Ma Meilleure Ennemie – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Stromae, Pomme

Lyrics & Translation

Immerse yourself in the intricate emotional landscape of "Ma Meilleure Ennemie" by Stromae and Pomme. This French-language song, featured in the "Arcane" series, offers a unique opportunity to explore themes of love, conflict, and memory through its evocative lyrics and compelling melodies, enriching your understanding of nuanced emotional expression.

[English]

I love you, I leave you

I love you, I wait for you

I love you, I wait for you

I love you, I hate you

I love you, I wait for you

I love you, I hate you

I love you, I wait for you

I love you, I hate you

You're the best thing that ever happened to me - but also the worst thing that ever happened to me,

the day I met you - I might have preferred,

that day never happened,

the worst of blessings - the most beautiful of curses,

I should distance myself from you - but as the saying goes,

better to be poorly accompanied than to be alone,

you know what they say - stay close to your dearest friends,

but even closer to your enemies

but my best enemy is you - run away from me, the worst is you and me,

but if you're still looking for my voice - forget me, the worst is you and me,

I love you, I leave you

why does your name hurt me - when it hides,

right there in the space - what emotion is hate,

or the sweetness when I hear your name,

I told you, don't look back - the past that follows you, makes war on you

but my best enemy is you - run away from me, the worst is you and me,

but my best enemy is you - run away from me, the worst is you and me,

I love you, I leave you

[French]

je t’aime, je te quitte

je t’aime, je t'attends

je t’aime, je t'attends

je t’aime, je te haie

je t’aime, je t'attends

je t’aime, je te haie

je t’aime, je t'attends

je t’aime, je te haie

t’es la meilleure chose qui m’est arrivée mais aussi la pire chose qui m’est arrivée, 

ce jour où je t’ai rencontrée,  j’aurais peut-être préféré, 

que ce jour ne soit jamais arrivé, 

la pire des bénédictions, la plus belle des malédictions, 

de toi je devrais m’éloigner, mais comme dit le dicton, 

plutôt qu’être seul mieux  vaut être mal accompagné,

tu sais ce qu’on dit, sois près d’tes amis les plus chers, 

mais aussi, encore plus près de tes adversaires

mais ma meilleure ennemie c’est toi, fuis-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi, 

mais si tu cherches encore ma voix, oublie-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi,

je t’aime, je te quitte

pourquoi ton prénom me blesse, quand il se cache, 

juste là dans l’espace c’est quelle émotion la haine, 

ou la douceur quand j’entends ton prénom, 

je t’avais dit, ne regarde pas en arrière le passé qui te suit, te fait la guerre

mais ma meilleure ennemie c’est toi, fuis-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi, 

mais ma meilleure ennemie c’est toi, fuis-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi,

je t’aime, je te quitte

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
quitte /kit/ B1	verb - to leave or abandon
t’aime /t‿ɛm/ A1	verb (contraction of 'tu aime') - you love
rencontrée /ʁɑ̃.kɔ̃.tʁe/ B1	verb (feminine past participle of rencontrer) - met or encountered
amie /ami/ A2	noun (feminine) - friend
mieux /mjø/ B1	adverb - better
douleur /dulœʁ/ B2	noun - pain
éloigner /elwaɲe/ B2	verb - to distance oneself or move away
seule /sœl/ A2	adjective (feminine) - alone, solitary
guerre /gɛʁ/ B2	noun - war
écrire /ekʁiʁ/ B1	verb - to write
voyage /vwajaʒ/ B1	noun - journey, trip
amour /amuʁ/ A2	noun - love
passé /pɑse/ B1	noun / adjective - past / past tense

Key Grammar Structures

• je t’aime, je te quitte

  ➔ Use of direct object pronouns 'te' and 't'' with verb 'aimer' and 'quitter'

  ➔ The pronouns 'te' and 't'' replace the person affected by the action, demonstrating direct object usage.

• je t’aime, je te haie

  ➔ Contrasting verb 'aimer' (to love) with 'haie' (to hate) to express conflicting emotions

  ➔ Using opposite verbs illustrates the conflicted feelings the speaker has towards someone.

• je t’aime, je te quitte

  ➔ Use of verbs 'aimer' and 'quitter' to express love and departure

  ➔ Pairing love and leaving verbs highlights the emotional tension in the relationship.

• fuis-moi, le pire c’est toi et moi

  ➔ Imperative form 'fuis-moi' (flee from me) and the phrase 'le pire c’est toi et moi' (the worst is you and me)

  ➔ The imperative 'fuis-moi' commands someone to leave, emphasizing emotional pain; the phrase expresses a paradoxical closeness and conflict.

• c’est la meilleure chose qui m’est arrivée

  ➔ Use of indirect object pronoun 'm'' and the phrase 'qui m’est arrivée' to describe an event that happened to the speaker

  ➔ The phrase expresses that the event is both positive and negative, highlighting complex emotions.

• c’est quelle émotion la haine, ou la douceur quand j’entends ton prénom

  ➔ Interrogative structure 'c’est quelle émotion' (what emotion is) followed by noun phrases

  ➔ This structure questions the type of emotion being experienced, connecting physical sensations to feelings.