La Mer
Paris Paris Lyrics

The song "La mer" by Charles Trenet (whose real name is Louis Charles Auguste Trenet) has been covered many times but Paris Combo's version is done with a modern twist. The lyrics in this song are a beautiful tribute to the sea, which is omnipresent in human life and as such, is associated with a wide range of emotions, from calmness to hope, from love to tragedy. In the first paragraph, Trenet describes the silver reflections of the sea, as it dances along the clear coves. The sea is a mercurial being, constantly changing its moods and appearances, as described in the second paragraph. The rain contributes to the chameleonic aspect of the sea.

The third paragraph presents the beauty of summer, the blue sky and white clouds, confounded with the sea's own waves which look like white sheep or even pure angels. The sea, acting like a blue shepherdess, embraces everything infinitely. The fourth and last paragraph, as well as the repeated chorus of the song, reflects on the fact that the sea is a friend, as much as a lover. The coves are her cradle, and the rhythm she emits is a love song which keeps resonating in the depths.

Paris Combo's version of "La mer" adds an upbeat, jazzy twist to the song, which was originally written in 1945. The song can be interpreted in many ways, from a simple but sincere ode to nature, especially French nature, to a profound analogy between the vastness of the sea and that of human emotions. The melody is truly mesmerizing and the whole song is a beautiful poem dedicated to the vast expanse of the sea and how it impacts human life.