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.

Sur Mon Cou
Raphael Lyrics

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Sur mon cou, sans armure et sans haine, mon cou
Que ma main plus lègère et grave qu'une veuve
Effleure sous mon col, sans que ton coeur s'émeuve
Laisse tes dents poser leur sourire de loup.
Ô viens mon beau soleil, ô viens ma nuit d'Espagne
Arrive dans mes yeux qui seront morts demain.
Arrive, ouvre ma porte, apporte-moi ta main.
Mène-moi loin d'ici battre notre campagne.

Le ciel peut s'éveiller, les étoiles fleurir
Ni les fleurs soupirer, et des prés, l'herbe noire
Accueillir la rosée où le matin va boire
Le clocher peut sonner, moi, seul, je vais mourir.
Ô viens mon ciel de rose, ô ma corbeille blonde !
Visite dans sa nuit ton condamné à mort.
Arrache-toi la chair, tue, escalade, mords
Mais viens ! Pose ta joue contre ma tête ronde.
Nous n'avions pas fini de nous parler d'amour.
Nous n'avions pas fini de fumer nos gitanes.
On peut se demander pourquoi les Cours condamnent
Un assassin si beau qu'il fait pâlir le jour.

Amour, viens sur ma bouche ! Amour, ouvre tes portes !
Traverse les couloirs, descends, marche léger.
Vole dans l'escalier, plus souple qu'un berger
Plus soutenu dans l'air qu'un vol de feuilles mortes.
Cours, traverse les murs, s'il le faut, marche au bord
Des toits, des océans, couvre-toi de lumière.

Use de la menace, use de la prière
Mais viens, ô ma frégate, une heure avant ma mort.

Overall Meaning

The song "Sur mon dos" by Raphael tells the story of a group of friends who are facing hard times together. The lyrics describe how they fight for nothing else but their own survival, as they all struggle to make ends meet. The vivid imagery of the song paints a picture of a group of friends who are going through hard times but are still managing to stick together, supporting each other along the way.

The chorus of the song, "je te porte sur mon dos", which translates to "I carry you on my back", symbolizes the love and support that the friends have for each other despite their tough circumstances. The physical act of carrying someone on one's back is an indication of the emotional support that one is giving to another person. This gesture of support is what makes their bond even stronger, as they cling to one another for survival.

The lyrics also depict the family relationships that the characters in the song hold dear, such as kissing one's mother on the forehead and tending to one's sick father. The song captures the essence of friendship, family and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Line by Line Meaning

Ce soir, nous nous battons pour rien
Tonight, we fight for no reason

Rien d'autre que pour nos peaux
Nothing but for our own skin

On pisse ensemble sur les trottoirs
We pee together on the sidewalks

Où nous irons tomber plus tard
Where we'll later fall

Et je te porte sur mon dos
And I carry you on my back

Je te porte sur mon dos
I carry you on my back

Je peux sentir tes os
I can feel your bones

Le contact de ta peau
The touch of your skin

Tu embrasses ta mère sur le front
You kiss your mother on the forehead

Nous n'buvons jamais avant midi
We never drink before noon

Dans nos sacs les broquilles "toquillent"
In our bags, the odds and ends shuffle