PAPA
Tom Poisson Lyrics


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Envie - de tout casser
De rien laisser debout
Envie de faire du mal
De hurler à genoux
C'est de te voir tourner en rond
Ca me colle chaque fois des frissons
On dirait qu'mon héro vacille
Qu'il touche - le fond

Tu sais plus où sont les mots
Pour passer tes colères
Les larves bouillent en toi
Volent ton vocabulaire
Ta vie est ample dépensée
Tu jongles pour que tes mots glissent
Et flatter celle qui fût jadis
Ta - fiancée

Oh Papa
J'te jure qu'on s'en ira
Au dessus des toits
Oh Papa
J'suis sûr que tu seras
Plus heureux là-bas

Pan pan pan pan

Envie - de dire encore
Que tu méritais pas
Comme si ça suffit pas
La vie et ses tracas
Tout chez toi devient maladroit
Ton regard n'accroche plus le mien
Si au moins on t'laissait le droit
D'arrêter - là

Oh Papa
J'te jure qu'on s'en ira
Au dessus des toits
Oh Papa
J'suis sûr que tu seras
Plus heureux là-bas

Pan pan pan pan

J'ai là sous les yeux
La photo de tes 20 ans
Paris en noir et blanc
Tu sifflotes en marchant
Et j'ai l'impression de me voir
Foulant les pavés parisiens
Insouciant et heureux
D'être en retard

Oh Papa
J'te jure qu'on s'en ira
Au dessus des toits
Oh Papa
J'suis sûr que tu seras
Plus heureux là-bas





Pan pan pan pan
Pan pan pan pan.

Overall Meaning

The song "Papa" by Tom Poisson is an emotional tribute to a father who is going through a tough time. The lyrics express the singer's desire to break everything and leave nothing standing, as well as wanting to hurt someone or scream. The singer is describing his father's behaviors and emotions, saying that he feels chills every time he sees his hero faltering and hitting rock bottom. The father is struggling to express his anger and emotions, and his life is being spent recklessly, while trying to hide his pain and make his words flow to appease his ex-fiancée. The song is an empathetic plea from the son to his father, promising to take him away from all of his troubles, up above the roofs, somewhere where he can be happy.


Throughout the song, the singer expresses his emotions using various figurative language, including the use of the word "larves" to represent the angry and frustrated ideas inside his father's head. He also talks about how all of his father's actions have become clumsy, and his gaze doesn't meet his anymore. However, the song takes a nostalgic turn towards the end, as the singer talks about how he has his father's picture from when he was 20 in Paris, and he sees a reflection of himself in it. The father, who once sang while walking around the city, is now seeking solace from his troubles in a different way. The song's closing lines consist of the repetition of the pan sound, going on until it fades out.


Interesting Facts:
- "Papa" was the first track on Tom Poisson's fourth album, "Bêtes de Scène," which was released in 2012.
- The song "Papa" was cited as one of the most moving songs written about a father in a French magazine.
- Tom Poisson was inspired to write "Papa" after seeing his father go through tough times in his life.
- The music video for the song features Tom Poisson playing the guitar while singing in the middle of a forest, with numerous instruments strewn around him.
- The song has been covered by several other artists, including Jérôme Minière, who performed the song live in Montreal in 2013.
- Tom Poisson has a unique and unconventional way of writing music, and he often combines poetry and humor in his lyrics.
- "Papa" was one of the songs that Tom Poisson played live during his successful "Bêtes de Scène" tour.
- The song has been praised for its relatability and emotional depth, as many people have had similar experiences with their parents.
- Tom Poisson's music is influenced by a diverse range of artists, including Jacques Brel, Pierre Perret, and Alain Souchon.
- The song's title, "Papa," is a common term used in the French language to refer to one's father, and it is also used as a term of endearment.


Chords (if known):
Unfortunately, the chords for this song could not be found as Tom Poisson has not published them online.


Line by Line Meaning

Envie - de tout casser
I feel like destroying everything


De rien laisser debout
So that nothing is left standing


Envie de faire du mal
I want to hurt someone


De hurler à genoux
To scream on my knees


C'est de te voir tourner en rond
It's seeing you going round in circles


Ca me colle chaque fois des frissons
That gives me chills every time


On dirait qu'mon héro vacille
It's like my hero is falling apart


Qu'il touche - le fond
And hitting rock bottom


Tu sais plus où sont les mots
You've lost your ability to express yourself


Pour passer tes colères
To convey your rage


Les larves bouillent en toi
Anger is eating you from inside out


Volent ton vocabulaire
It's even taken away your words


Ta vie est ample dépensée
You've completely wasted your life


Tu jongles pour que tes mots glissent
You're struggling to articulate


Et flatter celle qui fût jadis
To please who was once your fiancé


Ta - fiancée
Your - fiancé


J'te jure qu'on s'en ira
I promise we will leave


Au dessus des toits
Above the rooftops


J'suis sûr que tu seras
I'm sure you'll be


Plus heureux là-bas
Happier up there


Pan pan pan pan


De dire encore
I want to say it again


Que tu méritais pas
That you didn't deserve it


Comme si ça suffit pas
As if that's not enough


La vie et ses tracas
The struggles of life


Tout chez toi devient maladroit
Everything you do is awkward


Ton regard n'accroche plus le mien
Your eyes no longer meet mine


Si au moins on t'laissait le droit
If only you were allowed to


D'arrêter - là
Stop there


J'ai là sous les yeux
I have before me


La photo de tes 20 ans
The photo of you at 20


Paris en noir et blanc
Black and white Paris


Tu sifflotes en marchant
Whistling while walking


Et j'ai l'impression de me voir
And I feel like I'm seeing myself


Foulant les pavés parisiens
Walking the Parisian streets


Insouciant et heureux
Carefree and happy


D'être en retard
Being late




Contributed by Oliver C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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