In March 2021, Rosé made her solo debut with her single album R. The album sold 448,089 copies in its first week, the highest figure by a Korean female soloist. Its lead single "On the Ground" was a commercial success, peaking in the top five of South Korea's Gaon Digital Chart and becoming the highest-charting song by a Korean female soloist on the US Billboard Hot 100, the Canadian Hot 100, the ARIA Singles Chart and the UK Singles Chart. It was the first song by a Korean soloist to top the Billboard Global 200 and the most-viewed music video in 24 hours on YouTube by a Korean soloist, which earned Rosé two Guinness World Records. The album's second single "Gone" peaked in the top ten in South Korea as well. As a solo artist, she has featured in labelmate G-Dragon's 2012 track "Without You".
Comme Un Marin
Rosé Lyrics
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T es Lâche comme un courant d air
T es noir comme un lundi
Ennuyeux comme la pluie
T es laid comme un mauvais rêve
T'es Chiant comme un jour de grève
T'es ridicule comme une chute
Inutile comme une flute
Et un marin ça ça t' plait bien
Mais un marin sans femme au port
Y a rien qui le retienne a bord
T es triste comme le vent
Comme la télé en noir et blanc
T es vide comme le ciel
Grillé comme le père noël
T es jeune comme un mauvais vin
T'es sale comme tes mains
Lourd comme un secret qu’ on porte
T es fini comme un langue morte
T es seul comme un marin
Et un marin ça te plait bien
Mais un marin sans femme au port
Y a rien qui le retienne a bord
T es seul comme un marin
Et un marin ça te plait bien
Mais un marin sans femme au port
Y a rien qui le retienne a bord
In Rose's song "Comme Un Marin," the singer expresses various negative characteristics about a certain individual whom she is addressing. She compares him to various unpleasant things, such as a bitter taste, a draft of air, and a boring Monday. In addition to being unattractive and annoying, this person is "ridicule comme une chute" (ridiculous like a fall) and "inutile comme une flute" (useless like a flute). Despite these negative qualities, the person enjoys being "seul comme un marin" (alone like a sailor), suggesting that they are content with their own company.
However, the singer notes the danger of being a sailor without a woman waiting for them at port. Without anything to tie them to land, there is nothing to keep the sailor from staying at sea indefinitely. She emphasizes this point by repeating the phrase "Y a rien qui le retienne a bord" (There's nothing that keeps them aboard), underscoring the idea that without a connection to something or someone on land, the sailor is doomed to isolation and wandering.
Line by Line Meaning
T es là comme un goût amer
You are here like a bitter taste
T es Lâche comme un courant d air
You are cowardly like a draft
T es noir comme un lundi
You are as dark as a Monday
Ennuyeux comme la pluie
Boring as rain
T es laid comme un mauvais rêve
You are ugly like a bad dream
T'es Chiant comme un jour de grève
You're annoying like a strike day
T'es ridicule comme une chute
You're ridiculous like a fall
Inutile comme une flute
Useless like a flute
T es seul comme un marin
You are alone like a sailor
Et un marin ça ça t' plait bien
And a sailor, it pleases you well
Mais un marin sans femme au port
But a sailor without a woman at port
Y a rien qui le retienne a bord
There is nothing to keep him aboard
T es triste comme le vent
You are sad like the wind
Comme la télé en noir et blanc
Like black and white TV
T es vide comme le ciel
You are empty like the sky
Grillé comme le père noël
Burnt out like Father Christmas
T es jeune comme un mauvais vin
You are young like bad wine
T'es sale comme tes mains
You're dirty like your hands
Lourd comme un secret qu’ on porte
Heavy like a secret we carry
T es fini comme un langue morte
You're finished like a dead language
Contributed by Ava P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.