Favourite Song
Vincent Delerm featuring Neil Hannon Lyrics

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I was a fan and I still really am
Singing along to my favourite song
Greatest thing I've heard
But I didn't get a word

J'ai écouté toutes ces chansons françaises
Je ne savais pas ce qu'est une javanaise
Un poinçonneur des lilas

Ça veut dire quoi

I studied the booklet and searched for a sign
Made up a meaning for every line
And a four letter word
L.o.v.e.

J'ai écouté allongé sur mon lit
Avec le temps alors tout s'évanouit
C'est quoi un cheval fourbu
J'ai jamais su

Oh mon amour
Je t'aime toujours
Tu es partie
Mon bonheur aussi

I was a fan and I still really am
Singing along to my favourite song

Une poupée de cire
Qu'est-ce que ça voulait dire

Overall Meaning

Vincent Delerm featuring Neil Hannon's song "Favourite Song" is a nostalgic track that reflects on the experience of growing up with songs that we adore but may not fully comprehend. The first verse describes the feeling of being a fan and having a preferred song that one sings along to, considering it the greatest thing they've heard. However, despite the love for the song, they haven't grasped the meaning behind its lyrics.

The second verse goes on to recount the experience of listening to the French chansons that the singer enjoyed, but struggled to understand. They mention not knowing the meaning of certain phrases and words in the songs, such as "une javanaise" and "poinçonneur des lilas." This leads the singer to wonder what all these unknown phrases and words mean.

The chorus expresses the singer's feelings of longing for a past love, which is further emphasized in the final verse when they mention listening to the songs while lying on their bed. The line "une poupée de cire, qu'est-ce que ça voulait dire" translates to "a doll made of wax, what did it mean?" which highlights the struggle to understand the lyrics of songs that one loves.

Overall, "Favourite Song" is a song that many can relate to, as it speaks to the joys and challenges of growing up with music that we cherish but may not fully comprehend.

Line by Line Meaning

I was a fan and I still really am
I have been and still am a devoted admirer of music

Singing along to my favourite song
I join in singing my beloved tune

Greatest thing I've heard
This song is the most remarkable melody I have come across

But I didn't get a word
I failed to comprehend the lyrics of the music

J'ai écouté toutes ces chansons françaises
I have listened to all these French songs

Je ne savais pas ce qu'est une javanaise
I did not know what a 'javanaise' is

Un poinçonneur des lilas
What does a 'poinçonneur des lilas' mean?

Ça veut dire quoi
What does it mean?

I studied the booklet and searched for a sign
I examined the album notes and looked for a clue

Made up a meaning for every line
I created a definition for every verse

And a four letter word
Also, the word 'love'