A Quelle Heure
Serge Lama Lyrics


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A quelle heure arrive le bateau?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de bateau
A quelle arrive mon avion?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus d'avion
A quelle heure arrive le dernier train?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de train.

A quelle heure arrivent les chevaux?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de chevaux
A quelle heure arrivent les mulets?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de sentier
A quelle heure arrivent les oiseaux?
Mais monsieur le ciel est bien trop haut.

A quelle heure arrivent mes parents?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de parents
A quelle heure arrivent mes amis?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus d'amis
A quelle heure arrive le Bon Dieu?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de Bon Dieu.

A quelle heure arrive le bon vin?
Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de raisins
A quelle heure l'oublie va m'emporter?
Mais monsieur vous n'oublierai jamais




A quelle heure alors irais-je au ciel?
Mais monsieur vous êtes éternel

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Serge Lama's song "À quelle heure" are a series of questions about when various modes of transportation and people will arrive, the repeated answer being "Mais monsieur il n'y a plus" or "Sir, there is no more." As the questions progress, they become more and more existential, with the singer asking about the arrival of animals, loved ones, and even the concept of God. The final question is about the singer's own arrival in heaven, to which the answer is that he is eternal.


The song is symbolic of the feeling of uncertainty and loss that can come with aging and the passage of time. The initial questions about arrival times can be seen as a metaphor for the passing of opportunities and the realization that certain things or people may never come back. This sentiment is echoed in the later questions, which are about the arrival of things that may be impossible or uncertain, such as the afterlife or the forgiveness of one's sins.


The repetition of the answer "Mais monsieur il n'y a plus" emphasizes the finality of these losses and the singer's sense of resignation. However, the final line about the singer's eternal existence adds a hopeful note, suggesting that while earthly things may come and go, the individual soul endures.


Overall, the lyrics of "À quelle heure" are a poignant meditation on the fleeting nature of life and the universal human struggle to make peace with the passage of time.


Line by Line Meaning

A quelle heure arrive le bateau?
Asking for the arrival time of the boat


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de bateau
The boat is no longer in service


A quelle heure arrive mon avion?
Asking for the arrival time of the plane


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus d'avion
The plane is no longer in service


A quelle heure arrive le dernier train?
Asking for the arrival time of the last train


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de train.
There is no more train available


A quelle heure arrivent les chevaux?
Asking for the arrival time of the horses


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de chevaux
There are no more horses available


A quelle heure arrivent les mulets?
Asking for the arrival time of the mules


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de sentier
The path where mules travel is no longer existing


A quelle heure arrivent les oiseaux?
Asking for the arrival time of the birds


Mais monsieur le ciel est bien trop haut.
The birds are unreachable because they are flying high in the sky


A quelle heure arrivent mes parents?
Asking for the arrival time of the parents


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de parents
The parents are no longer living


A quelle heure arrivent mes amis?
Asking for the arrival time of the friends


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus d'amis
There are no more friends around


A quelle heure arrive le Bon Dieu?
Asking for the arrival time of God


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de Bon Dieu.
God is no longer present


A quelle heure arrive le bon vin?
Asking for the arrival time of good wine


Mais monsieur il n'y a plus de raisins
No grapes are available to make good wine


A quelle heure l'oublie va m'emporter?
Asking when forgetfulness will take over


Mais monsieur vous n'oublierai jamais
You will never forget


A quelle heure alors irais-je au ciel?
Asking when will someone go to heaven


Mais monsieur vous êtes éternel
You are eternal and will go to heaven eventually




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

jean claude wauthy

merveilleuse chanson - double album de Serge Lama - un bijou qu' il faut avoir

Aline Brillouet

Un bijou qui a bercé mon enfance....

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