Kaas is currently on a world tour since the end of 2008 to promote her latest album kabaret. She represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 in Moscow, Russia and finished 8th with the song et s'il fallait le faire. The song received positive reviews in several newspapers and polls and a clear majority of 62% of all voters in a questionnaire believed in her chances to win the competition.
Je Te Dis Vous
Patricia Kaas Lyrics
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Dan un bal de province et je rêvais de vous
A la fin du polar, quand vous ne mouriez pas
Comme je l'enviais la dame qui souriait dans vos bras
Je vous aurais aimé avant de vous connaître
Mais vous aurais connu avant de disparaître
Je n'en suis pas peu fière, mais je tiens à en rire
Et je te dis vous
M'avez éblouie
Moi qui n'étais rien
Vous qui aviez tout
Vous m'avez dit tu
Es belle, toute en noir
Quand vous êtes venu
M'écouter un soir
C'était au mois de mai, j'm'en souviendrai toujours
J'étais morte d'angoisse, vous sachant là dans l'ombre
Puis sont venus vos fleurs et l'espoir d'un amour
Vous le grand, moi la p'tite, soyez là si je tombe
La gloire est si fragile et bien moins que mon cœur
On dit qu'elle est le deuil éclatant du bonheur
A la fin du polar, si vous deviez mourir
J'essaierais c'est promis de garder le sourire
Et je te dis vous
M'avez éblouie
Moi qui n'étais rien
Vous qui saviez tout
Vous m'avez dit tu
Es belle, toute en noir
Quand vous êtes venu
M'écouter un soir
Et je te dis vous
M'avez éblouie
Moi qui n'étais rien
Vous qui saviez tout
Vous m'avez dit tu
Es belle, toute en noir
J'étais si émue
Sous votre regard
Quand vous êtes venu
M'écouter un soir
The lyrics to Patricia Kaas's song Je Te Dis Vous tell a story of unrequited love, admiration, and the struggle with social norms. The first verse sets the scene of two people from different backgrounds: one living like a prince while the other sings for just a few pennies in a province dance hall. Despite these differences, the second person admires and dreams of the first, envying the women who gets to be in the first person's arms. The chorus expresses the overwhelming effect the first person has on the second, despite being from such different worlds. The second verse brings the story closer to the present, with the first person attending a performance by the second. The second person is nervous about the first's presence, but the first person's actions (flowers and expressions of love) give the second person hope for a possible relationship. The final chorus repeats the idea that, despite the social distance between them, the first person has a powerful effect on the second, leading to a deep admiration and love.
The song is essentially about the appeal and impossibility of a romantic relationship between two people who come from different worlds. The first person is presented as an almost unattainable object of desire, with a persona that is larger-than-life compared to the more modest life of the second person. The second person's emotions, while powerful, are conveyed through a sense of resignation, with the chorus expressing how overwhelming it is to be in the presence of someone so mesmerizing. There is also a sense of humor throughout the song, with the second person trying to reconcile her awe of the first person with the polite "vous" formality in French while the first person is trying to connect with her by calling her by the more informal "tu" form.
Line by Line Meaning
Vous viviez comme un prince, je chantais pour trois sous
While you were living extravagantly, I was performing in a small town for very little pay.
Dans un bal de province et je rêvais de vous
I used to dream of you while performing at a small-town dance.
A la fin du polar, quand vous ne mouriez pas
In the detective story, I envied the lady who smiled in your arms.
Comme je l'enviais la dame qui souriait dans vos bras
When you didn't die at the end of the thriller, I was envious of the woman who smiled in your arms.
Je vous aurais aimé avant de vous connaître
Before meeting you, I would have already loved you.
Mais vous aurais connu avant de disparaître
But I would have known you only to lose you soon after.
Je n'en suis pas peu fière, mais je tiens à en rire
I'm not a little proud of it, but I laugh about it.
Entre toi et le poster j'ai du mal à choisir
I have trouble choosing between you and the poster of you on my wall.
Et je te dis vous M'avez éblouie Moi qui n'étais rien Vous qui aviez tout
I was dazzled by you, who had everything, while I had nothing.
Vous m'avez dit tu Es belle, toute en noir Quand vous êtes venu M'écouter un soir
When you came to hear me perform one night, you called me "tu," said I was beautiful in all black.
C'était au mois de mai, j'm'en souviendrai toujours
I'll always remember it was in May.
J'étais morte d'angoisse, vous sachant là dans l'ombre
I was anxious knowing you were there in the shadows.
Puis sont venus vos fleurs et l'espoir d'un amour
Then you sent me flowers and gave me hope of love.
Vous le grand, moi la p'tite, soyez là si je tombe
You're the big one, I'm the little one, be there for me if I fall.
La gloire est si fragile et bien moins que mon cœur
Fame is so fragile and much less important than my heart.
On dit qu'elle est le deuil éclatant du bonheur
They say fame is the shining mourning of happiness.
A la fin du polar, si vous deviez mourir
If you were to die at the end of the thriller,
J'essaierais c'est promis de garder le sourire
I promise I'll try to keep smiling.
Et je te dis vous M'avez éblouie Moi qui n'étais rien Vous qui saviez tout
I was dazzled by you, who knew everything, while I knew nothing.
J'étais si émue Sous votre regard
I was so moved under your gaze.
Quand vous êtes venu M'écouter un soir
When you came to hear me perform one night.
Lyrics © SM PUBLISHING FRANCE
Written by: AMSELLEM, KOPF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind