His first album, Trente Arpents, is released in 1999, followed by Bordel Ambiant in 2001. He becomes well-known in Quebec by 2003 with the release of his third album, Chacun Dans Son Espace. On August 29, 2006, his fourth album, Le Repère Tranquille, is released. A first single, Je pars à pied, gets immediately put into the regular rotations of many radio stations across all Quebec. Many other singles from this album (Café Lézard, Un quart de piasse, Je n'attends plus rien, Le bord de l'eau) also get frequent airplay.
Vallières receives the Prix Félix-Leclerc de la chanson in 2005, and the Prix Gilles-Vigneault in 2007.
Official website: http://www.vincentvallieres.com/
Un quart de piasse
Vincent Vallières Lyrics
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Un buck ben flat un fond de scotch
Ma toune de Dylan qui part
L'éternel bilan qui r'part
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Un quart de piasse dans le téléphone
Six coups qui sonnent pis y'a personne
Encore ma vie qui est en retard
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Y'est temps de retourner dans le rang
Le p'tit coeur en plan
La vraie vie de l'autre bord
Je l'aime ben trop fort
Et malgré tous les remords
Malgré les détours bizarres
Je garderai ton sourire quequ'part
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Un quart de piasse
Dans le fond d'une poche
Lancé d'ins airs juste pour la luck
Et pis j'm'en retourne de mon bord
On peut pas refaire l'histoire
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Ça sert pus à rien
The lyrics of Vincent Vallières's song Un quart de piasse describe a sense of yearning and resignation in a failed relationship. The opening lines describe the singer's actions in a bar, putting a quarter into a jukebox and ordering a shot of scotch. He listens to a Bob Dylan song with a sense of nostalgia and watches as the bartender starts a balance sheet, indicating the end of the night. The singer then calls someone on the phone, but there's no answer. The repetition of "ça sert plus à rien de se voir" (it's useless to see each other anymore) is an indication that the relationship is over and there's no point in trying to continue it.
The lyrics speak of a romantic regret, as the singer reflects on the past and the mistakes that were made. He knows that it's useless to try to fix what has happened, and instead, he just sits there at the bar, alone, with his thoughts. There is a sense of resignation and inevitability to the lyrics, as if the singer knows that he was meant to crash and burn in this relationship. The final lines of "ça sert plus à rien" is a clear indication that the relationship is over and there's no point in pretending otherwise.
Line by Line Meaning
Un quart de piasse dans le juke box
Inserting a quarter into the jukebox to listen to music in hopes of finding some solace
Un buck ben flat un fond de scotch
Drinking alone, reminiscing about the past with a bottle of scotch that's almost empty
Ma toune de Dylan qui part
The music of Bob Dylan resonating with one's soul and providing comfort
L'éternel bilan qui r'part
The constant evaluation of one's life and decisions, but feeling stuck and unable to move forward
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Realizing that continuing to meet or communicate with someone is futile or unproductive
Un quart de piasse dans le téléphone
Dialing a number with only a quarter in hopes of reaching someone, but no one picks up
Six coups qui sonnent pis y'a personne
Hearing the phone ring multiple times, but no one answers, adding to the sense of isolation
Encore ma vie qui est en retard
Feeling like one's life is always behind, and unable to catch up with the rest of the world
Tout seul à ben trop le savoir
Knowing too well that feeling lonely and isolated is a personal struggle
Y'est temps de retourner dans le rang
Recognizing the need to conform to societal norms and expectations
Le p'tit coeur en plan
Feeling vulnerable and exposed with a heart that's been hurt before
La vraie vie de l'autre bord
Reflecting on the possibility of having a different, more fulfilling life but accepting the reality of the present
Je l'aime ben trop fort
Admitting to loving someone deeply, despite being unable to continue the relationship
Et malgré tous les remords
Despite feeling regret about past actions or decisions
Malgré les détours bizarres
Despite taking odd or unusual paths in life
Je garderai ton sourire quequ'part
Holding onto a memory of someone's smile, even if the relationship cannot continue
Un quart de piasse
A small amount of money, emphasizing the value of simple things in life
Dans le fond d'une poche
In the depths of a pocket, representing a hidden treasure or hope
Lancé d'ins airs juste pour la luck
Tossing a coin in the air, hoping for a stroke of luck or guidance in life
Et pis j'm'en retourne de mon bord
Leaving behind one's isolated thoughts and returning to reality
On peut pas refaire l'histoire
Acknowledging that the past cannot be changed and must be accepted
Ça sert plus à rien de se voir
Continuing to meet or communicate with someone is futile or unproductive
Ça sert pus à rien
It is no longer useful or productive to continue with a certain action or behavior
Lyrics © Les Éditions Trente Arpents
Written by: VALLIERES VINCENT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind