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Josephine
Mathieu Bérubé Lyrics
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Je rentre à la maison, j'ai la barbe à mon cou
Par la fenêtre les champs de papaye, l′étendue de nos rêves
Qui se perdent dans le regard des autres
Mon cœur qui déraille
Sens dessus dessous
Suffira d'un retard pour un amour fou, fou, fou
Joséphine
T'as pas l′air bien maligne
À toutes les gares, je m′imagine
Dans tes yeux noirs mon orpheline
Joséphine
Ce que tu sais me faire voir
De ton point de vue
Ah, Joséphine
N'importe où mon toutou
On y sera parfaitement bien
Camel au bec, Cosmo à la main
Ça tire et ça pousse comme en 80
Mais l′air et l'eau, la vie suit son cours
Et l′or est dans la lumière, le petit jour se referme
Quai de gare au bout de ta laisse
Laisse-moi te parler de nous
Drôle d'hasard, le train repart
Vers on ne sait où, où, où
Et ça fait chou, chou, chou
Joséphine
T′as pas l'air bien maligne
À toutes les gares, je m'imagine
Dans tes yeux noirs mon orpheline
Joséphine
Ce que tu sais me faire voir
De ton point de vue
Ah, Joséphine
The lyrics of Mathieu Bérubé's song JOSÉPHINE describe the experience of taking a train ride that never seems to reach its destination. The singer returns home with a beard on his neck, indicating that he has been traveling for some time. Through the train window, he sees fields of papaya and the vastness of his dreams, yet these fade in the eyes of others. His heart is in turmoil, and a delay is all it takes to ignite a passionate love. The chorus speaks to Joséphine, who appears innocent at all the stations but through whom the singer sees a different perspective. She shows him what he can't see and makes him feel complete.
The imagery in the lyrics is vivid and metaphorical. The fields of papaya that the singer sees through the train window symbolize his dreams, which are vast, wild, and untamed. However, the dreams get lost in the gaze of others, symbolizing how society, family, or friends can hold us back from achieving our aspirations. The delay leading to passionate love may imply that sometimes, unexpected events can lead to new beginnings, and love can arise in moments of chaos. The chorus's repetition of Joséphine's name suggests that she represents something significant to the singer, perhaps a source of inspiration, solace, or strength.
Line by Line Meaning
On prend toujours un train, on ne va jamais jusqu′au bout
We always take a train but never reach our destination.
Je rentre à la maison, j'ai la barbe à mon cou
I'm going back home with a beard on my neck.
Par la fenêtre les champs de papaye, l′étendue de nos rêves
I see papaya fields passing by as a representation of our dreams.
Qui se perdent dans le regard des autres
Our dreams fade when observed by others.
Mon cœur qui déraille
My heart is going crazy.
Sens dessus dessous
Upside down.
Suffira d'un retard pour un amour fou, fou, fou
A simple delay is enough to trigger a crazy love.
Joséphine
The name of the person he's singing to.
T'as pas l′air bien maligne
You don't seem very smart.
À toutes les gares, je m′imagine
At every station, I imagine.
Dans tes yeux noirs mon orpheline
In your black eyes, my orphan girl.
Ce que tu sais me faire voir
What you make me see.
De ton point de vue
From your point of view.
N'importe où mon toutou
Anywhere, my dog.
On y sera parfaitement bien
We'll be perfectly fine there.
Camel au bec, Cosmo à la main
Smoking a Camel, holding a Cosmo.
Ça tire et ça pousse comme en 80
It's just like in the 80s, pushing and pulling.
Mais l′air et l'eau, la vie suit son cours
But with air and water, life goes on.
Et l′or est dans la lumière, le petit jour se referme
And the gold is in the light and the day closes.
Quai de gare au bout de ta laisse
The train station platform at the end of your leash.
Laisse-moi te parler de nous
Let me talk to you about us.
Drôle d'hasard, le train repart
Funny coincidence, the train is leaving.
Vers on ne sait où, où, où
Towards an unknown destination.
Et ça fait chou, chou, chou
And it goes chou, chou, chou.
Writer(s): Mathieu Bérubé
Contributed by Addison N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.