J'veux un chien – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: YELLE
• Album: L'Ère du Verseau

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the catchy electro-pop sounds of Yelle's "J'veux un chien" and delve into its layered meanings. This song offers a unique blend of French-language expression and modern electronic beats, making it a vibrant entry point for discovering Yelle's artistic style and lyrical depth.

[English]

I want a dog

Someone who messes around

Who doesn't only think about themselves

I'd be that man's bitch

Understand me well

But not for a fool

If I leave you in a corner

It's the ball you're giving me

I want a dog

An animal

A male friend

Someone good

I want a dog

An animal

Who hurts me

But does it well

I want a travel buddy

I know you don't give a damn

You can ruin everything in one go

You can ruin everything in one go

I want a travel buddy

Someone who doesn't give a damn

Who can drop everything in one go

Who can drop everything in one go

I want a dog

An animal

A male friend

Someone good

I want a dog

A male friend

An animal

Who makes me feel good

I want a travel buddy

I know you don't give a damn

You can ruin everything in one go

You can ruin everything in one go

I want a travel buddy

Someone who doesn't give a damn

Who can drop everything in one go

Who can drop everything in one go

I want a travel buddy

I know you don't give a damn

You can ruin everything in one go

You can ruin everything in one go

I want a travel buddy

Someone who doesn't give a damn

Who can drop everything in one go

Who can drop everything in one go

I want a dog

An animal

A male friend

Someone good

I want a dog

An animal

Who hurts me

But does it well

...

[French]

J'veux un chien

Quelqu'un qui déconne

Qui pense pas qu'à sa pomme

J'serais la chienne de cet homme

Prends-moi bien

Mais pas pour une conne

Si j'te laisse dans un coin

C'est la balle que tu m'donnes

J'veux un chien

Un animal

Un ami mâle

Quelqu'un de bien

J'veux un chien

Un animal

Qui m'fait du mal

Mais qui l'fait bien

J'veux un compagnon de route

Je sais qu't'en as rien à foutre

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

J'veux un compagnon de route

Quelqu'un qu'en a rien à foutre

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

J'veux un chien

Un animal

Un ami mâle

Quelqu'un de bien

J'veux un chien

Un ami mâle

Un animal

Qui m'fait du bien

J'veux un compagnon de route

Je sais qu't'en as rien à foutre

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

J'veux un compagnon de route

Quelqu'un qu'en a rien à foutre

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

J'veux un compagnon de route

Je sais qu't'en as rien à foutre

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

Tu peux tout gâcher d'un coup

J'veux un compagnon de route

Quelqu'un qu'en a rien à foutre

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

Qui peut tout lâcher d'un coup

J'veux un chien

Un animal

Un ami mâle

Quelqu'un de bien

J'veux un chien

Un animal

Qui m'fait du mal

Mais qui l'fait bien

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
chien /ʃjɛ̃/ A1	noun - dog
animal /a.ni.mal/ A2	noun - animal
amitié /a.mi.ti.e/ B1	noun - friendship
mal /mal/ A2	noun - bad, harm
route /ʁut/ A2	noun - route, way, path
gâcher /ɡa.ʃe/ B2	verb - to spoil, to mess up
lâcher /la.ʃe/ B2	verb - to let go, to release, to drop
compagnon /kɔ̃.pa.ɲɔ̃/ B1	noun - companion, partner
mâle /mal/ A2	adjective / noun - male, masculine (adjective); male (noun)
bien /bjɛ̃/ A1	adjective / adverb - good, well

Key Grammar Structures

• J'veux un chien

  ➔ Contraction of 'Je veux'

  ➔ 'J'veux' is a colloquial contraction of 'Je veux' (I want). It's very common in spoken French, especially in informal contexts. The apostrophe replaces the missing 'e'.

• Qui pense pas qu'à sa pomme

  ➔ Negative construction with 'ne...que' implied

  ➔ The phrase 'Qui pense pas qu'à sa pomme' literally translates to 'Who doesn't think but only about his apple'. It uses a negative construction ('pas') but implies a restrictive meaning. The implied full sentence could be 'Qui ne pense qu'à sa pomme', meaning 'Who only thinks about himself/herself' (being selfish). 'Sa pomme' is a colloquial expression for 'himself/herself'.

• J'serais la chienne de cet homme

  ➔ Conditional future (future simple in a hypothetical statement)

  ➔ 'J'serais' is the conditional form of the verb 'être' (to be). It expresses a hypothetical situation. The sentence means 'I would be the dog of this man'. This implies a willingness to be submissive or loyal.

• Prends-moi bien

  ➔ Imperative mood (prendre)

  ➔ 'Prends-moi bien' is an imperative sentence, meaning 'Take me well' or 'Treat me well'. It's a command directed to someone.

• Si j'te laisse dans un coin

  ➔ Conditional clause with 'si'

  ➔ This is a conditional clause introduced by 'si' (if). 'Si j'te laisse dans un coin' means 'If I leave you in a corner'. It sets up a condition and the sentence continues with the consequence of that condition in the main clause.

• C'est la balle que tu m'donnes

  ➔ Cleft sentence with 'c'est...que'

  ➔ 'C'est la balle que tu m'donnes' is a cleft sentence, used to emphasize a particular part of the sentence. It literally translates to 'It is the ball that you give me'. It highlights that the 'ball' (in a metaphorical sense, perhaps a chance or an opportunity) is what the other person is giving.

• Qui m'fait du mal

  ➔ Relative pronoun 'qui' as subject

  ➔ 'Qui m'fait du mal' uses the relative pronoun 'qui' as the subject of the verb 'fait'. 'Qui' refers back to the antecedent (e.g., 'un animal') and introduces a relative clause that describes the antecedent. It means 'Who does me harm'.

• Je sais qu't'en as rien à foutre

  ➔ Informal negation with omission of 'ne'

  ➔ In spoken French, the 'ne' part of the negation 'ne...pas' is often dropped, especially in informal contexts. 'Je sais qu't'en as rien à foutre' (instead of 'Je sais que tu n'en as rien à foutre') means 'I know you don't give a damn'. The 'ne' is omitted for brevity and casualness.