He and his friends formed the country rock ensemble Abbittibbi in the 1970s. Desjardins played piano, guitar, and sang. When the group disbanded in 1982, Desjardins pursued a solo career.
He also found work scoring films, especially documentaries. This involvement in the Quebec film industry even led him to co-direct a number of feature length documentaries. As well as his singing career, he is well known for his environmental activism.
Dans ses Yeux
Richard Desjardins Lyrics
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Seul avec elle dans le motel
Fantastique, fantastique et demi
L'amour chez les mortels
Dans ses yeux un laissez-passer
Le tour du monde en deux secondes
Prière de ne pas déranger
Ferme la porte, je suis en ondes
Dans ses yeux
Le saumon rendu à la mer
Le prisonnier dans les bras de son père
Le goéland dans le dépotoir
La bijouterie, la barre de fer
Du rock n'roll sur ma misère
Le brochet noir dans le banc de ménés
La band, la band, est bonne à soir
Y'aura pas d'hiver cette année
Dans ses yeux
Et me voilà dans de beaux draps
De beaux, de beaux, de si beaux draps
De la flanelle plein le cargo
Le piano joue tout seul, let's go
Sa main qui nage sous mon chandail
Et puis qui descend vers le sud
Près de mon palmier aïe! aie! aie!
Tiens, kiss my ass, la solitude!
La terre, la terre, mon capitan!
L'outarde au-dessus des douanes
La Rio Grande dans le dos
À moi, à moi, San Diego!
Dans ses yeux
Je me suis vu
Ça coûte rien, non! Ça s'peut-tu?
L'argent, l'argent qui tombe du ciel
Et qui se tue
Dans ses yeux
The lyrics of Richard Desjardins’s song Dans ses Yeux describe a passionate encounter between two individuals in a motel room. The singer talks about a “nugget at the bottom of the sieve” and him being alone with her in the motel. He describes the incredible sensation of being in love and the possibility of anything happening when love is involved. In her eyes, he sees a “passport” that takes him around the world in two seconds, and he asks for privacy while he is in this state of mind.
The song lyrically paints pictures of different scenes that are significant to the singer. These scenes include a salmon going back to the sea, a prisoner embracing his father, a seagull in a landfill, and a jewellery store with an iron bar. The singer tries to find comfort in these moments, including playing rock n' roll when he is feeling low. The band is mentioned, and it is a good night; there will not be winter this year. The following scene is incredibly sexual, where the singer describes a hand underneath his shirt, and then descending southwards towards his groin. In the final verse, he talks about seeing himself and how the images can come to him quickly, but it doesn't cost anything. The song ends with the brutal honesty of finding money that falls from the sky and kills.
Line by Line Meaning
La pépite au fond du tamis
A valuable find that required diligence and hard work to uncover.
Seul avec elle dans le motel
Being alone with someone you care about in a private setting, away from the rest of the world.
Fantastique, fantastique et demi
An incredible, extraordinary experience that exceeded all expectations.
L'amour chez les mortels
The human experience of love and connection.
Dans ses yeux un laissez-passer
Seeing the world and all of its possibilities through the eyes of someone you love.
Le tour du monde en deux secondes
Experiencing a sense of wonder and excitement that transports you to far-off places and new perspectives.
Prière de ne pas déranger
Desiring to be left alone in order to fully embrace and appreciate a moment or experience.
Ferme la porte, je suis en ondes
Asking for privacy and space to focus on something important, like listening to music or connecting with someone.
Le saumon rendu à la mer
Witnessing the beauty and power of nature in action, like a fish returning to its home in the river.
Le prisonnier dans les bras de son père
Experiencing the transformative power of love and connection with family, even in difficult or challenging circumstances.
Le goéland dans le dépotoir
Finding beauty and meaning in unexpected places, like a bird flying over a trash heap.
La bijouterie, la barre de fer
Contrasting precious and common materials, symbolizing the tension between wealth and poverty.
Du rock n'roll sur ma misère
Finding a sense of empowerment and release through music, even in difficult or painful times.
Le brochet noir dans le banc de ménés
Witnessing the struggle for survival in the natural world, where even the strongest predators must fight for their place.
La band, la band, est bonne à soir
Feeling the energy and excitement of live music, and the power of shared experiences.
Y'aura pas d'hiver cette année
Feeling optimistic and hopeful about the future, even in the face of uncertainty.
Et me voilà dans de beaux draps
Finding oneself in a difficult or embarrassing situation, often due to one's own actions.
De beaux, de beaux, de si beaux draps
Ironically commenting on the unpleasantness of the situation, which is far from "beautiful" or ideal.
De la flanelle plein le cargo
Transporting a large amount of something, like a cargo ship full of clothing, that may be extraneous or excessive.
Le piano joue tout seul, let's go
Feeling swept away by music, and the sense of magic and wonder that it can create.
Sa main qui nage sous mon chandail
The intimacy and connection that comes from being physically close with someone you care about.
Et puis qui descend vers le sud
The progression of a relationship or moment, as it becomes more entwined and intimate.
Près de mon palmier aïe! aie! aie!
Experiencing a mix of pleasure and pain, as one embraces newfound joy and happiness, but also risks getting hurt.
Tiens, kiss my ass, la solitude!
Rejecting or pushing away feelings of loneliness, and instead embracing connection and togetherness with others.
La terre, la terre, mon capitan!
The thrill and adventure of exploration and travel, discovering new places and cultures beyond one's own.
L'outarde au-dessus des douanes
The beauty of nature and wildlife, and the sense of wonder and awe that comes from witnessing it in unexpected moments.
La Rio Grande dans le dos
Feeling the sense of adventure and excitement that comes from traveling to new places and experiencing unfamiliar landscapes.
À moi, à moi, San Diego!
Embracing the sense of possibility and opportunity that comes from exploring new places and taking risks.
Je me suis vu
Experiencing a moment of self-reflection or introspection, becoming aware of one's own desires, needs, or feelings.
Ça coûte rien, non! Ça s'peut-tu?
Feeling the sense of possibility and wonder that comes from imagining new ideas and dreams, even ones that may seem unlikely or improbable.
L'argent, l'argent qui tombe du ciel
Feeling the excitement and optimism that comes with new opportunities or financial windfalls, even if they are unexpected or unusual.
Et qui se tue
Experiencing disappointment or sadness when things do not turn out as expected, or when one's hopes or expectations are not fulfilled.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Richard Desjardins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind