Elle
Luck Mervil Lyrics
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Qu'on ne voit plus danser à Notre-Dame
Je n'en sais rien pour être honnête
Vous êtes prêtre et moi poète
Nous n'avons pas des femmes
La même religion, la même poésie
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
Elle est seule dans une tourelle
Loin de ceux qui craignent
Qu'on les ensorcelle
Que veux tu dire poète?
Tu as la langue fourchue
Ne fais pas de pirouettes
Dis-moi si tu l'as vue
Où est-elle mon Esmeralda
La Cour de Miracles à perdu sa reine
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Vous la trouverez à la prison de "La Santé"
Si vous ne la sauvez elle sera condamnée
À être pendue
Ne m'en dites pas plus
Où est-elle notre Esmeralda?
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
The song "Où est-elle?" by Luck Mervil is a conversation between a priest and a poet, discussing the whereabouts of Esmeralda, the dancer who was the queen of the Court of Miracles. The priest asks the poet Gringoire what happened to his wife, as she is no longer seen dancing at Notre-Dame. Gringoire, however, admits that he doesn't know where she is. They discuss their different viewpoints on women, religion, and poetry, but their conversation keeps coming back to the missing Esmeralda.
The poet describes Esmeralda as an essential figure in Parisian street life, and her absence makes the streets sad. He likens her to a captured bird, stuck in a tower far from those who fear her magic. The priest, skeptical of the poet's language, demands to know if he has seen her. The poet finally reveals that Esmeralda is in prison, awaiting trial and a possible death sentence by hanging. He urges the priest to save her, but the priest insists that he knows nothing of such matters and leaves.
The song raises several critical issues concerning the roles of women, religion, and justice in society. It highlights the ways that people's prejudices and fears can lead to the demonization and condemnation of those who do not conform to a narrow and limited set of beliefs. The lyricist also explores the power of individual choice and action, suggesting that one person's intervention, even within a corrupt system, can make a significant difference to save someone's life.
Line by Line Meaning
Gringoire qu'as tu fais de ta femme?
Gringoire, what have you done with your wife?
Qu'on ne voit plus danser à Notre-Dame
That we no longer see dancing at Notre-Dame.
Je n'en sais rien pour être honnête
I honestly don't know.
Vous êtes prêtre et moi poète
You are a priest and I am a poet.
Nous n'avons pas des femmes
We do not have women.
La même religion, la même poésie
The same religion, the same poetry.
Où est-elle ton Esmeralda
Where is your Esmeralda?
Les rues de Paris sont tristes sans elle
The streets of Paris are sad without her.
Elle est seule dans une tourelle
She is alone in a tower.
Loin de ceux qui craignent
Far from those who fear.
Qu'on les ensorcelle
That they may be bewitched.
Que veux-tu dire poète?
What do you mean, poet?
Tu as la langue fourchue
You have a forked tongue.
Ne fais pas de pirouettes
Do not make any twists and turns.
Dis-moi si tu l'as vue
Tell me if you have seen her.
La Cour de Miracles a perdu sa reine
The Court of Miracles has lost its queen.
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
She looks like a swallow.
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Whose two wings have been cut off.
Vous la trouverez à la prison de 'La Santé'
You will find her at the prison of 'La Santé'.
Si vous ne la sauvez, elle sera condamnée
If you do not save her, she will be sentenced.
À être pendue
To be hanged.
Ne m'en dites pas plus
Say no more to me.
Où est-elle notre Esmeralda?
Where is our Esmeralda?
Elle ressemble à une hirondelle
She looks like a swallow.
À qui on aurait coupé les deux ailes
Whose two wings have been cut off.
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL G. LAVOIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind