Michel Polnareff is one of the French music scene's more unconventional figures. He has a reputation for his wildly non-conformist lifestyle, but also made a name for himself with his legendary melodies.
Ca N'Arrive Qu'aux Autres
Michel Polnareff Lyrics
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Et j'avais sa tкte au creux de ma main
Un oiseau de plus
Un oiseau de moins
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
Il n'y a pas eu йcole ce matin
Il n'y aura plus d'enfance au jardin
Un oiseau de moins
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
La petite bкte jouait au jardin
C'йtait une fкte comme tous les matins
Un oiseau de toi
Un oiseau de moi
Venait ici manger dans notre main
Зa n'arrive qu'aux autres
Mais c'йtait le nфtre
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
The song "Ca N'Arrive Qu'aux Autres" by Michel Polnareff speaks of a tragic event of losing a bird that had become a part of the daily routine of playing and feeding. The song's lyrics describe how the singer had the bird in the palm of his hand as it was eating and how it was an everyday occurrence. The lyrics then take a dramatic turn as there is no school that day, and there would be no more childhood moments spent playing in the garden. The loss of the bird has a symbolic significance as the lyrics talk about how one more or one less bird makes a difference, and the difference is grief.
The song's chorus "ça n'arrive qu'aux autres, mais c'était le nôtre, tu sais la différence c'est le chagrin" translates to "it only happens to others, but this was ours, you know the difference is the sorrow." The line emphasizes the idea that tragedies are something that happens to others and not oneself, but when it does happen, the sorrow and pain are significant, and that is the only difference.
The song is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment with our loved ones. Losing something that we take for granted can leave an indelible mark on our hearts and can alter our view of the world.
Line by Line Meaning
La petite bкte jouait au jardin
A small animal played in the garden
Et j'avais sa tкte au creux de ma main
And I held its head in the palm of my hand
Un oiseau de plus
One more bird
Un oiseau de moins
One less bird
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
You know, the difference is the sorrow
Il n'y a pas eu йcole ce matin
There was no school this morning
Il n'y aura plus d'enfance au jardin
There will be no more childhood in the garden
Un oiseau de plus
One more bird
Un oiseau de moins
One less bird
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
You know, the difference is the sorrow
La petite bкte jouait au jardin
A small animal played in the garden
C'йtait une fкte comme tous les matins
It was a celebration like every morning
Un oiseau de toi
One bird of yours
Un oiseau de moi
One bird of mine
Venait ici manger dans notre main
Came here to eat from our hands
Зa n'arrive qu'aux autres
It only happens to others
Mais c'йtait le nфtre
But it was ours
Tu sais, la diffйrence c'est le chagrin
You know, the difference is the sorrow
Contributed by Sophie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.