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 vie d'artiste
Les Enfoirés Lyrics
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C'est notre héritage, notre horizon
Le futur et le passé nous encombrent
Avez-vous compris la question?
Non
Vous avez tout, l'amour et la lumière
On s'est battus on a rien volé
Mais, vous avez
Mais, vous avez
Oui, vous avez
Toute la vie
C'est une chance inouïe
Toute la vie
C'est des mots, ça veut rien dire
Toute la vie
Tu sais le temps n'a pas de prix
Utopie
Sans avenir
Toute la vie
C'est à ton tour et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
A ton tour
Vas-y
Vous aviez tout, paix, liberté, plein emploi
Nous c'est chômage, violence et sida
Tout ce qu'on a, il a fallu le gagner
A vous de jouer mais faudrait vous bouger
Vous avez raté, dépensé, pollué
Je rêve où tu es en train de fumer?
Vous avez sali les idéologies
Mais, vous avez
Mais, vous avez
Oui, vous avez
Toute la vie
C'est une chance, un défi
Toute la vie
C'est bidon, ça veut rien dire
Toute la vie
Tu sais le temps n'a pas de prix
Utopie
Sans avenir
Aujourd'hui, j'envie tellement ta jeunesse
Quel ennui, je l'échange contre ta caisse
C'est la vie, la vie qui caresse et qui blesse
C'est ta vie, vole et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
A ton tour
Et vas-y
The lyrics of Les Enfoirés's song Toute la vie talks about the divide between the older and younger generations. The older generation is portrayed as having been fortunate, having everything they need such as peace, liberty, and job stability. They are asked if they understand what it is like to have doors closed and dark clouds looming, which is the reality for the younger generation. Despite these challenges, the younger ones are accused of having nothing but disapproval and anger, while the older ones have everything else. However, towards the end of the song, a call to action is made for the older generation to step up and change the status quo.
The message of the song is clear: older generations are to blame for the state of the world because they enjoy privileges they've obtained at the cost of younger generations' suffering. In contrast, younger generations are simply expressing their dissatisfaction with the status quo. They are asking for the older generation to assist them in making the world a better place.
The song has been interpreted by some as a plea from younger people to be recognized for their potential and to be given greater access to decision-making. The younger generation believes they have something to contribute and can have a greater impact if only they are heard. With that in mind, Toute La Vie is a reminder that moving forward, the world will be shaped by a collective effort from all generations.
Line by Line Meaning
Des portes closes et des nuages sombres
We are faced with a bleak and uncertain future
C'est notre héritage, notre horizon
This is what has been passed down to us, what we see ahead
Le futur et le passé nous encombrent
We are weighed down by both the future and the past
Avez-vous compris la question?
Do you understand what we're trying to say?
Non
No
Vous avez tout, l'amour et la lumière
You have everything, love and light
On s'est battus on a rien volé
We fought hard, we took nothing
Nous n'avons que nos dégoûts, nos colères
All we have left are our disgust and our anger
Mais, vous avez
But you have
Toute la vie
All of life
C'est une chance inouïe
It's an incredible opportunity
Toute la vie
All of life
C'est des mots, ça veut rien dire
It's just words, it doesn't mean anything
Toute la vie
All of life
Tu sais le temps n'a pas de prix
You know that time is priceless
Utopie
Utopia
Sans avenir
Without a future
C'est à ton tour et vas-y
It's your turn, go ahead
Vous aviez tout, paix, liberté, plein emploi
You had everything, peace, freedom, full employment
Nous c'est chômage, violence et sida
For us, it's unemployment, violence and AIDS
Tout ce qu'on a, il a fallu le gagner
We had to fight for everything we have
A vous de jouer mais faudrait vous bouger
Now it's your turn, but you need to get moving
Vous avez raté, dépensé, pollué
You missed opportunities, spent recklessly, and polluted
Je rêve où tu es en train de fumer?
Am I dreaming or are you smoking right now?
Vous avez sali les idéologies
You've tarnished ideologies
C'est une chance, un défi
It's a chance, a challenge
C'est bidon, ça veut rien dire
It's empty, it doesn't mean anything
Aujourd'hui, j'envie tellement ta jeunesse
Today, I envy your youth so much
Quel ennui, je l'échange contre ta caisse
What a bore, I'd trade it for your car
C'est la vie, la vie qui caresse et qui blesse
That's life, the life that comforts and hurts
C'est ta vie, vole et vas-y
It's your life, go ahead and live it
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
léa pou
Meilleure que celle des années précédentes je trouve
Delphine Gauthron
J'adore !!! 😂😅
Meilleur chanson avec les enfoirés !!
Morena Santos
Muito linda música ❤
ALEX COADOU
Bravo et un grand MERCI tous ceux qui, de près ou de loin, élaborent ce spectacle grandiose et tellement engagé. Il n' a pas de mots assez forts pour qualifier le bonheur qu'il nous apporte chaque année. MERCI tous.
Perrine Helluin
Perrine❤
Laure Zawakawa
Bravo et merci pour tout. On va continuer et continuer à nous faire chanter encore et....c'est génial 💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘💘😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Fabienne Riedo
Chaque chanson annuelle est fantastique 👍
Celestine Mansanga
❤❤❤je vous adore
Nicolas MAZOU
Je vous adores tous les jours j' écoute vos chansons continuer comme ça je vous adore
Carmen Daniela Boer
Magnifique chancon!!Bravo a tous!!exceptionelle interpretation!!❤