La chanson de Prévert
Michèle Arnaud Lyrics

The lyrics to Michèle Arnaud's song "La chanson de Prévert" speak of the eternal love between two people and the impact that their departure from each other would have on the world. The opening line, "Reste ici bas mon coeur fidèle", calls for the singer's lover to stay by their side, as their departure would bring eternal pain. This sentiment is echoed throughout the song, as the singer imagines a world without their partner. They contemplate the silence that would come with their lover's death, and the bleakness that would accompany their partner's coldness. The singer paints a poignant picture of beauty withering away, using the imagery of rose bushes letting their flowers wilt in the absence of love. However, the final stanza is a bittersweet reversal of fortune. The singer acknowledges that if they were to die, their lover would move on, find happiness, and their beauty would revive once again.

This song is a reflection of the romanticism that blossomed in post-war France, in particular in the ideals of the Surrealist movement, of which Jacques Prévert was a key figure. The theme of the song expresses one of the fundamental principles of Surrealism: the unity of opposites. The song speaks to a love that is both idealistic and fragile, reflecting the paradoxical nature of Surrealist art.