William Sheller, born 1946 in Paris, France, is a french singer, pianist an… Read Full Bio ↴William Sheller, born 1946 in Paris, France, is a french singer, pianist and composer. He's most known for his famous song Un homme heureux. His works present various styles from popular and funny songs like Rock'n'Dollars to instrumental orchestration composition like "Lux Aeterna". He started learning music with Yves Margat, a former student of Gabriel Fauré. His first works for popular music started out with Barbara before he began his long solo career.

PARADE
William Sheller Lyrics

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Bonjour mes malheurs violons
Me revoilà chez elle
Dans un palais d' illusions
Parmi des fleurs nouvelles

Comme un pantin dont on tire les ficelles
Comme Polichinelle, me voyez-vous?
Une fois encore, je vais danser pour celle

Tendrement cruelle
Que j' avais fuie pour vous

Sonnez mes soleils clairons
De tous vos arcs -en-ciel
Dans un théâtre en carton
Je joue ma vie nouvelle

Comme un pantin que les fées ensorcellent
Ou une sentinelle au garde-à-vous
Une fois encore, je vais tomber pour celle
Tendrement cruelle
Que j'avais fuie pour vous

Comme un pantin qui se brûle aux chandelles
D'un feu éternel, me voyez-vous?
Une fois encore, je vais mourir pour celle

Tendrement cruelle
Que j'avais fuie pour vous

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to William Sheller's song 'Parade' speak of returning to a palace of illusions and flowers for someone who is both tender and cruel. The singer sees himself as a puppet whose strings are being pulled, and he dances and performs in this theatre of cardboard for this person once more, even though he had initially fled from them. The use of imagery such as "sun trumpets" and "rainbow bows" adds to the illusionary feeling of the place and the level of theatrics in the singer's performance.

There is a sense of being trapped in this cycle of love as the lyrics depict the singer falling and dying once more for this person. The use of the words "tendrement cruelle" (tenderly cruel) adds to this idea of being ensnared and trapped in an unhealthy relationship. The lyrics become a metaphor for love and the control that someone can have over another person, with the idea of being a puppet or sentinel in love. The words also display a melancholy tone throughout the song, with a sense of resignation and suffering.

Line by Line Meaning

Bonjour mes malheurs violons
Hello my sorrows violins

Me revoilà chez elle
Here I am, back at her place

Dans un palais d'illusions
In a palace of illusions

Parmi des fleurs nouvelles
Among new flowers

Comme un pantin dont on tire les ficelles
Like a puppet whose strings are pulled

Comme Polichinelle, me voyez-vous?
Like a Punch, can you see me?

Une fois encore, je vais danser pour celle
Once again, I will dance for her

Tendrement cruelle
Tenderly cruel

Que j'avais fuie pour vous
Whom I had fled for you

Sonnez mes soleils clairons
Ring my suns' trumpets

De tous vos arcs-en-ciel
With all your rainbows