Totem
Zazie & Paolo Nutini Lyrics
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La jambe
L'esquisse
La cuisse
Un bras
De fer
Un coeur
De pierre
Sur lui
S'abîment
Mes mains
Qui saignent
Dressées comme un totem
Je sculpte
Je taille
J'invente
Cet homme
Qui m'aime
Qui m'aime
Plus fort
Encore
Plus haut
Le corps
Plus dur
Plus chaud
Mon âme
De Sqauw
Façonne
Cet homme
Rêvé
Caresse
L'idée
Dressée comme un totem
Je sculpte
Je taille
Un temple à l'homme que j'aime
Que j'aime
Encore
Je prie
J'attends
L'esprit
Du vent
La vie
Pénètre
En moi
La vie
Peut être
Dressée comme un totem
Je sculpte
Je taille
Je souffle à l'homme que j'aime
Enfin...
Viens...
Viens...
Viens...
Viens...
The song "Totem" by Zazie & Paolo Nutini portrays the act of sculpting and shaping the ideal partner, representing the passion and commitment one puts into a relationship. The lyrics begin with describing body parts such as feet, legs, sketches, thighs, arms, heart, and hands. The singer expresses her devotion to this man she is shaping, even if it costs her pain and wounds from her sculpting endeavors.
Throughout the song, she highlights her unrelenting efforts to refine the man she loves by crafting his body to perfection. The singer adds that her soul is like that of a Swan, alluding to the strength and loyalty of the bird. She builds a temple to this man, which represents the dedication that people sometimes have to build a healthy relationship. In the end, she calls for her lover, wishing for this imagined person to come to life and take her away from solitude.
Overall, the song conveys the idea that passionate love can inspire individuals to strive for perfection and bring out the best in themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Le pied
Starting small, I begin with his foot
La jambe
Moving upward, his leg takes shape
L'esquisse
Sketching out the rough outline of his form
La cuisse
Continuing upward, his thigh comes into view
Un bras
His arm is added to complete the figure
De fer
His arm is strong, like iron
Un coeur
But there's something missing within him - a heart of stone
De pierre
Despite my efforts, I can't seem to bring him to life
Mes mains
I work tirelessly with my hands
Sur lui
Sculpting his form with an intimate touch
S'abîment
My hands become calloused and worn from the effort
Mes mains
Despite the pain, I keep going
Qui saignent
Blood trickles down my fingers
Dressées comme un totem
My arms are raised, like a totem to love
Je sculpte
I become lost in my work
Je taille
Each cut and scrape brings him closer to life
J'invente
I'm creating a man out of clay, from my own imagination
Cet homme
This man, who only exists in my mind, becomes my obsession
Qui m'aime
Because he's the only one who will ever truly love me
Plus fort
I push myself harder
Encore
Again and again
Plus haut
Reaching for the sky
Le corps
The body I'm creating
Plus dur
Needs to be stronger
Plus chaud
More passionate
Mon âme
My soul pours into my hands
De Sqauw
As if I'm a native american spirit guide bestowing life upon this man
Façonne
Shaping him with all of my being
Cet homme
Until he is the only thing that matters to me
Rêvé
This man, only existing in my dreams, becomes my reality
Caresse
With a soft touch
L'idée
I bring the idea of him to life
Dressée comme un totem
My totem to love is almost complete
Je sculpte
I continue to form and shape him
Je taille
Sculpting away the imperfections until he's perfect
Un temple à l'homme que j'aime
Creating a temple to the man that only exists in my mind
Encore
I work tirelessly
Je prie
Praying to the spirits for help
J'attends
Waiting for inspiration
L'esprit
The spirit of love
Du vent
As if it's carried by the wind
La vie
Breathes life into my work
Pénètre
Filling him with vitality
En moi
And also within myself
Peut être
Life itself can become a totem
Dressée comme un totem
I watch in awe as my work comes to life
Je sculpte
I keep working, never wanting to stop
Je taille
Perfecting and fine-tuning every little detail
Je souffle à l'homme que j'aime
Breathing life into the man that only exists in my mind
Enfin...
Finally...
Viens...
Come...
Viens...
Come and love me...
Viens...
Please, please come...
Viens...
Be real, be mine, come to me...
Viens...
Let my totem to love be complete...
Contributed by Keira I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Basil Brush
there's hope for our generation after all. Thank you Paolo!
Madelyn Dutt
...and it's so easy to love Paolo Nutini...
Del Taco
Madelyn Dutt that’s so true, I’m with you😆
Derek S
I was listening to this when I saw Paolo swanning about the west end of Paisley.
What a song! 😎
Arnaud Degardin
A great french songwriter woman & A perfect scottish singer = A MAGICAL SONG !!
Arnaud Degardin
A mon avis Zazie a été séduite avant nous par le talent pur de Paolo... et à eu le flair et le charme de l'invité à chanter une très belle ballade... simple, vraie, profonde, .... du Zazie ;-) !
QTpiePlayz
i have the zazie album, and from this song became a fan of paolo. amazing original vocal talent!!!!!!!
DandaJune17
1:25 look at her smile :D he's got such an amazing voice, just magic
Jennifer Padre
très belle chanson et très belles voix !
ML_Rvs
Just brilliant!! I love it!! J'adOre cette chansOn!!