Vilain Pingouin is a rock band from Quebec. There have been many changes in… Read Full Bio ↴Vilain Pingouin is a rock band from Quebec. There have been many changes in the band. At the start, there was:
Rudy Caya (Singer, Song writer and Guitarist)
Frédérique Bonicard (Bassist)
Rodolph Fortier (Guitarist)
Michel Vaillancourt (Drummer)
Claude Sampson (Mandoline, Harp, Guitar)

Then, Fred left and Michel Bertrand (Guitarist) took his place. Later, Michel Bertrand and Rodoplh Fortier left the band. Michel Turcotte and Alain Godmer joined up. Rudy Caya and Michel Vaillancourt both played in English bands before, and one day, decided to form the Vilain Pingouins. Vilain Pingouin was created in 1986, with the first song and video clip "François". After that, they made a new hit called "Salut salaud" that quickly made it to the top.

Te retourne pas
Vilain Pingouin Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Je regarde dans tes yeux, et tout ce que je vois c'est folie.
Et je dois essayer d'y pénétrer.
Toi, tu deviens fou et tu essaies d'en finir.
Un dernier regard avant de repartir.
Mais j'te dis:
Te retourne pas.
J'ai plein de questions, mais pas de réponses
pour toi, toi, pour toi, toi, pour toi... toi, toi, pour toi...

Et chaque jour p'tit à p'tit tu disparais.
Mais qu'est-ce que tu peux dire quand personne ne t'écoute?
Je suis désolé qu'on t'ait pas invité.
C'était pas ton genre de soirée.
Refrain
Pourquoi chaque fois c'est toujours la même chose?
Toi tu t'en vas, et moi je reste planté là.
Mais tu dois rester, mais tu dois rester, moi je veux t'aider, allez faut
rester.
Allez assied-toi, fais-le pour moi, allez écoute-moi que je te dis:
Te retourne pas.
J'ai plein de questions, mais pas de réponses
pour toi, toi, pour toi, toi pour toi...
Et il faut rester, moi je veux t'aider,
allez faut rester, moi je veux t'aider.

Reste là là là là là, Reste là là là là là,
Reste là là là là là, Reste là là là là là...

Overall Meaning

The song "Te retourne pas" by Vilain Pingouin is a haunting ballad that explores the feelings of desperation and sorrow that arise in the midst of mental illness. The lyrics describe the singer's attempts to reach out to someone who is struggling with their own inner demons, and their inability to do so due to the overwhelming nature of the illness.

The opening line, "Je regarde dans tes yeux, et tout ce que je vois c'est folie" ("I look into your eyes, and all I see is madness"), sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is trying to connect with the other person, to see beyond the surface of their illness, but can only see the chaos that lies underneath. The lyrics go on to describe the other person's attempts to "en finir" ("finish it") and the singer's feelings of helplessness and frustration in the face of their struggles.

Despite the sadness of the lyrics, the song is also infused with a sense of hope, as the singer implores the other person to stay and promises to help them fight their illness. The repeated refrain of "Te retourne pas" ("Don't turn around") serves as a plea for the other person to stay and face their struggles head-on, with the singer by their side.

Line by Line Meaning

Je regarde dans tes yeux, et tout ce que je vois c'est folie.
I can see that you are losing control, and it scares me.

Et je dois essayer d'y pénétrer.
I want to understand what's going on inside your mind.

Toi, tu deviens fou et tu essaies d'en finir.
You're struggling and trying to end it all.

Un dernier regard avant de repartir.
This might be the last time I ever see you.

Mais j'te dis: Te retourne pas.
Please don't go, stay with me a little longer.

J'ai plein de questions, mais pas de réponses pour toi, toi, pour toi, toi, pour toi... toi, toi, pour toi...
I have so many questions but no answers, and I need to know the truth from you.

Et chaque jour p'tit à p'tit tu disparais.
Every day, bit by bit, you're slipping away from me.

Mais qu'est-ce que tu peux dire quand personne ne t'écoute?
What can you say when nobody is listening to you?

Je suis désolé qu'on t'ait pas invité. C'était pas ton genre de soirée.
I'm sorry you weren't invited, it wasn't the kind of party that suits you.

Refrain Pourquoi chaque fois c'est toujours la même chose? Toi tu t'en vas, et moi je reste planté là.
Why does this keep happening? You leave, and I'm left standing here alone.

Mais tu dois rester, mais tu dois rester, moi je veux t'aider, allez faut rester.
Please stay, I want to help you get through this.

Allez assied-toi, fais-le pour moi, allez écoute-moi que je te dis: Te retourne pas.
Take a seat, do it for me, and listen to what I have to say before leaving.

J'ai plein de questions, mais pas de réponses pour toi, toi, pour toi, toi pour toi...
I still have so many unanswered questions for you.

Et il faut rester, moi je veux t'aider, allez faut rester, moi je veux t'aider.
You need to stay, I want to be there for you and help you through this.

Reste là là là là là, Reste là là là là là, Reste là là là là là, Reste là là là là là...
Just stay with me, don't leave me all alone.

Contributed by Cole I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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