In 1972, Yves Duteil had first minor hit with a song called "Virages" (English: "Turns"). Included on his 1974 debut album L'Écritoire, it shares fame with such songs as the title track and from his next album, "J'attends" (1976), "Tisserand", "Les Batignolles" (an area of Paris), etc.
His 1977 album "Tarentelle" which will become his most classic, including not only his most famous song ("Prendre Un Enfant") but also such songs as the title track, "Le Petit Pont de Bois", "Le Mur De La Prison D'En Face" which have all become classicss.
In 2001, Duteil released "Sans Attendre", more introspective than ever and with much modesty, he tackles some aspects of his life in a way that can bring a deep sight on life, understood in the light of spiritual love. In a simple way, he sings about friendship in tough times ("Les Gestes Délicats"), compassion for a father who never showed him that much affection, which never prevents Duteil to answer with love and sings all the kind words he found to his father, no matter what his childhood was like ("Lettre À Mon Père"). And probably the most touching song: "Pour Que Tu Ne Meures Pas", which deals with Yves Duteil's wife's disease.
Fais moi des ailes
Yves Duteil Lyrics
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Les poules et les chouettes en ont bien, elles
Et les tourterelles et les йtourneaux
Et quelques poissons dans l'eau.
Suivre les йtoiles au bout du ciel!
De plumes ou de toile, fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme aux moulins а vent.
Et la Terre, notre Terre, notre bonne vieille Terre
A fini de m'йtonner vraiment.
Il me faut de l'air, de l'air et du vent.
Toi qui fais les bкtes, les hirondelles
Et les alouettes, fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme aux tapis volants.
Suivre les nuages, les arcs-en-ciel
Et les oies sauvages! Fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme а mon cerf-volant.
Voir le soleil d'un peu plus prиs qu'avant
Et la Terre, notre Terre, notre bonne vieille Terre
Avec ses mers et ses ocйans!
Il me faut de l'air, de l'air et du vent.
Toi qui fais les bкtes, fais-moi des ailes.
Les poules et les chouettes en ont bien, elles
Et les tourterelles et les йtourneaux
Et quelques poissons dans l'eau.
Toi qui fais les bкtes, fais-moi des ailes.
Les poules et les chouettes en ont bien, elles
Et les tourterelles et les йtourneaux
Et quelques poissons dans l'eau.
In Yves Duteil's song "Fais moi des ailes," the singer is pleading to the one who created the beasts to make wings for them. The song is about the singer's desire to fly, to escape the limits of the earth and see the world from a different perspective. The first stanza refers to the fact that all animals, from chickens to fish, have the ability to fly or swim in the air or water, and the singer is asking to be given that same freedom. He mentions how the earth no longer surprises him and how he longs for air and wind.
In the second stanza, the singer asks again for wings, this time specifically mentioning birds like swallows and larks, as well as mythical creatures like flying carpets. He wants to follow the clouds, rainbows, and wild geese, and see the sun up close. The third stanza repeats the first, with the singer begging for wings like the creatures he sees around him.
The song is about the human longing for freedom, for the ability to rise above the mundane and see the world from a new perspective. It is also about the power of imagination and the desire to escape reality. The singer's repeated plea, "Fais-moi des ailes" (Make me wings), is a plea to break free of the constraints of the earth and soar in the sky.
Line by Line Meaning
Toi qui fais les bкtes, fais-moi des ailes.
Addressing the creator, the singer implores to be granted wings like those of the birds and fishes.
Les poules et les chouettes en ont bien, elles
Pointing out that birds like hens and owls already have wings, the singer emphasizes his need for wings too.
Et les tourterelles et les йtourneaux
Et quelques poissons dans l'eau.
Enumerating examples of winged creatures, the singer mentions doves, swifts as well as a few fish species that have wings instead of fins.
Suivre les йtoiles au bout du ciel!
Expressing a desire to soar towards the uppermost limit of the sky, the singer wishes to follow the night sky's stars that seem out of reach.
De plumes ou de toile, fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme aux moulins а vent.
Whether made of feathers or canvas, the singer asks the creator to grant him wings like those of doves, seagulls, and even windmills.
Les pieds me brыlent depuis bien longtemps
Et la Terre, notre Terre, notre bonne vieille Terre
A fini de m'йtonner vraiment.
Il me faut de l'air, de l'air et du vent.
The singer yearns for the freedom of the skies since his feet have been firmly planted on the earth for far too long. With the world no longer surprising him, the singer feels the need to breathe in the fresh air and feel the wind in his wings.
Les hirondelles et les alouettes, fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme aux tapis volants.
Repeating his plea, the singer invokes the creator to make him wings like those of swallows, larks, seagulls, or even flying carpets.
Suivre les nuages, les arcs-en-ciel
Et les oies sauvages! Fais-moi des ailes
Comme aux tourterelles, comme aux goйlands
Et comme а mon cerf-volant.
Expanding his desire to explore the sky, the singer specifically mentions wanting to follow clouds, rainbows, and wild geese as well. Once again requesting wings like those of doves, seagulls, or his own kite.
Voir le soleil d'un peu plus prиs qu'avant
Et la Terre, notre Terre, notre bonne vieille Terre
Avec ses mers et ses ocйans!
Il me faut de l'air, de l'air et du vent.
The singer seeks to witness the sun up close and marvel at the beauty of the earth with its seas and oceans from a bird's eye view. This goes back to his need for air and wind so he can soar up to the sky.
Toi qui fais les bкtes, fais-moi des ailes.
Les poules et les chouettes en ont bien, elles
Et les tourterelles et les йtourneaux
Et quelques poissons dans l'eau.
Repeating his opening lines in the end, the singer continues to implore the creator's help in granting him wings, pointing out again that birds as well as fish already have them.
Contributed by Mackenzie W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.