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.
Quand ton corps touche
Richard Desjardins Lyrics
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À mon espace vital,
Quand tu prends ton air louche,
Quand tu pousses
Ta langue dans ma bouche
Arme légère,
Drogue douce
Tes poses de star
Sur un drap vert dollar
Ma criminelle
Quand tu roules dans mon lit
Et que tes caresses sentent le cuir
Quand je sens ma fin venir
Et que tu m'arraches un dernier soupir
Arme légère
Drogue douce
Et boisson forte ...
In Richard Desjardins's song "Quand ton corps touche," the singer describes a relationship that seems to be lacking in intimacy and genuine connection. The lyrics suggest that the other person in the relationship is using their body, their appearance, and their sexuality to manipulate and control the singer, leaving them feeling like they are suffocating in their own space.
The opening lines of the song set the tone for this dynamic: "When your body touches / My personal space, / When you make that funny face, / When you push / Your tongue into my mouth." The singer seems uncomfortable with the other person's lack of respect for their boundaries and autonomy, and the reference to the other person's "funny face" suggests that they might be playing a game or pretending to be someone they're not. The fact that the other person is using their tongue to invade the singer's mouth also suggests a lack of mutual respect and genuine attraction.
Throughout the rest of the song, the lyrics suggest that the other person is using different forms of escapism and indulgence to manipulate and control the singer. The lines "Light weapon, / Soft drug, / And strong drink" suggest that the other person is using different forms of self-medication to numb themselves from their own pain and problems, and that they might be using these substances to keep the singer under their control as well. The reference to "poses of a star / On a green dollar sheet" suggests that the other person might be using their sexuality and appearance to try to gain fame or fortune, further emphasizing their manipulative tendencies.
The final lines of the song suggest that the singer feels trapped and suffocated by this relationship: "My criminal, / When you roll in my bed, / And your caresses smell like leather, / When I feel my end coming, / And you rip one last breath from me." The fact that the singer feels like they are about to die suggests that this relationship is draining their vitality and their sense of self, and the reference to the other person smelling like leather suggests a superficiality and falseness to their persona. Overall, the lyrics of "Quand ton corps touche" suggest a deeply unhappy and manipulative relationship that is based on power and control rather than genuine connection and intimacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Quand ton corps touche
When your body comes into contact with mine
À mon espace vital,
Invading my personal space,
Quand tu prends ton air louche,
When you give me that suspicious look,
Quand tu pousses
When you force
Ta langue dans ma bouche
Your tongue inside my mouth
Arme légère,
Light weapon,
Drogue douce
Soft drug
Et boisson forte
And strong drink
Tes poses de star
Your star-like poses
Sur un drap vert dollar
On a green dollar sheet
Ma criminelle
My criminal
Quand tu roules dans mon lit
When you roll around in my bed
Et que tes caresses sentent le cuir
And your caresses smell like leather
Quand je sens ma fin venir
When I feel my end is near
Et que tu m'arraches un dernier soupir
And you take my last breath away
Arme légère
Light weapon
Drogue douce
Soft drug
Et boisson forte ...
And strong drink...
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Michel X Cote, Richard Desjardins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind