C'est la vie
Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles Lyrics


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Ah oh hey hey
Ah oh ah oh
I say, hey boy sitting in your tree
Mummy always wants you to come for tea (ah oh)
Don't be shy, straighten up your tie
Get down from your tree house sitting in the sky (ah oh)
I want to know just what to do
Is it very big, is there room for two
(Ah oh)
I got a house with windows and doors
I'll show you mine if you show me yours
Gotta let me in, hey hey hey
Let the fun begin, hey
I'm the wolf today, hey hey hey
I'll huff, I'll puff
I'll huff, I'll puff, I'll blow you away
Say you will, say you won't
Say you'll do what I don't (say you will)
Say you're true, say to me
C'est la vie
Say you will, say you won't
Say you'll do what I don't (say you will, hey)
Say you're true, say to me (get a life)
C'est la vie
Do you play with the girls, play with the boys?
Do you ever get lonely playing with your toys? (ah oh)
We can talk, we can sing
I'll be the queen and you'll be the king (ah oh)
Hey boy, in your tree
Throw down a ladder, make room for me (ah oh)
I got a house with windows and doors
I'll show you mine if you show me yours
Gotta let me in, hey hey hey
Let the fun begin, hey
I'm the wolf today, hey hey hey
I'll huff, I'll puff
I'll huff, I'll puff, I'll blow you away
Say you will, say you won't
Say you'll do what I don't (say you will)
Say you're true, say to me (yeah)
C'est la vie (oh)
Say you will, say you won't (say you will)
Say you'll do what I don't (oh, say you will)
Say you're true, say to me (what are you like?)
C'est la vie
Hey hey
Na na na, hey
Na na na, oh
Na na na, hey
Hey hey hey hey
Say you will, say you won't
Say you'll do what I don't (say you will)
Say you're true, say to me
want to say
C'est la vie
Say you will, say you won't
Say you'll do what I don't (say you will)
Say you're true, say to me
(I fight like my dad as well)
C'est la vie
Na na na, hey
Na na na, oh
C'est la vie
Na na na, hey




Hey hey
C'est la vie (hey hey

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Patti Labelle & The Bluebelles's song "C'est La Vie" convey a flirtatious message to a boy sitting in a treehouse. The singer invites the boy to come down from his elevated perch and explore the possibilities of a romantic encounter. The playful nature of the song is evident in the repeated use of the phrase "say you will, say you won't" as the singer attempts to coax the boy into taking a chance on her.


The lyrics also reveal a sense of power dynamics, as the singer switches between the roles of the pursuer and the pursued, suggesting a sense of playful cat and mouse. The repeated refrain of "I'll huff, I'll puff, I'll blow you away" reinforces this sense of flirtatious dominance, as the singer asserts her ability to seduce and charm the boy.


Overall, the lyrics of "C'est La Vie" offer a light-hearted and playful take on the themes of love and desire, with a subtle hint of power dynamics and flirtatious teasing.


Line by Line Meaning

Ah oh hey hey
An excited exclamation to grab attention


Ah oh ah oh
A continuation of the excited exclamation


I say, hey boy sitting in your tree
Addressing a person who is aloof and distant


Mummy always wants you to come for tea (ah oh)
Reference to a controlling family member


Don't be shy, straighten up your tie
Encouragement to be more confident and put-together


Get down from your tree house sitting in the sky (ah oh)
Encouragement to be more grounded and accessible


I want to know just what to do
Expressing curiosity and desire for guidance


Is it very big, is there room for two (ah oh)
Inquiring about available opportunities


I got a house with windows and doors
Boasting of personal assets


I'll show you mine if you show me yours
Proposing an exchange or shared experience


Gotta let me in, hey hey hey
Demanding entrance or inclusion


Let the fun begin, hey
Calling for a lively or exciting experience


I'm the wolf today, hey hey hey
Assuming a dominant or aggressive role


I'll huff, I'll puff
Threatening harm or warning of consequences


I'll huff, I'll puff, I'll blow you away
Continuation of the threat of harm or consequences


Say you will, say you won't
Requesting a clear answer or decision


Say you'll do what I don't (say you will)
Asking for compliance or agreement


Say you're true, say to me
Requesting sincerity or honesty


C'est la vie
Acceptance of the situation or attitude of 'such is life'


Do you play with the girls, play with the boys?
Questioning gender and sexuality


Do you ever get lonely playing with your toys? (ah oh)
Questioning emotional fulfillment or social interaction


We can talk, we can sing
Proposing friendly or romantic activities


I'll be the queen and you'll be the king (ah oh)
Referencing power dynamics or hierarchy


Throw down a ladder, make room for me (ah oh)
Demanding access or space


Na na na, hey
A casual filler sound


Na na na, oh
A continuation of the filler sound


Want to say
Expressing a desire to communicate further


"I fight like my dad as well"
A sudden and inexplicable statement


Hey hey
A casual exclamation


C'est la vie (hey hey)
Reiteration of accepting the situation or attitude of 'such is life'




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EDWARD WHITE, MACK WOLFSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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