Sympathique
The Gypsy Queens Lyrics

The lyrics of The Gypsy Queens’ song “Sympathique” convey a sense of confinement, anxiety, and detachment from the world around the singer. The verse “Ma chambre a la forme d'une cage” (My room has the shape of a cage) describes the singer’s living conditions; her room is cramped and confining. The next line “Le soleil passe son bras par la fenêtre” (The sun passes its arm through the window) creates a sense of contrast between the outside world, which is full of light and hope, and the singer’s internal world, which is dark and oppressive.

The following verses express a desire to escape from the shackles of routine and responsibility, as the singer declares that she does not want to work or eat; she just wants to forget about her problems and smoke a cigarette. However, she also reflects on the fact that she had experienced love at some point in her life, but now even a single flower makes her sick. The chorus of the song repeats the same refrain: “Je ne veux pas travailler, je ne veux pas déjeuner, je veux seulement l'oublier, et puis je fume” (I don’t want to work, I don’t want to eat, I just want to forget and smoke).

The final verse highlights the tension between the singer’s desire to be sympathetic and her inability to connect with the world around her. She realizes that it is “magnifique” (magnificent) to be sympathetic, but she does not quite know how to express it. The song ends with the singer continuing to smoke and attempting to forget her troubles. Overall, the lyrics suggest a sense of alienation and detachment that many people can relate to, particularly those who have felt trapped in their own lives and unable to connect with others.