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.
Le Premier Pas
Les Enfoirés Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
J'aimerais qu'elle fasse le premier pas
Je sais que cela ne se fait pas
Pourtant j'aimerais
Que ce soit elle qui vienne à moi
Car, voyez vous, je n'ose pas
Rechercher la manière
De la voir, de lui plaire
Mais ne pas la brusquer
Lui dire des mots d'amour
Sans savoir en retour
Si elle m'aimera
Ou refusera ce premier pas
Le premier pas
J'aimerais qu'il fasse le premier pas
On peut s'attendre longtemps comme ça
On peut rester
Des années à se contempler
Et vivre chacun de son coté
Je la rencontrerais
Au bas de l'escalier
Puis, comme tous les jours
Il me dira "Bonjour"
Seulement cette fois
Il me prendra le bras
Elle me conduira dans sa maison
Ou nous ferons
Le premier pas d'amour
Dans son lit, jour après jour
Il me dévoilera son corps
Me donnera tous les remords
De n'avoir pas dit plus tot le premier mot
Le premier mot
J'aimerais qu'elle dise le premier mot
La nuit j'en rêve et c'est idiot
Si elle voulait
Seulement me faire signe tout bas
Alors je ferais, je le crois
Le premier pas
The lyrics to Les Enfoirés's song "Le Premier Pas" speak about the desire for someone to take the first step in a romantic relationship. The singer expresses their longing for the other person to make the first move, as they themselves feel too hesitant and unsure. They yearn for the other person to come to them, to see them, to please them, and to approach them without being forceful or overwhelming.
The lyrics convey the internal struggle of wanting to express feelings of love but being afraid of rejection. The singer contemplates how long they can wait and silently admire the other person, living separate lives. They imagine a scenario where they meet at the bottom of the stairs, and as usual, exchange greetings. But this time, the other person takes their arm and leads them to their house, where they can finally take the first step in love, day after day, discovering each other's bodies and experiencing the regrets of not speaking up sooner.
In the final verse, the singer expresses their wish for the other person to say the first word, as they dream about it at night. They long for a small sign or gesture that indicates the other person's desire, and they believe that if that were to happen, they would also be able to take the first step in the relationship.
Overall, "Le Premier Pas" captures the vulnerability and hesitation that often come with starting a romantic relationship, as well as the yearning for the other person to make a move.
Line by Line Meaning
Le premier pas
The first step
J'aimerais qu'elle fasse le premier pas
I would like her to make the first move
Je sais que cela ne se fait pas
I know that it's not done
Pourtant j'aimerais
Yet I would like
Que ce soit elle qui vienne à moi
For her to come to me
Car, voyez vous, je n'ose pas
Because, you see, I don't dare
Rechercher la manière
To find the way
De la voir, de lui plaire
To see her, to please her
L'approcher, lui parler
To approach her, to talk to her
Mais ne pas la brusquer
But not to rush her
Lui dire des mots d'amour
To tell her words of love
Sans savoir en retour
Without knowing in return
Si elle m'aimera
If she will love me
Ou refusera ce premier pas
Or refuse this first step
J'aimerais qu'il fasse le premier pas
I would like him to make the first move
On peut s'attendre longtemps comme ça
We can wait a long time like this
On peut rester
We can stay
Des années à se contempler
For years just admiring each other
Et vivre chacun de son coté
And live each on our own
Je la rencontrerais
I would meet her
Au bas de l'escalier
At the bottom of the stairs
Puis, comme tous les jours
Then, like every day
Il me dira "Bonjour"
He will say "Hello" to me
Seulement cette fois
But this time
Il me prendra le bras
He will take my arm
Elle me conduira dans sa maison
She will lead me into her house
Ou nous ferons
Where we will
Le premier pas d'amour
The first step of love
Dans son lit, jour après jour
In her bed, day after day
Il me dévoilera son corps
He will reveal his body to me
Me donnera tous les remords
Give me all the regrets
De n'avoir pas dit plus tot le premier mot
Of not having said the first word earlier
Le premier mot
The first word
J'aimerais qu'elle dise le premier mot
I would like her to say the first word
La nuit j'en rêve et c'est idiot
At night, I dream about it and it's stupid
Si elle voulait
If she wanted
Seulement me faire signe tout bas
Just to give me a sign quietly
Alors je ferais, je le crois
Then I would do it, I believe
Le premier pas
The first step
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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