Les Papillons
Marc Lavoine Lyrics

The song "Les Papillons" by Marc Lavoine is a contemplative and nostalgic piece about memories and love. The lyrics describe the singer looking out at the sea through a plane window and feeling overwhelmed by his emotions, holding back tears. He reflects on his life passing him by, feeling as if his heart is beating faster than he is. As he looks down at the water, he imagines seeing butterflies flitting about and wonders if they have a rendezvous. This brings up memories of a past love and the singer nostalgically recalls their time together on the beach.

Throughout the song, there is a sense of longing and a desire to hold onto past memories. The repetition of the line "je me souviens de vous" which translates to "I remember you," reinforces the idea that the singer is struggling to let go of the past.

The use of imagery in the song is quite strong, with the ocean symbolizing the vastness of the singer's emotions while the butterflies represent fleeting moments and memories. The use of repetition in the song, especially in the line "les papillons qui flottaient dans le flot du panier" which translates to "butterflies that floated in the docket of the basket," creates a dreamy and hypnotic effect that adds to the nostalgic atmosphere of the song.

Overall, "Les Papillons" is a beautiful and emotional song that captures the feelings of longing and nostalgia that come with reminiscing about past love.