Lyrics & Translation
My heart was open to the unknown
I felt like saying hello
To just anyone
Anyone at all, and it was you
I said just anything to you
All I needed was to talk to you
To win you over
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
In the sun, in the rain
At noon or at midnight
You can find anything you want
On the Champs-Élysées
You told me, "I have a date
In a basement, with some crazy folks
Who live with a guitar in their hand
From evening till the morn'"
So, I went along with you
We sang, we danced
And we didn't even think
About kissing
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
In the sun, in the rain
At noon or at midnight
You can find anything you want
On the Champs-Élysées
Last night, two strangers
And this morning on the avenue
Two lovers, completely dazed
By the long night
And from the Étoile to the Concorde
An orchestra with a thousand strings
All the birds at daybreak
Sing of love
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
In the sun, in the rain
At noon or at midnight
You can find anything you want
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
In the sun, in the rain
At noon or at midnight
You can find anything you want
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
On the Champs-Élysées
Key Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Meanings |
|---|---|
|
avenue /ˈævənjuː/ A2 |
|
|
cœur /kœʁ/ A2 |
|
|
inconnu /ɛ̃kɔny/ B1 |
|
|
bonjour /bɔ̃ʒuʁ/ A1 |
|
|
soleil /sɔlɛj/ A1 |
|
|
pluie /plɥi/ A1 |
|
|
midi /midi/ A1 |
|
|
minuit /minɥi/ A1 |
|
|
fous /fu/ A2 |
|
|
guitare /ɡitaʁ/ A1 |
|
|
soir /swaʁ/ A1 |
|
|
matin /matɛ̃/ A1 |
|
|
chanté /ʃɑ̃te/ A1 |
|
|
dansé /dɑ̃se/ A1 |
|
|
embrasser /ɑ̃bʁase/ B1 |
|
|
amoureux /amuʁø/ B1 |
|
|
étourdis /etuʁdi/ B2 |
|
|
nuit /nɥi/ A1 |
|
|
orchestre /ɔʁkɛstʁ/ B1 |
|
|
cordes /kɔʁd/ A2 |
|
|
oiseaux /wazo/ A1 |
|
|
amour /amuʁ/ A1 |
|
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Key Grammar Structures
-
Je m'baladais sur l'avenue
➔ Reflexive verb in the imperfect tense.
➔ The verb "se balader" (to stroll) is reflexive, indicating that the subject is performing the action on themselves. The imperfect tense "baladais" indicates an ongoing or habitual action in the past. 'Je m'baladais' means 'I was strolling'.
-
Le cœur ouvert à l'inconnu
➔ Adjective describing a noun (cœur).
➔ "ouvert" (open) is an adjective describing "cœur" (heart). The preposition "à" introduces the indirect object "l'inconnu" (the unknown).
-
Il suffisait de te parler
➔ Impersonal verb construction with the infinitive.
➔ "Il suffisait de" is an impersonal construction meaning "it was enough to". It's followed by the infinitive "parler" (to speak). "Te" is the indirect object pronoun, meaning "to you".
-
Pour t'apprivoiser
➔ Infinitive used to express purpose.
➔ The infinitive "apprivoiser" (to tame) is preceded by "pour" (for/in order to), indicating the purpose of the action. "t'" is a contracted form of "te" (you).
-
Qui vivent la guitare à la main
➔ Relative clause introduced by "qui". Idiomatic expression: "à la main".
➔ "Qui" introduces a relative clause describing "des fous". The idiom "à la main" means "in their hand" or "with a guitar in hand".
-
Et l'on n'a même pas pensé À s'embrasser
➔ Negative construction with "ne...même pas". Reflexive verb in the infinitive after the preposition "à".
➔ "Ne...même pas" emphasizes that they didn't even think of kissing. "S'embrasser" (to kiss each other) is a reflexive verb in the infinitive, used after the preposition "à".
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