Là-bas – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Jean-Jacques Goldman, Sirima

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the evocative French lyrics of "Là-bas" by Jean-Jacques Goldman and Sirima. This iconic 1987 duet offers a beautiful melody and a poignant narrative about the universal themes of dreams, escape, and the difficult choices in relationships. Learning French through this song provides a unique opportunity to connect with French culture and understand the nuances of the language in an emotionally resonant context.

[English]

Over there

...

Everything is new and wild

...

A free continent without fences

...

Here, our dreams are small

...

That's why I'm going over there

...

Over there

...

It takes heart and courage

...

But everything is possible at my age

...

If you have the strength and faith

...

Gold is within your reach

...

That's why I'm going over there

...

Don't go

There are storms and shipwrecks

Fire, devils and mirages

...

I know you're so fragile sometimes

...

Stay here with me

We have so much love to make

So much happiness to come

I want you as a husband and father

And you, you dream of leaving

Here, everything is decided in advance

And there's nothing we can change

Everything depends on your birth

And I wasn't born well

...

Over there

Far from our lives, our villages

...

I'll forget your voice, your face

...

I can hold you tight in my arms

...

You're already escaping me over there

I'll have my chance, I'll have my rights

Don't go

And the pride that I don't have here

Over there

Everything you deserve is yours

Don't go

Here, others impose their law

Over there

I might lose you over there

Don't go

I'll get lost if I stay here

Over there

Life didn't give me a choice

Don't go

You and me, it'll be over there or not at all

Over there

Everything is new and wild

Don't go

A free continent without fences

Over there

Beautiful as you can't imagine

Don't go

Here, even our dreams are small

Over there

That's why I'm going over there

Don't go

They didn't give me a choice

Over there

I'll get lost if I stay here

Don't go

That's why I'm going over there

Don't go

Don't go

Don't go

Don't go

Don't go...

...

[French]

Là-bas

Tout est neuf et tout est sauvage

Libre continent sans grillage

Ici, nos rêves sont étroits

C'est pour ça que j'irais là-bas

Là-bas

Faut du cœur et faut du courage

Mais tout est possible à mon âge

Si tu as la force et la foi

L'or est à portée de tes doigts

C'est pour ça que j'irais là-bas

N'y va pas

Y a des tempêtes et des naufrages

Le feu, les diables et les mirages

Je te sais si fragile parfois

Reste au creux de moi

On a tant d'amour à faire

Tant de bonheur à venir

Je te veux mari et père

Et toi, tu rêves de partir

Ici, tout est joué d'avance

Et l'on n'y peut rien changer

Tout dépend de ta naissance

Et moi je ne suis pas bien né

Là-bas

Loin de nos vies, de nos villages

J'oublierai ta voix, ton visage

J'ai beau te serrer dans mes bras

Tu m'échappes déjà là-bas

J'aurai ma chance, j'aurai mes droits

N'y va pas

Et la fierté qu'ici je n'ai pas

Là-bas

Tout ce que tu mérites est à toi

N'y va pas

Ici, les autres imposent leur loi

Là-bas

Je te perdrai peut-être là-bas

N'y va pas

Je me perds si je reste là

Là-bas

La vie ne m'a pas laissé le choix

N'y va pas

Toi et moi, ce sera là-bas ou pas

Là-bas

Tout est neuf et tout est sauvage

N'y va pas

Libre continent sans grillage

Là-bas

Beau comme on n'imagine pas

N'y va pas

Ici, même nos rêves sont étroits

Là-bas

C'est pour ça que j'irais là-bas

N'y va pas

On ne m'a pas laissé le choix

Là-bas

Je me perds si je reste là

N'y va pas

C'est pour ça que j'irais là-bas

N'y va pas

N'y va pas

N'y va pas

N'y va pas

N'y va pas...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
rêve /ʁɛv/ A2	noun - dream
courage /kuʁaʒ/ B1	noun - courage
force /fɔʁs/ B1	noun - force
foi /fwa/ B2	noun - faith
tempête /tɑ̃.pɛt/ B2	noun - storm
naufrage /nofʁaʒ/ C1	noun - shipwreck
fragile /fʁa.ʒil/ B2	adjective - fragile
amour /a.muʁ/ A2	noun - love
bonheur /bɔ.nœʁ/ B1	noun - happiness
choix /ʃwa/ B1	noun - choice
visage /vi.zaʒ/ A2	noun - face
chance /ʃɑ̃s/ B1	noun - chance
fierté /fjɛʁ.te/ C1	noun - pride
libre /libʁ/ A2	adjective - free
sauvage /so.vaʒ/ B2	adjective - wild

Key Grammar Structures

• Tout est neuf et tout est sauvage

  ➔ Use of 'tout' as a pronoun meaning 'everything' or 'all'.

  ➔ Here, "tout" refers to the entire situation or environment being described, emphasizing that "everything" is new and wild. 'Est' is the 3rd person singular of the verb 'être' in the present tense.

• Si tu as la force et la foi, L'or est à portée de tes doigts

  ➔ Use of 'si' clauses (conditional sentences) with the present indicative. The structure 'à portée de' means 'within reach of'.

  ➔ This highlights a condition and its result. "Si" introduces the condition (having strength and faith), and the main clause states the result (gold is within reach).

• Je te sais si fragile parfois

  ➔ Use of 'si' to intensify an adjective. 'Savoir' + adjective to express a perceived quality.

  ➔ The word "si" emphasizes the degree of fragility. The speaker knows or perceives the other person as being fragile 'sometimes'. "Savoir" is used here not as 'to know' a fact, but 'to perceive'.

• On a tant d'amour à faire, Tant de bonheur à venir

  ➔ Use of 'tant de' + noun to express a large quantity. 'À faire' and 'à venir' are infinitival phrases acting as adjectives.

  ➔ "Tant d'amour" emphasizes a large amount of love to be created or experienced. "À faire" modifies "amour," suggesting love yet to be made. "À venir" modifies "bonheur," indicating future happiness.

• Tout ce que tu mérites est à toi

  ➔ Use of 'tout ce que' to introduce a relative clause. Possession expressed with 'à toi'.

  ➔ "Tout ce que" means 'everything that'. This entire clause refers to all the things that the person deserves. "À toi" signifies 'is yours' or belongs to you.

• Je me perds si je reste là

  ➔ Use of 'si' clause (conditional sentences) with the present indicative showing consequence. The reflexive verb 'se perdre' means 'to get lost'.

  ➔ This is a conditional statement. "Si je reste là" presents the condition (if I stay here), and "Je me perds" presents the consequence (I get lost). The meaning here is figurative rather than literal; the speaker means they would lose their sense of self or purpose.