Passent Les Nuages
Marc Lavoine Lyrics


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Dans le brouillard d'automne seulabre je marmonne
La chanson des feuilles mortes
Brumaire n'est pas coupable
De l'humeur qui m'accable me torture de la sorte

Passent les nuages ne demeure que le ciel
Mais cette larme sur mon visage est éternelle
Passent les nuages je les vois qui refluent
Mais cette l'arme comme ton image
Ne me quittera plus, ne me quittera plus

Certaines inclinaisons ne durent qu'une saison
Je le savais bien sûr mais le coup fait trop mal
Comme un pauvre animal
Je lèche mes blessures

Passent les nuages le dicton je le connais
Mais cette larme sur mon visage coule à jamais
Passent les nuages tes beaux yeux restent secs
Mais cette larme sera le gage de notre échec

Ce qui peut tourner mal, finit par tourner mal
C'est la loi de Murphy une triste règle dont
Nous ne feront pas l'exception
Et c'est pourquoi ma jolie

Passent les nuages le soleil point déjà
Mais cette larme sur mon visage ne sèchera pas
Passent les nuages et défilent les jours
Mais cette larme comme un tatouage
Restera toujours

Passent les nuages ne demeure que le ciel
Mais cette larme sur mon visage est éternelle
Passent les nuages je les vois qui refluent




Mais cette l'arme comme ton image
Ne me quittera plus, ne me quittera plus

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Marc Lavoine's "Passent Les Nuages" sets the tone for the melancholic and reflective mood of the song, as the singer laments in the fog of autumn. He sings the song of the dead leaves, establishing the theme of passing time and the transience of life, which is echoed in the title of the song: "Passent Les Nuages" means "The clouds pass" in English. The second line of the verse, "Brumaire n'est pas coupable," refers to the month of Brumaire in the French Republican calendar, which roughly corresponds to November. The singer seems to suggest that the month is not to blame for the melancholy that is weighing him down, and it is unclear what the source of his sorrow might be.


The chorus of the song is a repetition of the title phrase, "Passent Les Nuages," which serves as a reminder that time marches on and nothing remains permanent. The singer seems to acknowledge that even though the clouds pass, leaving only the sky, certain memories and emotions are harder to shake off. He describes a tear on his face that is eternal, tying it to an image that he cannot let go of.


The rest of the song goes on to explore the idea of fleeting passions and inevitable endings, as well as the singer's pain and regret over a failed relationship. He acknowledges that some things are only meant to last for a season, but the realization does not lessen the sting of the loss. As the days go by and the sun shines again, the singer seems resigned to the fact that even though the clouds pass, the mark they leave on him and his heart will remain.


Line by Line Meaning

Dans le brouillard d'automne seulabre je marmonne
In the autumn fog, I am alone and mumbling to myself


La chanson des feuilles mortes
The song of dead leaves


Brumaire n'est pas coupable
The month of Brumaire is not to blame


De l'humeur qui m'accable me torture de la sorte
My mood is oppressing me and causing me great pain


Passent les nuages ne demeure que le ciel
The clouds pass and all that remains is the sky


Mais cette larme sur mon visage est éternelle
But this tear on my face is eternal


Passent les nuages je les vois qui refluent
The passing clouds ebb away before my eyes


Mais cette l'arme comme ton image
But this tear, like your image


Ne me quittera plus, ne me quittera plus
Will never leave me, will never leave me


Certaines inclinaisons ne durent qu'une saison
Certain inclinations only last for a season


Je le savais bien sûr mais le coup fait trop mal
Of course, I knew this, but the blow hurts too much


Comme un pauvre animal
Like a poor animal


Je lèche mes blessures
I am licking my wounds


Passent les nuages le dicton je le connais
The passing clouds, I know the saying


Mais cette larme sur mon visage coule à jamais
But this tear on my face flows forever


Passent les nuages tes beaux yeux restent secs
The passing clouds, your beautiful eyes remain dry


Mais cette larme sera le gage de notre échec
But this tear will be the symbol of our failure


Ce qui peut tourner mal, finit par tourner mal
What can go wrong, will eventually go wrong


C'est la loi de Murphy une triste règle dont
It's Murphy's law, a sad rule that


Nous ne feront pas l'exception
We will not be the exception


Et c'est pourquoi ma jolie
And that's why, my dear


Passent les nuages le soleil point déjà
The passing clouds, the sun is already shining


Mais cette larme sur mon visage ne sèchera pas
But this tear on my face will not dry up


Passent les nuages et défilent les jours
The passing clouds, and the days go by


Mais cette larme comme un tatouage
But this tear, like a tattoo


Restera toujours
Will always remain




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FREDERIC JACQUE MOMONT, JACQUES DUVALL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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