Qui sommes-nous ?
Olivia Ruiz Lyrics


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Chaque jour la vie m´encense de tous ses non sens
Ces sens interdits qui malmènent mon innocences
Les biens pensants pensent et le autres dépensent ou plutôt ils compensent
Nos pauvres existences sont sur une balance d´un monde qui s´en balance

Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
De vieux fous plantés sur un caillou
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des histoires a dormir debout
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des bras de machines à sous
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Et qu´attendez vous?

Chaque jour sur terre, les hommes s´assument de moins en moins
Que peuvent-ils encore faire pour mieux éclairer nos destins
Leurs dessins sont clairs, c´est le billet vert, la bourse des vauriens
Et le monde des affaires, qui chaque jour s´affaire, les autres ça fait rien

Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
De vieux fous plantés sur un caillou
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des histoires a dormir debout
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des bras de machines à sous
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Et qu´attendez vous?

Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
De vieux fous plantés sur un caillou
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des histoires a dormir debout
Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Des bras de machines à sous




Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
Et qu´attendez vous?

Overall Meaning

In Olivia Ruiz's song "Qui sommes-nous?" ("Who are we?"), the lyrics speak to the confusion and senselessness of life. The daily routine and expectations of society, with its "forbidden senses" that "abuse our innocence," are highlighted as a balance that is off-kilter, with a world that doesn't seem to care. Ruiz questions the very essence of identity and asks repeatedly, "But tell me who are we?" She describes humanity as "old fools planted on a rock," and as being trapped in a never-ending cycle of absurdity and sleepwalking.


The second verse delves deeper into the state of the world and the problems that plague humanity. Ruiz notes that people are assuming fewer responsibilities as time goes by, and that they are increasingly powerless to change their fates. She identifies greed as the driving force behind everything, with the pursuit of money and power trumping all other concerns. The line "the world of business, which every day busies itself, others don't matter" highlights how the world is becoming a harsher, more individualistic place, where people are ultimately on their own.


Overall, "Qui sommes-nous?" is a powerful reflection on the nature of existence, the confusion of identity, and the problems that plague humankind. Ruiz's lyrics are poignant and thought-provoking, and her singing is full of emotion and passion.


Line by Line Meaning

Chaque jour la vie m´encense de tous ses non sens
Every day life compliments me with all its nonsense


Ces sens interdits qui malmènent mon innocences
These forbidden senses that harm my innocence


Les biens pensants pensent et le autres dépensent ou plutôt ils compensent
The well-off think and the others spend, or rather they compensate


Nos pauvres existences sont sur une balance d´un monde qui s´en balance
Our poor existences are on a scale of a world that doesn't care


Mais dites moi qui sommes nous?
But tell me who we are?


De vieux fous plantés sur un caillou
Old fools planted on a rock


Des histoires a dormir debout
Stories to be slept through


Des bras de machines à sous
Arms of slot machines


Et qu´attendez vous?
And what do you expect?


Chaque jour sur terre, les hommes s´assument de moins en moins
Every day on earth, men assume less and less


Que peuvent-ils encore faire pour mieux éclairer nos destins
What can they still do to enlighten our destinies?


Leurs dessins sont clairs, c´est le billet vert, la bourse des vauriens
Their designs are clear, it's the greenback, the stock exchange of rogues


Et le monde des affaires, qui chaque jour s´affaire, les autres ça fait rien
And the business world, which is busy every day, the others don't matter




Contributed by Savannah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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