cigarette serves as a metaphor for her continuous struggle and perseverance in the face of adversity. The singer extends a helping hand to her through the smoke, showing empathy and compassion for her situation. The lyrics suggest a sense of missed opportunities to help and acknowledge her earlier, which could have possibly prevented her from reaching such a state of despair. The reference to "les anges" or angels who had forgotten about her emphasizes her feeling of abandonment and isolation.

As the song progresses, the woman's emotional turmoil and vulnerability become more evident. She appears to be emotionally unsteady, balancing precariously between tears and bitterness. The bitterness in her kisses suggests a jaded perspective on love and relationships, as she proclaims her decision to never settle down again. The lyrics hint at her longing for acceptance and understanding, as well as her struggle to maintain her sense of self in the face of despair.

The final verses of the song convey a sense of hope and warmth amidst the coldness of winter. The singer promises to keep the woman's heart safe and warm during the winter, waiting for the return of sunshine. There is a mutual care and reassurance expressed, with the understanding that they both watch over each other. The repeated chorus emphasizes the beauty of the woman that was overlooked by society and the potential for a brighter future if only she had been seen and supported earlier. The song concludes with a poignant reflection on the enduring impact of winter, symbolizing hardships and challenges that have persisted for too long.

Line by Line Meaning

Les yeux dans le vide, elle me regarde passer
Her empty eyes watch me pass by, feeling disconnected from the world

Dans le creux de ses rides moi j'ai trébuché
I stumbled in the depths of her wrinkles, facing the reality of aging

Ça me fait mal au bide
It hurts my gut, witnessing her pain

Sa belle gueule cassée comme une étoile livide à deux doigts de tomber
Her beautiful broken face resembles a fading star on the brink of collapse

Elle tire sur un mégot cent fois rallumé
She puffs on a cigarette, trying to find comfort in repetition

Et je lui tend la main à travers la fumée
I reach out my hand through the smoke, offering support in a cloud of uncertainty

Elle était si belle la poupée
The doll was once so beautiful, but overlooked by angels

Elle que les anges avaient dû oublier
A forgotten soul, abandoned by heavenly beings

Et si on l'avait un peu regardé
If only we had taken the time to truly see her

Peut-être que l'hiver ne l'aurait pas brisé
Perhaps she wouldn't have been broken by the harshness of life

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Frederic Savio, Michael Seilhan-Ibrahim, Christophe Martichon, Felipe Saldivia

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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