Noir et blanc – Bilingual Lyrics French/English
Lyrics & Translation
Key Vocabulary
Vocabulary | Meanings |
---|---|
vue /vy/ A2 |
|
cerveau /sɛʁ.vo/ B1 |
|
clair /klɛʁ/ A2 |
|
foncé /fɔ̃.se/ B1 |
|
jour /ʒuʁ/ A1 |
|
nuit /nɥi/ A1 |
|
piano /pja.no/ A1 |
|
échiquier /e.ʃi.kje/ B2 |
|
monde /mɔ̃d/ A1 |
|
noir /nwaʁ/ A1 |
|
blanc /blɑ̃/ A1 |
|
rêves /ʁɛv/ A2 |
|
sang /sɑ̃/ A2 |
|
terre /tɛʁ/ A1 |
|
or /ɔʁ/ A1 |
|
argent /aʁ.ʒɑ̃/ A1 |
|
colère /kɔ.lɛʁ/ B1 |
|
ciel /sjɛl/ A2 |
|
fusils /fy.zi/ B1 |
|
Key Grammar Structures
-
Est-ce ma vue qui a baissé
➔ Inversion with 'Est-ce que' for questions; Relative pronoun 'qui'
➔ Instead of 'Ma vue a baissé?', the structure 'Est-ce ma vue *qui* a baissé' emphasizes the subject of the question ('my vision'). 'Qui' introduces a relative clause describing the subject.
-
Y vois-je trop clair ou trop foncé
➔ Inversion with pronoun before the verb; Adverb 'trop' + adjective
➔ 'Vois-je' is the inverted form of 'Je vois' (I see), used for asking a question. 'Trop clair' means 'too bright' and 'trop foncé' means 'too dark'.
-
Fait-il trop jour, ou nuit trop tôt
➔ Impersonal verb 'faire' in questions; Adverb 'trop' modifying noun
➔ 'Fait-il' is the interrogative form of 'Il fait' (it is/makes), referring to the weather/time of day. 'Trop jour' (too much day/daylight) and 'nuit trop tôt' (night too early) use 'trop' to indicate excess.
-
Est-ce d'avoir trop longtemps fixé
➔ 'Est-ce que' + 'de' + infinitive
➔ This construction introduces a possible reason or cause. 'Est-ce *de*...' translates to 'Is it because of...'. 'Avoir trop longtemps fixé' is the infinitive form expressing the action of staring for too long.
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Comme dans les cinémas d'antan
➔ Comparative 'comme' + preposition 'dans' + noun.
➔ 'Comme' introduces a comparison. Here, it compares the speaker's perception to the experience of old cinemas. 'D'antan' means 'of yesteryear' or 'old'.
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Sur tous ceux qui en crèvent
➔ Preposition 'sur' + demonstrative pronoun 'ceux' + relative pronoun 'qui' + pronoun 'en'
➔ 'Ceux qui' means 'those who'. 'En' refers to something previously mentioned (likely the 'rêves' from 'trafiquants de rêves'). 'Crèvent' is an informal verb meaning 'to die'.
-
Qui vient soudain rayer la nuit
➔ Relative pronoun 'qui' + verb 'venir' + adverb 'soudain' + verb infinitive
➔ 'Qui' acts as the subject of the verb 'vient'. 'Venir' + infinitive means 'to come to do something' or 'to happen to do something'. 'Rayer' means 'to cross out' or 'to erase'.
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Pour ne plus avoir à revoir
➔ Purpose clause with 'pour' + negative 'ne...plus' + verb 'avoir' + 'à' + infinitive
➔ 'Pour ne plus...' expresses a purpose of avoiding something. 'Avoir à' + infinitive means 'to have to'. So, 'Pour ne plus avoir à revoir' means 'In order to no longer have to see again'.