Fallen for France Posted by Tim Hildreth on Sep 28, 2021 in Culture, Idioms, Language, Music
Once again, the calendar has turned towards l’automne1fall. Days are getting cooler (and shorter!) and soon les feuilles vont commencer à tomber des arbres2the leaves will begin falling from the trees. Before we leave l’été3summer completely behind though, let’s revisit one more great summer song.
[cc0] Sergey Katyshkin https://www.pexels.com/fr-fr/photo/lumineux-mode-rouge-gens-6978613/
Fallen for France
I’ve said it before, Étienne Daho’s Tombé pour la France is “the first French song I fell in love with, and it’s still one of my favorites”. And now 36 years later, it is still a perennial summer favorite en boîte. I actually can’t believe that in 5 years of blogging for Transparent language, I haven’t given it more than one mention!
| Be-bop, pieds nus sous la lune, sans foi ni toit ni fortune | Be-bop, barefoot beneath the moon, without faith/hopeor a roof or luck |
| Je passe mon temps à faire n’importe quoi | I spend my time goofing off |
| Sur les pistes, noires de préférence | On the dance floor, preferably dark |
| Quand le démon de la danse me prend le corps, | When the demon of dance takes me, |
| Je fais n’importe quoi | I get silly |
| Tout va bien | It’s all good |
| Sur un jerk électronique, se nouent des amours ludiques | Dancing to electric pop, crushes form |
| Be-bop, la vie c’est n’importe quoi | Be-bop live is ridiculous |
| C’est la fête | It’s a party |
| C’est psychédélique, me demande pas c’que j’fabrique | It’s psychedelic, I ask myself what I’m doing |
| Je te répondrais n’importe quoi | I would answer nonsense |
| J’en sais rien | I have no clue |
| Dum-di-là, je m’étourdis, ça ne suffit pas | Dum-Di-la, I make myself dizzy, that’s not enough |
| À m’faire oublier que t’es plus là | To make me forget that your not here |
| J’ai gardé cette photo sur moi, | I kept that picture with me, |
| Ce photomaton que t’aimais pas | The photo booth picture that you didn’t like |
| Si tu r’viens n’attends pas | If you come back don’t expect |
| qu’au bout d’une corde mon corps balance | To find me hanging from a rope |
| Be-bop, pieds nus sous la lune, | Be-bop, barefoot beneath the moon, |
| sans foi ni toi ni personne | Without faith, without you or anyone else |
| Je crois bien que j’f’rais n’importe quoi | I think I really might do anything |
| Pour te voir | To see you |
| Cinq minutes encore | Five minutes more |
| à Sables d’or près des dunes | A The Golden Sands near the dunes |
| Je te raconterai n’importe quoi | I would tell you anything |
| Ce sera bien | It would be good |
| Dum-di-là, je m’étourdis ça ne suffit pas | Dum-Di-la, I make myself dizzy, that’s not enough |
| À m’faire oublier que t’es plus là | To make me forget that your not here |
| J’ai gardé cette photo sur moi, | I kept that picture with me, |
| Ce photomaton que t’aimais pas | The photo booth picture that you didn’t like |
| Si tu r’viens n’attends pas | If you come back don’t expect |
| que je sois tombé pour la France | That I’ve died in the name of France |
| [Refrain jusqu’à la fin … ] | [Chorus to the end …] |
‘Tombé pour la France’ (ainsi que ‘tombé pour la patrie’ et ‘mort pour la France’) are expressions that come from death in battle. Soldiers (des soldats) who lost their lives and didn’t come home after war are said to have fallen for or died for their country (la patrie). In the context of this song, once could imagine a guy telling his petite amie5or copine; girlfriend that she shouldn’t expect to find that he’s run off to join the French Foreign Legion (in hopes of dying in battle!) over her.
What a legacy
I love the absolute 80’s-ness of the video for this song. In the early days of video TV, this (and this6Anyone recognize the gold bustier that lead singer Catherine Ringer wears in a few scenes in this video? If you know, tell me more in the comments. and this) captured a certain je ne sais quoi of French pop culture.
And now all these years later, contemporary artist are celebrating this great song. In the last few days I’ve discovered not une, not deux, but trois great reprises (covers). What about you? Which do you like the best? The classic … or one of these remakes? Let me know in the comments!
- 1fall
- 2the leaves will begin falling from the trees
- 3summer
- 4France falls completely for Daho, Tombé pour la France and it’s maxi remix burn up the dance floor, and his first tour is sold out (lit. plays to closed ticket counters)
- 5or copine; girlfriend
- 6Anyone recognize the gold bustier that lead singer Catherine Ringer wears in a few scenes in this video? If you know, tell me more in the comments.
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About the Author: Tim Hildreth
Since my first trip to France at 16, I have been a passionate francophile. I love the language, food, music, art, people, and more that make France and la Francophonie in general such an amazing part of our global community. Having lived in France and studied the language and culture for over 35 years, it is my great pleasure to be able to share a little bit of my deep love with you through this blog.
Comments:
Louise:
Nazca! Tho his original was great, they can’t be beat.
Tim Hildreth:
@Louise I liked that one too… even if I will always love the orignal! Merci!