In the two years following the release of Phylactery Factory, Casey Dienel and fellow band-mate Shawn Creeden moved from the east coast where they were previously based to Portland. During this time, Dienel was left without her piano where she recorded her sophomore album using various drum machines and synthesizers. On March 9, 2010, Kairos was released by Dead Oceans and the song Icarus has been featured in various commercials and films.
Requiem pour un con
White Hinterland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air-là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
À ta mémoire de scélérat
C'est un joli thème
Tu ne trouves pas
Semblable à toi-même
Pauvre con
Voici les orgues qui remettent ça
Faut que t'apprennes par coeur cet air-là
Que tu n'aies pas même une hésitation
Sur le requiem pour un con
Quoi tu me regardes
Tu n'apprécies pas
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
Qui te plaît pas
Pour moi c'est idem
Que ça te plaise ou non
Je te le rejoue quand même
Pauvre con
Écoute les orgues
Elles jouent pour toi
Il est terrible cet air-là
J'espère que tu aimes
C'est assez beau non
C'est le requiem pour un con
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
A ta mémoire de scélérat
Sur ta figure blême
Aux murs des prisons
J'inscrirai moi-même : " Pauvre con "
The lyrics of "Requiem Pour Un Con" by White Hinterland (a cover of Serge Gainsbourg's song) convey a sense of disdain towards someone who is referred to as a "pauvre con", which translates to "poor idiot" in English. The song starts with the sound of organs playing a mournful tune, while the singer addresses the person and tells them that the music is for them. The phrase "Il est terrible cet air-là" can be translated as "This air is terrible", but in French, it has a connotation of being awe-inspiring or overwhelming.
The lyrics reveal that the song was composed specifically for the person being addressed, who is described as a scoundrel or criminal ("mémoire de scélérat"). The singer mocks the person, saying that the song is a pretty theme and that it's similar to the person himself. The second verse contains a directive to learn the song by heart, so as not to hesitate when required to play it. The singer goes on to ask the person what they don't like about the song, stating that whether they approve or not, they'll still play it, and addresses the person again as "pauvre con".
Overall, the lyrics of "Requiem Pour Un Con" convey a sense of disdain and mockery towards the person being addressed, who is referred to as a "pauvre con". The music creates a sense of mourning, which contrasts with the mocking tone of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing in this song
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing specifically for you, the subject of this song
Il est terrible cet air-là
This melody is dreadful and ominous
J'espère que tu aimes
I hope you enjoy it regardless
C'est assez beau non
It's quite beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
This is the requiem for a jerk
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I wrote this song specifically for you
À ta mémoire de scélérat
In memory of your villainous deeds
C'est un joli thème
This is a lovely melody
Tu ne trouves pas
Don't you think so?
Semblable à toi-même
It's just like you, a wretched person
Pauvre con
You pitiful fool
Voici les orgues qui remettent ça
Here come the organs to play it again
Faut que t'apprennes par coeur cet air-là
You should memorize this melody
Que tu n'aies pas même une hésitation
So you don't even hesitate when hearing it
Sur le requiem pour un con
This is the requiem for a jerk
Quoi tu me regardes
What are you looking at me for?
Tu n'apprécies pas
You don't appreciate it, do you?
Mais qu'est-ce qu'y a là dedans
What is it about this song?
Qui te plaît pas
That you don't like?
Pour moi c'est idem
It's all the same to me
Que ça te plaise ou non
Whether you like it or not
Je te le rejoue quand même
I'll still play it for you again
Pauvre con
You pitiful fool
Écoute les orgues
Listen to the organs playing in this song
Elles jouent pour toi
They are playing specifically for you, the subject of this song
Il est terrible cet air-là
This melody is dreadful and ominous
J'espère que tu aimes
I hope you enjoy it regardless
C'est assez beau non
It's quite beautiful, isn't it?
C'est le requiem pour un con
This is the requiem for a jerk
Je l'ai composé spécialement pour toi
I wrote this song specifically for you
A ta mémoire de scélérat
In memory of your villainous deeds
Sur ta figure blême
On your pale face
Aux murs des prisons
On the prison walls
J'inscrirai moi-même
I will inscribe it myself
Pauvre con
You pitiful fool
Contributed by Austin G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.