Le Petit Nicolas
Michel Fugain Lyrics


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Le petit Nicolas vient de s'endormir en classe
C'est la йniиme fois que le sommeil le terrasse
Pendant ce temps le professeur d'histoire
Parle de nos plus glorieuses victoires

Le petit Nicolas est trиs loin dans son beau rкve
Ce petit garзon lа est le plus mauvais йlиve
Mais il est seul en ballon dirigeable
D'en haut son йcole est un grain de sable

Maintenant le voilа qui tourne sur un manиge
Et son cheval de bois l'emporte vers la Norvиge
Il voit des fleurs grandes comme des arbres
Des sucres d'orge et des palais de marbre

Le petit Nicolas est maintenant chef d'orchestre
Il est а l'opйra et dirige а la baguette
Son professeur joue de la contrebasse
Et зa fait rire les copains de sa classe

Nicolas





Mais une grosse voix soudain le rйveille en sursaut
Pour la йniиme fois Nicolas vient d'avoir un zйro

Overall Meaning

The song "Le Petit Nicolas" by Michel Fugain tells the story of a young boy named Nicolas who falls asleep in class, overcome by sleep yet again. While he dozes off, his history teacher talks about the country's most glorious victories. Meanwhile, Nicolas dreams of floating alone in a dirigible balloon high up in the sky, from where he can see his school building appearing like a grain of sand. He also dreams of riding a carousel horse that takes him all the way to Norway, through landscapes of enormous flowers, candy and marble palaces. In his dream, Nicolas even becomes a conductor at the opera, directing the music with a wand while his teacher plays the double bass and the other kids in the class laugh.


The song "Le Petit Nicolas" is a poetic and imaginative interpretation of the world of a child with an unbridled imagination that takes him out of the reality of bombs, history books, boring classes and bad grades. Through his dream, Nicolas is able to escape the mundane and dive into the world of fantasy, wonder, and endless possibilities. The song highlights the importance and beauty of dreams in the process of identity formation and creative invention, urging the listeners to hold onto their imaginations, even in the face of harsh realities.


Line by Line Meaning

Le petit Nicolas vient de s'endormir en classe
The little Nicolas has just fallen asleep in class.


C'est la йniиme fois que le sommeil le terrasse
It is the umpteenth time that sleep overwhelms him.


Pendant ce temps le professeur d'histoire
In the meantime, the history teacher


Parle de nos plus glorieuses victoires
talks about our most glorious victories.


Le petit Nicolas est trиs loin dans son beau rкve
Little Nicolas is far away in his beautiful dream.


Ce petit garзon lа est le plus mauvais йlиve
This little boy is the worst student.


Mais il est seul en ballon dirigeable
But he is alone in a dirigible balloon.


D'en haut son йcole est un grain de sable
From above, his school is just a speck of sand.


Maintenant le voilа qui tourne sur un manиge
Now he is spinning on a carousel.


Et son cheval de bois l'emporte vers la Norvиge
And his wooden horse takes him to Norway.


Il voit des fleurs grandes comme des arbres
He sees flowers as big as trees.


Des sucres d'orge et des palais de marbre
Candies and marble palaces.


Le petit Nicolas est maintenant chef d'orchestre
Now little Nicolas is a conductor.


Il est а l'opйra et dirige а la baguette
He is at the opera directing with his baton.


Son professeur joue de la contrebasse
His teacher plays the contrabass.


Et зa fait rire les copains de sa classe
And it makes his classmates laugh.


Mais une grosse voix soudain le rйveille en sursaut
But suddenly a loud voice startles him awake.


Pour la йniиme fois Nicolas vient d'avoir un zйro
Once again, Nicolas just got a zero.




Contributed by Cameron A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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