Raphael were a visual kei band from Japan. Forming in 1997, the members wer… Read Full Bio ↴Raphael were a visual kei band from Japan. Forming in 1997, the members were only 15 when the band was formed. They were signed to a major label in 1999, and their major debut single, "Hanasaku Inochi Aru Kagiri", was a moderate success, reaching number 25 on the Oricon charts. They were known for their impressive style, which had an aggressive, progressive tone, with angelic melodies by frontman Yuki. By the summer of 2000, they were at their career peak, and their albums were selling pretty well for such a young band. However, on Halloween 2000, the guitarist and main songwriter of the band, Kazuki, died at the young age of 19. Soon after that, the band decided it was time to split. The vocalist (Yuki) and the drummer (Kazuhiro) formed Rice later that year, while the bassist (Yukito) embarked on a solo project. The band was resurrected for a short time in 2012 with all remaining members to celebrate Kazuki's 13th memorial.

La Jonque
Raphael Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Elle se fend plus d´une robe longue
Sur le côté
La petite fille de Susie Wong
Voit sa vie débridée

Des doc´ à la place des tongs,
Brûle les dragons de papier
Qu´elle glisse sous sa jonque

Fond de cour, escalier B

J´aimerais dormir sur ses nattes
A l´abri des paravents
Lire mon avenir dans ses cartes
Tant qu´il est encore temps
Le soir, au fond de sa jonque
Fond de cour, escalier B
J´ai le cœur délicat
Je sais comment il bat

J´aim'rais la mettre sur la paille
Ça nous changerait des trottoirs
Où je la vois qui s´éloigne
Le soir, au fond des dortoirs

J´irais dans sa jonque
J´oublierais ma honte
J´ai le cœur délicat
Je sais comment il bat

Je voudrais oublier sa jonque
Et ses nouveaux habitués
Ceux qu´elle remonte
Fond de cour, escalier B

Les après-midi de manque
De tonkinoise à plein temps

Elle se fend plus d´une robe longue

sur le côté
La petite fille de Susie Wong

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Raphael's song "La Jonque" depict a story of a young girl from the perspective of the singer who seems to be infatuated with her. The girl's name is not mentioned, but it is hinted at that she is the daughter of the fictional character Susie Wong. The singer describes how the girl wears long dresses and how she sees her life as being unrestrained. The girl wears doc martens instead of the traditional Vietnamese sandals, tongs, and she burns paper dragons, which she slides under her boat in the schoolyard at the back stairs.

The singer expresses a desire to escape into the girl's world and sleep on the mats in her boat. He even suggests reading his future in her cards, perhaps seeking guidance from her mystical ways. He acknowledges that his heart is delicate, and he knows how it beats. The singer wants to provide for the girl and take her off the street. He would instead be with her on her boat instead of seeing her walk away into an uncertain future.

Line by Line Meaning

Elle se fend plus d'une robe longue Sur le côté
She wears multiple long dresses, showing off her sides.

La petite fille de Susie Wong Voit sa vie débridée
The daughter of Susie Wong has a wild life.

Des doc' à la place des tongs, Brûle les dragons de papier Qu'elle glisse sous sa jonque Fond de cour, escalier B
She burns paper dragons using doctors' magazines stored underneath her junk boat.

J'aimerais dormir sur ses nattes À l'abri des paravents Lire mon avenir dans ses cartes Tant qu'il est encore temps Le soir, au fond de sa jonque Fond de cour, escalier B J'ai le cœur délicat Je sais comment il bat
I want to sleep on her mats, hide from people behind her screens and read my fate in her cards before it is too late. At night, deep inside her boat, I have a sensitive heart and I know how it beats.

J'aim'rais la mettre sur la paille Ça nous changerait des trottoirs Où je la vois qui s'éloigne Le soir, au fond des dortoirs
I'd like to put her on straw, it would change from the sidewalks where I see her walk away at night to go back to her dorms.

J'irais dans sa jonque J'oublierais ma honte J'ai le cœur délicat Je sais comment il bat
I would go in her boat, forget my shame, I have a sensitive heart and I know how it beats.

Je voudrais oublier sa jonque Et ses nouveaux habitués Ceux qu'elle remonte Fond de cour, escalier B
I want to forget her boat and its new guests, the ones she brings back to the boat in the courtyard, on the B stairs.

Les après-midi de manque De tonkinoise à plein temps Elle se fend plus d'une robe longue Sur le côté La petite fille de Susie Wong
During longing afternoons of full-time Tonkinese, she wears multiple long dresses, showing off her sides. She is Susie Wong's daughter.

Lyrics © NOUVELLES EDITIONS FRANCAISES, PARIS 1900 EDITIONS, PITCHI POI
Written by: Boris BERGMAN, Raphaël HAROCHE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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