Séquence voiture
Miles Davis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Y'a tout à l'heure, quinze ans d'malheur, mon vieux Léon
Que tu es parti au paradis d'l'accordéon
Parti bon train, voir si l'bastringue et la java
Avaient gardé droit de cité chez Jéhovah
Quinze ans bientôt qu'musique au dos, tu t'en allais
Mener le bal à l'amicale des feux follets
En cet asile, par Sainte-Cécile, pardonne-nous
De n'avoir pas su faire cas de ton biniou

C'est une erreur mais les joueurs d'accordéon
Au grand jamais, on ne les met au Panthéon
Mon vieux, tu as dû t'contener du champ de navets
Sans grandes pompes et sans pompons et sans ave
Mais les copains suivaient l'sapin, le cœur serré
En rigolant, pour faire semblant de n'pas pleurer
Et dans nos cœurs, pauvre joueur d'accordéon
Il fait ma foi, beaucoup moins froid qu'au Panthéon

Depuis mon vieux, qu'au fond des cieux, tu as fait ton trou
Il a coulé de l'eau sous les ponts de chez nous
Les bons enfants d'la rue de Vanves à la Gaîté
L'un comme l'autre, au gré des flots, furent emportés
Mais aucun d'eux n'a fait fi de son temps jadis
Tous sont restés du parti des myosotis
Tous ces pierrots ont le cœur gros, mon vieux Léon
En entendant le moindre chant d'accordéon

Quel temps fait-il chez les gentils de l'au-delà
Les musiciens ont-ils enfin trouvé le la
Et le p'tit bleu, est-c'que ça n'le rend pas meilleur
D'être servi au sein des vignes du Seigneur
Si d'temps en temps, une dame d'antan s'laisse embrasser
Sûrement papa, que tu regrettes pas d'être passé




Et si l'bon Dieu aime tant soit peu l'accordéon
Au firmament, tu t'plais sûr'ment, mon vieux Léon

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Miles Davis's song Séquence voiture describe the memory of a man named Léon who was an accordion player. He had passed away fifteen years ago, which was a time of great misfortune. Léon had gone to the accordion player's heaven to see if the music was still a prevalent part of their culture. The song talks about how Léon used to lead the "Feux Follets" and used to play the accordion at "Amicale," where they had called it "biniou." But, unfortunately, they hadn't realized the value of his music, and it was their mistake. Léon was not recognized as a musician who deserved to be respected just like any other legendary musician. The lyricist aims to change this view as he says that Léon may not have got his due respect, but he's still alive in their hearts and is way warmer than the grand niche in the Pantheon.


Many years have passed since Léon's departure, and with that, many things have changed. The children who used to live in Rue de Vanves and Gaîté have grown up and gone their separate ways. But, they still share a love for the past and its memories; it brings them solace even after all those years. The lyrics express the hope that Léon would have found comfort in knowing that his old friends continue to remember him and his music. The singer wonders if the musicians in heaven have found their rhythm and if they play the accordion there too. He imagines Léon playing his favorite music with a glass of blue vine in his hand while being surrounded by beautiful gardens. He thinks that Léon must be happy in heaven playing his favorite instrument, the accordion.


Overall, Séquence voiture is a touching tribute to Léon and his life as an accordion player. The lyrics recognize the importance of keeping memories alive and not forgetting those who have passed away. The song also reminds us that music is something that should be celebrated and respected, no matter who the musician is.


Line by Line Meaning

Y'a tout à l'heure, quinze ans d'malheur, mon vieux Léon
Fifteen years ago, you left for the accordion player's paradise, my dear Léon, causing immense sadness.


Que tu es parti au paradis d'l'accordéon
You left for the accordion player's paradise.


Parti bon train, voir si l'bastringue et la java
You left in high spirits to see if the party and dance were still welcome in heaven.


Avaient gardé droit de cité chez Jéhovah
To check if those things were still allowed in Jehovah's land.


Quinze ans bientôt qu'musique au dos, tu t'en allais
You left fifteen years ago, carrying music on your back.


Mener le bal à l'amicale des feux follets
You were leading the dance party of the wild fairies at the community hall.


En cet asile, par Sainte-Cécile, pardonne-nous
In this asylum, through Saint Cecilia, please forgive us.


De n'avoir pas su faire cas de ton biniou
We beg your pardon for not appreciating your accordion.


C'est une erreur mais les joueurs d'accordéon
It's a mistake not to have appreciated accordion players.


Au grand jamais, on ne les met au Panthéon
They are never awarded a Pantheon level recognition they deserve.


Mon vieux, tu as dû t'contener du champ de navets
My dear old man, you had to be content with a modest funeral.


Sans grandes pompes et sans pompons et sans ave
There were no grandiose ceremonies, no pompoms and no formal eulogy.


Mais les copains suivaient l'sapin, le cœur serré
But your friends followed the casket with heavy hearts.


En rigolant, pour faire semblant de n'pas pleurer
They laughed to pretend they were not crying.


Et dans nos cœurs, pauvre joueur d'accordéon
In our hearts, we feel sorry for the accordion player.


Il fait ma foi, beaucoup moins froid qu'au Panthéon
He is remembered fondly, and revered in our hearts even more than the renowned people at Pantheon.


Depuis mon vieux, qu'au fond des cieux, tu as fait ton trou
Since you found your place in heaven, my old friend.


Il a coulé de l'eau sous les ponts de chez nous
A lot has happened on earth while you were away.


Les bons enfants d'la rue de Vanves à la Gaîté
The good people from Rue de Vanves to La Gaite have grown up.


L'un comme l'autre, au gré des flots, furent emportés
They have gone with the ups and downs of life.


Mais aucun d'eux n'a fait fi de son temps jadis
But none of them have forgotten their old times.


Tous sont restés du parti des myosotis
All stayed in the camp of the forget-me-nots.


Tous ces pierrots ont le cœur gros, mon vieux Léon
All these sad clowns are heavy-hearted, my old Léon.


En entendant le moindre chant d'accordéon
They all feel like crying when they hear an accordion tune.


Quel temps fait-il chez les gentils de l'au-delà
How's the weather for those kind souls on the other side?


Les musiciens ont-ils enfin trouvé le la
Have the musicians finally found the perfect pitch?


Et le p'tit bleu, est-c'que ça n'le rend pas meilleur
Does even a small glass of blue liquor taste better there?


D'être servi au sein des vignes du Seigneur
Enjoying it in the vineyards of the Almighty.


Si d'temps en temps, une dame d'antan s'laisse embrasser
If an old lady could be kissed.


Sûrement papa, que tu regrettes pas d'être passé
You would not regret leaving this world.


Et si l'bon Dieu aime tant soit peu l'accordéon
If the Almighty has a soft spot for the accordion.


Au firmament, tu t'plais sûr'ment, mon vieux Léon
You surely enjoy playing it in the heavens above, my old Léon.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GEORGES CHARLES BRASSENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions