Marseilles
The Angels Lyrics


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Bought me a box of french cigars
Bought me a black beret
Get my french from a girl next door
Teaching me night and day
Got me thinking 'bout the south of France
Vis-a-vis vous
Pack my suitcase, take a chance
Got nothing to lose

Gimme the sound of the rolling dice
Gimme a whiskey, don't think twice
Deal me the card that takes my blues away
Take me away to Marseilles

Fast train, jet plane, money to burn
Don't ask no reasons why
Drinkin' champagne, playin' cool
Don't even have to try

Gimme the sound of the rolling dice
Gimme a whiskey, don't think twice




Deal me the card that takes my blues away
Take me away to Marseilles

Overall Meaning

The Angels' song "Marseilles" is about escapism and a desire for adventure. The singer is looking to escape his mundane existence by indulging in French culture and eventually traveling to the southern French city of Marseilles. He speaks of buying French cigars and a black beret, and learning French from a girl next door. The references to rolling dice and whiskey suggest a desire for risk-taking and excitement. The idea of being dealt a card that takes his blues away speaks to a sense of dissatisfaction with everyday life, and the longing to be transported to a different place where he can live freely and without inhibition.


The lyrics paint a picture of someone who is searching for something more in life, a person who has grown tired of the ordinary and wants to live with abandon. The references to fast trains, jet planes and money to burn suggest a life of luxury and indulgence. The line "Don't even have to try" speaks to the carefree attitude the singer desires. The chorus, which repeats the desire to be taken "away to Marseilles," reinforces the idea that this is a song about seeking out adventure and excitement.


Line by Line Meaning

Bought me a box of french cigars
Purchased a box of cigars made in France


Bought me a black beret
Acquired a hat, specifically a black beret


Get my french from a girl next door
Learning the French language with the help of a female neighbor


Teaching me night and day
Constantly instructing and guiding me


Got me thinking 'bout the south of France
Inspired me to contemplate the region in the southern part of France


Vis-a-vis vous
Face to face with you (French phrase)


Pack my suitcase, take a chance
Packing my luggage and risking something in the process


Got nothing to lose
Not having anything to risk or lose


Gimme the sound of the rolling dice
Desiring the sound of the rolling dice in a game


Gimme a whiskey, don't think twice
Wishing for a whiskey without any hesitation


Deal me the card that takes my blues away
Deal me a card that will alleviate my sadness or anxiety


Take me away to Marseilles
Transport me to Marseilles (a city in France)


Fast train, jet plane, money to burn
Means of fast transportation and lots of disposable income


Don't ask no reasons why
Do not inquire about the reasons or motives behind my actions


Drinkin' champagne, playin' cool
Sipping champagne while maintaining a nonchalant demeanor


Don't even have to try
Not even needing to put forth any effort




Contributed by Landon M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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