On se sait par cœur – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Calogero

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the intricacies of love and conflict through Calogero's "On se sait par cœur." This pop-rock track, with its raw lyrics and energetic delivery, offers a profound look at the emotional landscape of a relationship. Learn about the nuances of French expression in matters of the heart, making this song a special way to connect with the language.

[English]

It's like the Berlin Wall

Right in the middle of our room

It's snow in June

A heatwave in December

There's no ground beneath our feet

Only a thread holding us up

Is everything going to collapse

If one of us slams the door?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

We hate each other like a brother loves a sister

And if one leaves, does the other die inside?

Which one of us will dare?

Who will make the last move?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

And if we stay for a few more hours

Is it because we're afraid?

And maybe it's better this way?

Will we ever find out one day?

None of the words we say

Can melt the ice

None of them can extinguish the fire

Raging just beneath the surface

Before the wind turns

And the ashes fall again

If we played like we used to

Holding on together?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

We hate each other like a brother loves a sister

And if one leaves, does the other die inside?

Which one of us will dare?

Who will make the last move?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

And if we stay for a few more hours

Is it because we're afraid?

And maybe it's better this way?

Will we ever find out one day?

Which one of us will dare?

Who will make the last move?

Who will make the last move?

...

Does life go on when we pass through the door?

Once we're in the street, does a wave carry us away?

If we finally stop resisting the current

And let ourselves be carried to the ocean

Which one of us will dare?

Who will make the last move?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

We hate each other like a brother loves a sister

And if one leaves, does the other die inside?

Which one of us will dare?

Who will make the last move?

We part ways, we know each other by heart

And if we stay for a few more hours

Is it because we're afraid?

And maybe it's better this way?

Will we ever find out one day?

Stop

...

[French]

C'est comme un mur de Berlin

En plein milieu de la chambre

C'est la neige au mois de juin

La canicule en décembre

Y'a plus de sol sous nos pieds

Plus qu'un fil qui nous supporte

Est-ce-que tout va s'écrouler

Si l'un claque la porte?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

On se hait comme un frère aime une sœur

Et si l'un part, est-ce que l'autre en meurt?

Lequel de nous deux osera?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

Et si l'on reste encore quelques heures

Est-ce que c'est par, est-ce que c'est par peur?

Et si c'était mieux comme ça?

Est-ce qu'un jour on le saura?

Aucun des mots qu'on se dit

Ne peut faire fondre la glace

Aucun n'éteint l'incendie

Qui gronde à la surface

Avant que tourne le vent

Et que retombent les cendres

Si on jouait comme avant

À raccrocher ensemble?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

On se hait comme un frère aime une sœur

Et si l'un part, est-ce que l'autre en meurt?

Lequel de nous deux osera?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

Et si l'on reste encore quelques heures

Est-ce que c'est par, est-ce que c'est par peur?

Et si c'était mieux comme ça?

Est-ce qu'un jour on le saura?

Lequel de nous deux osera?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

Est-ce que la vie continue quand on a passé la porte?

Est-ce qu'une fois dans la rue, une vague nous emporte?

Si enfin on arrêtait de résister au courant

Et qu'on se laissait porter jusqu'à l'océan

Lequel de nous deux osera?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

On se hait comme un frère aime une sœur

Et si l'un part, est-ce que l'autre en meurt?

Lequel de nous deux osera?

Qui fera le dernier pas?

On se sépare, on se sait par cœur

Et si l'on reste encore quelques heures

Est-ce que c'est par, est-ce que c'est par peur?

Et si c'était mieux comme ça?

Est-ce qu'un jour on le saura?

Stop

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
mur /mʏʁ/ B1	noun - wall
mois /mwa/ B1	noun - month
neige /nɛʒ/ B1	noun - snow
canicule /kani.kyl/ C1	noun - heatwave
pied /pje/ A2	noun - foot
supporte /s‿ypɔʁt/ B2	verb - to support
écrouler /e.kʁu.lé/ C1	verb - to collapse
part /paʁ/ A1	noun - part, section verb - to take part, to participate
porte /pɔʁt/ A2	noun - door
separer /sə.pa.ʁe/ B2	verb - to separate
hâti /aʁɛt/ C2	verb - to hate
frère /fʁɛʁ/ A2	noun - brother
sœur /sœʁ/ A2	noun - sister
meurent /mœʁ/ C2	verb - to die
doute /dut/ B2	noun - doubt
vie /vi/ A2	noun - life

Key Grammar Structures

• C'est comme un mur de Berlin

  ➔ Comparison using "comme"

  ➔ The sentence uses "comme" to compare the situation to the Berlin Wall, implying a significant barrier or division.

• Y'a plus de sol sous nos pieds

  ➔ Informal contraction "Y'a" (il y a)

  ➔ "Y'a" is a shortened, informal version of "il y a", meaning "there is/are".

• Est-ce-que tout va s'écrouler

  ➔ Future tense using "aller" + infinitive

  ➔ "Va s'écrouler" is the future tense of "s'écrouler" (to collapse), formed using "aller" (to go) + infinitive. This indicates a near future action.

• Si l'un claque la porte?

  ➔ Subjunctive mood implied (even though not explicitly used) in a hypothetical situation with "si"

  ➔ While the sentence uses the indicative mood ("claque"), the "si" (if) clause implies a hypothetical situation, suggesting what *would* happen if one slams the door. A more formal construction might use the conditional mood.

• On se hait comme un frère aime une sœur

  ➔ Comparison using "comme" and a complex verb construction (subjunctive is implied).

  ➔ Again, "comme" introduces the comparison. "Aime" is in the indicative, but there's the underlying sentiment of a strong, perhaps ambivalent, feeling typical between siblings, that could easily be translated in other contexts using subjunctive

• Est-ce que c'est par peur?

  ➔ Interrogative sentence structure and prepositional phrase "par peur".

  ➔ This is a direct question, and "par peur" means "out of fear" or "because of fear".

• Et si c'était mieux comme ça?

  ➔ Imperfect subjunctive implied with "si" expressing a hypothetical situation in the past.

  ➔ Although the verb form is "était" (imperfect indicative), the "si" suggests a hypothetical situation, like asking "What if it *had been* better like that?"

• Est-ce qu'une fois dans la rue, une vague nous emporte?

  ➔ Subjunctive might be expected in the subordinate clause, but indicative is used, making the question more direct. Use of “emporte”

  ➔ "Emporte" is a form of the verb "emporter", which means "to carry away" or "to sweep away". The song questions if a wave will literally take them away once they leave. It also uses the inversion structure to create a question in formal writing