Charlie
Noir Désir Lyrics

Son ombre glisse et sa semelle claque
Charlie walks along the sidewalk with a noticeable presence and sound as his shadow silently moves and his shoes make a distinctive noise.

Charlie caresse le trottoir
Charlie's movements along the sidewalk are graceful and almost sensual, as if he is gently caressing the pavement.

Il n'a que les os, l'esprit et la peau
Charlie is stripped down to the bare essentials of his physical and mental being, with only his skeleton, mind, and skin left intact.

Charlie va danser ce soir
Charlie is on his way to dance and let loose for the night.

Allez, Charlie
Encouragement for Charlie to keep going and stay strong.

Tiens-toi droit
A reminder for Charlie to stand tall and stay firm in his convictions.

C'que c'est beau
An appreciation for the beauty found in the tragedy of Charlie's situation.

Quand elle coule
Referring to the river of hot blood that is central to the song's theme.

La rivière de sang chaud
The recurring image of a river of hot blood that symbolizes Charlie's descent into a violent and chaotic world.

Là, ils se tiennent au fond
Describing the way the rhythm and time of the music and lyrics combine to create a deep, resonant feeling.

Le temps et le son
Referring to the importance of timing and rhythm in creating and conveying meaning through music.

Pour la vie, sweet little blues
The blues music playing throughout the song represents the constant struggle Charlie is facing in his life.

Accroche-toi aux plis
Advising Charlie to hold onto the nuances and subtleties of the music as a guide through his struggles.

De la mélodie
The melody of the blues music is a source of hope and inspiration for Charlie.

Qui ne sait pas qui elle suit
The music and its meaning are ambiguous and not fully understood, but they still provide a comforting presence in Charlie's life.

Les filles fondent
Women are attracted to Charlie's rough exterior and dangerous reputation.

Vieux salaud
Self-deprecating and critical statement from Charlie about his own character.

Le cœur dans les tempes
Charlie experiences extreme anxiety and stress in his life.

La tempête au ventre
Charlie's insides churn and twist with a feeling of unrest and chaos.

Charlie sort et se perd
Charlie tries to escape his problems by wandering the streets aimlessly and losing himself in the chaos of the city.

Dans le dédale des rues
Describing the confusing and labyrinthine streets of the city where Charlie is lost.

Où un taxi le prend
Charlie hails a taxi as a way of escaping from his life, if only for a brief moment.

Sur son capot d'argent
Describing the shiny, reflective surface of the taxi's hood as Charlie gets in.

Maintenant, dans l'eau sale
Charlie's situation has deteriorated to the point where he is metaphorically drowning in the murky waters of his own misery.

Elle traîne sa bouche pâle
The river of hot blood is personified as having a sickly, pale mouth as it continues to flow throughout the song.

Au fond du caniveau
The river of hot blood is now a disgusting, stagnant pool at the lowest point of the gutter.

Où elle coule
The river of hot blood continues to flow in its unstoppable, destructive path.

Où elle coule
The river of hot blood is an inescapable force in Charlie's life.

Où elle coule
The river of hot blood is a prevalent and continuing theme throughout the song.

Où elle coule
The river of hot blood is a haunting metaphor for the violence and destruction in Charlie's life.