In 1965, Le Forestier formed a duo (Cat et Maxime) with his sister Catherine. Playing at cabaret venues on Paris' Left Bank, the pair met and formed a friendship with Georges Moustaki. They were amongst the first artists to cover a number of songs by Moustaki - including Ma Liberté and Ma Solitude. In 1968, Catherine joined Moustaki as a backing singer. Le Forestier began to focus on songwriting and composed Ballade pour un traître which was recorded and released by the French/Italian singer and actor, Serge Reggiani.
Le Forestier continued as part-time singer/songwriter during his military service (beginning 1969) with a parachute regiment (the inspiration for the song Parachutiste). He recorded two songs: "Cœur de Pierre, Face de Lune", and La Petite Fugue.
His military service ending September 1970, Le Forestier refocused on his musical career. He developed a folksy style which was enormously popular in the 1970s and '80s. His first album Mon Frère, released in 1973, contains several pieces that have entered French folklore, including the title song Mon frère, San Francisco, Comme un arbre and Education sentimentale. He toured extensively, both in France and abroad. In 1976, he toured in 14 cities in the USSR. Recently he has gained particular acclaim for his reworkings of the songs of Georges Brassens.
Restons amants
Maxime Le Forestier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Les événements nous imposent
La fin des sentiments
Qu'un jour se suivent les invectives
Les égarements la dérive
Chacun séparément
Quoi qu'il arrive restons amants
Des rendez-vous dissimulés
Où vont s'entrelacer les ombres
Aux dangers mélangées
Restons amants des plages vides
Où novembre aimait nous jeter
Laissons frémir aux vents avides
Les lèvres dérobées
Même si les gares si les regards
Indifféremment nous séparent
De plus en plus souvent
Même si se tiennent ta main la mienne
Pour la fin des temps que nos vies deviennent
Celles de tous les gens
Quoi qu'il advienne restons amants
Restons amants des impatiences
Des minutes qui sont comptées
Des trésors de ruse et de science
Pour se retrouver
Restons amants des corps à corps
Des peaux qui savent où se trouver
Laissons les coeurs qui battent encore
L'un à l'autre mêlés
La petite mort
L'éternité...
In Maxime Le Forestier's song Restons Amants, the lyrical content speaks of the complications that arise in any relationship. The song suggests that there will be times when things get tough and events impose themselves, which ultimately leads to the end of feelings. The lyrics also mention how differences will lead to arguments, mistakes, and drift between partners – ultimately leading them to drift apart completely. However, despite all these complications and difficulties, the singer suggests that they should remain lovers - in love with the dark hotels, secret rendezvous, intertwined shadows, and dangers that mix together.
The song goes on to suggest that they should remain in love with the empty beaches where November used to throw them. Letting their stolen lips twirl in the eager winds. Even if their paths cross at the stations, and they have to separate due to the indifferent looks of people, they should still remain lovers. They should stay together and relish the moments that are numbered, tricking and mastering the art of science to find each other. They should remain in love with the closeness of their bodies - the skin that knows where to find each other- and let their hearts merge into each other. The song's title itself conveys the reason why they should remain lovers, rather than going their separate ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Qu'un jour les choses le temps pas rose
One day when things aren't going well
Les événements nous imposent
Events force us
La fin des sentiments
The end of feelings
Qu'un jour se suivent les invectives
One day insults follow each other
Les égarements la dérive
Mistakes and drifting
Chacun séparément
Each of us separately
Quoi qu'il arrive restons amants
No matter what happens, let's remain lovers
Restons amants des hôtels sombres
Let's stay lovers of dark hotels
Des rendez-vous dissimulés
Of secret meetings
Où vont s'entrelacer les ombres
Where the shadows will intertwine
Aux dangers mélangées
Mixed with dangers
Restons amants des plages vides
Let's stay lovers of empty beaches
Où novembre aimait nous jeter
Where November used to throw us
Laissons frémir aux vents avides
Let the starving winds tremble
Les lèvres dérobées
The stolen kisses
Même si les gares si les regards
Even if the train stations and stares
Indifféremment nous séparent
Separate us indifferently
De plus en plus souvent
More and more often
Même si se tiennent ta main la mienne
Even if your hand holds mine
Pour la fin des temps que nos vies deviennent
So that for the rest of our lives
Celles de tous les gens
We become like everyone else
Quoi qu'il advienne restons amants
No matter what happens, let's remain lovers
Restons amants des impatiences
Let's stay lovers of impatience
Des minutes qui sont comptées
Of moments that are numbered
Des trésors de ruse et de science
Of treasures of cunning and knowledge
Pour se retrouver
To find each other again
Restons amants des corps à corps
Let's stay lovers of physical contact
Des peaux qui savent où se trouver
Of skins that know where to meet
Laissons les coeurs qui battent encore
Let the hearts that still beat
L'un à l'autre mêlés
Be intertwined with each other
La petite mort
The little death (orgasm)
L'éternité...
Eternity...
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.