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.
Une Dernière Fois
Patricia Kaas Lyrics
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Une bougie allumée
Comme chaque année
Fleurs et photos à côté
Oh, je voudrais tant te voir
Une dernière fois
Chez nous l'amour ne se dit pas
Un gâteau d'anniversaire
Bien au contraire
Une larme de feu au rythme
De mon cœur en pleurs
Enfant souffrant de ton absence
Femme blessée mais pas délaissée
Dans le miroir ta beauté
Fière et volontaire
Oh, je voudrais tant te voir maman
Une dernière fois
Chez nous l'amour ne se dit pas
C'est pour ça que je chante
Flamme de joie quelque fois
Bonheur partagé avec ce public
Que tu imaginais
20 ans passés
Ton âme ne cesse d'exister
Oh, je voudrais tant te voir maman
Une dernière fois
Mais chez nous ça ne se dit pas. Je t'aime
C'est pour ça que je chante
C'est pour toi que je chante
Oh, je voudrais tant te voir maman
Une dernière fois
Chez nous l'amour ne se dit pas.
C'est pour ça que je chante
The lyrics of Patricia Kaas's song "Une Dernière Fois" (One Last Time) is an emotional tribute to her mother who has passed away. The song starts with a cold summer breeze blowing and a lit candle, and flowers and photos by her side like every year. The lyrics express the singer's wish to see her mother one last time as she misses her terribly. However, in their family, love was not something to be expressed in words, and they preferred to sing about it. The singer's grief is palpable as she remembers her mother through a birthday cake that she used to make and a tear that matches the beat of her heart.
The second stanza describes the singer as a child who suffered from her mother's absence and as a woman who is still hurt but not neglected. Her mother's beauty and spirit live on in her, and the singer is proud of her mother's determination and strong will. The third and fourth stanzas talk about the public's joy, shared with her mother's memory, as they imagined it. The song ends with the singer's desire to see her mother one last time, despite it not being expressed in their family to say "I love you," and that's why she sings.
Line by Line Meaning
Un vent froid souffle en ce début d'été
The song is set in the beginning of summer, however, there's a cold wind blowing, a sign of something not being quite right.
Une bougie allumée
There is a candle lit which represents someone who has passed.
Comme chaque année
This is an annual tradition that is being followed.
Fleurs et photos à côté
The candle is surrounded by flowers and pictures, which is a common way of honoring someone who has passed away.
Oh, je voudrais tant te voir
The singer desires to see their mother once more.
Une dernière fois
This is the last time the singer wants to see their mother.
Chez nous l'amour ne se dit pas
In the singer's household, expressions of love are not verbalized.
C'est pour ça que je chante
The reason the singer is expressing their feelings through singing, because it's the only way they can express their love.
Un gâteau d'anniversaire
The celebration of a birthday, in contrast to the theme of the song.
Bien au contraire
This is the opposite of what the singer wants to express.
Une larme de feu au rythme
The singer is crying in a way that seems to be burning them inside.
De mon cœur en pleurs
The singer's heart is crying.
Enfant souffrant de ton absence
The singer is an adult, but still feels like a child when they think of their mother's absence.
Femme blessée mais pas délaissée
The singer is hurt, but not abandoned, because their memories of their mother are still present.
Dans le miroir ta beauté
The singer sees their mother's beauty reflected in themselves.
Fière et volontaire
Their mother was proud and strong-willed.
Flamme de joie quelque fois
Sometimes there are moments of happiness that come from memories of the singer's mother.
Bonheur partagé avec ce public
The singer shares their memories of their mother with the audience, bringing them happiness as well.
Que tu imaginais
The singer's mother although not with us anymore, knew that her memories would be shared with the public.
20 ans passés
It's been 20 years since their mother's death.
Ton âme ne cesse d'exister
The singer believes that their mother's soul is still alive.
Mais chez nous ça ne se dit pas. Je t'aime
The singer expresses their love, although they were raised not to do so.
C'est pour toi que je chante
The singer is singing for their mother, to express their love and honor her memories.
Contributed by Julian P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.