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.
Ne me quitte pas
Les Enfoirés Lyrics
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C'est un bout de toile grise
Il y a moins de soleil
Que dans le chœur d'une église
Il disait, je vais partir
Où le vent m'emportera
Ailleurs ne peut être pire
A la porte d'Italie
On commence le voyage
Un camion et une nuit
Et ce sont les lointains rivages
Nous ne sommes pas des manchots
On s'engagera sur des bateaux
On aura le monde entier
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber
D'accord, on ne sait rien faire
Mais à deux on peut tout faire
On arrive juste à point
Pour leur donner un coup de main
Des balayeurs aux présidents
Ils sont paumés les pauvres gens
On aura le monde entier
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber.
Il disait, tu vois ce ciel
C'est un bout de toile grise
Il y a moins de soleil
Que dans le chœur d'une église
Et puis le temps a passé
L'autre jour je l'ai croisé
Le regard au ras du sol
Il avait raté son envol
La fille qui tenait son bras
Ne venait pas de Canberra
Les espoirs de nos aurores
N'avaient pas dépassé Saint-Maur
Moi je vois tous les pays
Dans les yeux de mes amours
Et ma foi s'en va la nuit
Parfois plus loin que Singapour
Je veux chanter pour tous les gens
Des balayeurs aux présidents
Pour tous ceux du monde entier
Si vous ne me laissez pas tomber.
Pour moi, le ciel n'est pas gris
Dans les yeux de mes amours
Chaque fleur de cette vie
Mérite qu'on fasse un détour
Et si je chante c'est pour toi,
Toi que je ne connais pas
Et que je rencontrerai
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber
In the song "Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber" by Les Enfoirés, the lyrics describe a conversation between two individuals. The first person is expressing his perspective on life, stating that the sky is just a gray piece of canvas and there is less sunlight than in the choir of a church. He also mentions that he is planning to leave and go wherever the wind takes him, suggesting that anywhere else would be better than his current situation. The person then invites the listener to come along on this journey with him.
They start their journey at Porte d'Italie, using a truck and embarking on a night voyage towards distant shores. The lyrics emphasize that they are not incapable, as they will take boats and travel the entire world. However, this journey is conditional upon the listener not abandoning them. Together, they can do anything and arrive just in time to lend a helping hand to those in need, from street sweepers to presidents. The song emphasizes the idea that with unity and support, they can achieve great things and conquer the world.
As time passes, the singer encounters the first person once again. This person's dreams and aspirations didn't come true; they missed their chance to fly and seemed quite defeated, walking with their gaze lowered. The girl by their side is revealed to be from a small town, indicating that their hopes didn't extend beyond their local surroundings. In contrast, the singer sees the world in the eyes of their loved ones, and their faith carries them through the night, sometimes even farther than Singapore. They express their desire to sing for everyone, from street sweepers to presidents, and for all people around the world, if they don't abandon them.
The final part of the song shifts to a more personal perspective. The singer states that the sky is not gray for them, as they see the beauty and worth in every flower of life. They believe that each aspect of life deserves attention and appreciation, willing to take detours for them. The singer also expresses that they sing for someone they don't yet know, someone they will meet if that person doesn't abandon them. It conveys the idea that through their music and actions, they hope to touch the lives of others, find connection, and make a positive impact in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Il disait, tu vois ce ciel
He said, do you see this sky
C'est un bout de toile grise
It's a piece of gray canvas
Il y a moins de soleil
There is less sun
Que dans le chœur d'une église
Than in the choir of a church
Il disait, je vais partir
He said, I'm going to leave
Où le vent m'emportera
Wherever the wind takes me
Ailleurs ne peut être pire
Anywhere else can't be worse
Viens je t'emmène avec moi.
Come, I'll take you with me.
A la porte d'Italie
At the door of Italy
On commence le voyage
We begin the journey
Un camion et une nuit
A truck and a night
Et ce sont les lointains rivages
And those are the distant shores
Nous ne sommes pas des manchots
We are not helpless
On s'engagera sur des bateaux
We will embark on boats
On aura le monde entier
We will have the whole world
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber
If you don't let me down
D'accord, on ne sait rien faire
Okay, we don't know how to do anything
Mais à deux on peut tout faire
But together we can do anything
On arrive juste à point
We arrive just in time
Pour leur donner un coup de main
To give them a helping hand
Des balayeurs aux présidents
From sweepers to presidents
Ils sont paumés les pauvres gens
The poor people are lost
On aura le monde entier
We will have the whole world
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber.
If you don't let me down.
Et puis le temps a passé
And then time passed
L'autre jour je l'ai croisé
The other day I crossed paths with him
Le regard au ras du sol
His gaze at ground level
Il avait raté son envol
He had missed his take off
La fille qui tenait son bras
The girl holding his arm
Ne venait pas de Canberra
Didn't come from Canberra
Les espoirs de nos aurores
The hopes of our dawns
N'avaient pas dépassé Saint-Maur
Had not gone beyond Saint-Maur
Moi je vois tous les pays
I see all the countries
Dans les yeux de mes amours
In the eyes of my loves
Et ma foi s'en va la nuit
And my faith goes away at night
Parfois plus loin que Singapour
Sometimes farther than Singapore
Je veux chanter pour tous les gens
I want to sing for all the people
Des balayeurs aux présidents
From sweepers to presidents
Pour tous ceux du monde entier
For everyone in the whole world
Si vous ne me laissez pas tomber.
If you don't let me down.
Pour moi, le ciel n'est pas gris
For me, the sky is not gray
Dans les yeux de mes amours
In the eyes of my loves
Chaque fleur de cette vie
Every flower of this life
Mérite qu'on fasse un détour
Deserves a detour
Et si je chante c'est pour toi,
And if I sing, it's for you
Toi que je ne connais pas
You whom I don't know
Et que je rencontrerai
And whom I will meet
Si tu ne me laisses pas tomber
If you don't let me down
Lyrics © WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC FRANCE
Written by: Paul Boussard, Pierre Delanoe
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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