C'est la vie
Texas Lightning Lyrics


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It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the madamoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell

They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell

They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell

solo

They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They drove it down New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely madamoiselle
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell

It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
You could see that Pierre did truly love the madamoiselle
And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell




C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Texas Lightning's "C'est la vie" follow the story of Pierre and his teenage bride. The song speaks of their journey through marriage, from the day of their wedding to their anniversary in New Orleans. The chorus, "C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell," is a reminder that life is unpredictable and full of surprises.


The singer describes Pierre and his mademoiselle's early days in a small apartment, furnished with a two-room Roebuck sale and a coolerator filled with TV dinners and ginger ale. These descriptions are a poetic, yet realistic depiction of young love and the struggles that often accompany it. However, despite the challenges, Pierre and his wife want to make the most of each other's company, and they blast their hi-fi phono to dance all night to rock, rhythm, and jazz.


As the song progresses, the couple's story takes an exciting turn. Pierre buys a cherry-red '53 souped-up jitney, and they travel to New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary. It's there that Pierre and his mademoiselle tie the knot once again.


"C'est la vie" is a simple yet beautiful song that tells a familiar story. The lyrics' underlying message is that we should cherish every moment with the ones we love, as we never know what life may bring. It's an anthem to the magic of teenage love and the beauty that comes with it.


Line by Line Meaning

It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
The wedding between two teenagers was witnessed by the elders, who prayed for their happiness.


You could see that Pierre did truly love the madamoiselle
Pierre's love for the madamoiselle was evident in his actions and demeanor.


And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
After getting married, the couple rang the chapel bell as a declaration of their union.


C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders used the phrase 'C'est la vie' to express the unpredictable nature of life's events.


They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale
The couple set up their home by purchasing discounted furniture from a Roebuck sale.


The coolerator was crammed with TV dinners and ginger ale,
The refrigerator was filled with TV dinners and ginger ale, which the couple enjoyed during meals.


But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well
When Pierre landed a job, they were able to make their finances work.


They had a hi-fi phono, boy, did they let it blast
They owned a high-quality music player, which they enjoyed listening to at a loud volume.


Seven hundred little records, all rock, rhythm and jazz
They had a collection of 700 music records, which featured various genres like rock, rhythm, and jazz.


But when the sun went down, the rapid tempo of the music fell
At night, they slowed down the pace of their music, giving into the day's end.


They bought a souped-up jitney, 'twas a cherry red '53,
They purchased a customized automobile, which was a 1953 cherry red model.


They drove it down New Orleans to celebrate their anniversary
They traveled to New Orleans in their car to celebrate their wedding anniversary.


It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely madamoiselle
They renewed their wedding vows in New Orleans, where Pierre married the beautiful mademoiselle.


C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders used the phrase 'C'est la vie' again to show how unpredictable life can be, even for events like renewing wedding vows.


It was a teenage wedding, and the old folks wished them well
The song loops back to the beginning, where teenagers get married, and the elders wish them a happy married life.


You could see that Pierre did truly love the madamoiselle
The essence of love is eternal and remains unchanged in the face of time.


And now the young monsieur and madame have rung the chapel bell,
The couple rings the chapel bell, signifying that they will always be there for each other, no matter what.


C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
The elders repeat the phrase once again, reminding us that life is unpredictable, and we need to enjoy every moment to the fullest.




Contributed by Elijah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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