Tournent les violons – Bilingual Lyrics French/English

• By: Jean-Jacques Goldman

Lyrics & Translation

Explore the poignant narrative of Jean-Jacques Goldman's "Tournent les violons," a song that beautifully captures the essence of memory, desire, and the social divides that shape our lives. Learn about the storytelling craft within French chansons through this timeless piece.

[English]

Big party at the castle, a long time ago

The beautiful and the handsome, nobles, noble blood

From all over the kingdom they came dancing

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

Big party with branches and Manon is sixteen

Servant in this castle like her mother before

She carries the heavy trays in her child's hands

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

...

The beautiful uniform, oh the handsome lieutenant

Different from the men here, blond and tall

The dazzling smile of a charming prince

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

The party doubles and the laughter and the dances

Manon marvels while filling bellies

The noise, the lights, it's him who's coming forward

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

Taking his glass near her, he leans over

Whispers in her ear while brushing her hip

You are very pretty in a divine smile

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

...

The hard and gray years go by serving

A life of pain and so little pleasure

But that turmoil burns in her memories

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

She still thinks about it again and again and always

The violins, the setting, and his velvet words

His perfume, his white teeth, the smallest details

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

Taking his glass near her, he leans over

Whispers in her ear while brushing her hip

Just four words, the turmoil of a life

Just four words that he immediately forgets

...

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, oh turning and gone

...

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

...

She still thinks about it again and again and always

...

She still thinks about it again and again

...

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, the violins

Lives are turning, oh the violins are turning

Lives are turning, oh lives are turning, the violins

...

[French]

Grande fête au château, il y a bien longtemps

Les belles et les beaux, nobliaux, noble sang

De tout le royaume on est venu dansant

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Grande fête aux rameaux et Manon a seize ans

Servante en ce château comme sa mère avant

Elle porte les plateaux lourds à ses mains d'enfant

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Le bel uniforme, oh le beau lieutenant

Différent des hommes d'ici blond et grand

Le sourire éclatant d'un prince charmant

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Redoublent la fête et les rires et les danses

Manon s'émerveille en remplissant les panses

Le bruit, les lumières, c'est lui qui s'avance

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

En prenant son verre auprès d'elle il se penche

Lui glisse à l'oreille en lui frôlant la hanche

Tu es bien jolie dans un divin sourire

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Passent les années dures et grises à servir

Une vie de peine et si peu de plaisir

Mais ce trouble là brûle en ses souvenirs

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Elle y pense encore et encore et toujours

Les violons, le décor, et ses mots de velours

Son parfum, ses dents blanches, les moindres détails

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

En prenant son verre auprès d'elle il se penche

Lui glisse à l'oreille en lui frôlant la hanche

Juste quatre mots, le trouble d'une vie

Juste quatre mots qu'aussitôt il oublie

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, oh tournent et s'en vont

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Elle y pense encore et encore et toujours

Elle y pense encore et encore

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, les violons

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

Tournent les vies, oh tournent les vies, les violons

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
fête /fɛt/ A2	noun - party, celebration
château /ʃɑto/ A2	noun - castle
beau /bo/ A2	adjective - handsome, beautiful
noble /nɔbl/ B1	adjective - noble noun - nobleman
sang /sɑ̃/ A1	noun - blood
dansant /dɑ̃sɑ̃/ A2	adjective - dancing verb - to dance (present participle)
vie /vi/ A1	noun - life
violon /vjɔlɔ̃/ A1	noun - violin
servante /sɛʁvɑ̃t/ B1	noun - maid, servant
mère /mɛʁ/ A1	noun - mother
plateau /pla.to/ A2	noun - tray
lourd /luʁ/ A2	adjective - heavy
enfant /ɑ̃fɑ̃/ A1	noun - child
uniforme /y.ni.fɔʁm/ B1	noun - uniform
lieutenant /ljø.tə.nɑ̃/ B1	noun - lieutenant

Key Grammar Structures

• Grande fête au château, il y a bien longtemps

  ➔ Use of 'il y a' to indicate a time in the past.

  ➔ The phrase "il y a" translates to "there is/are" but is used to mean "ago" in this context.

• Elle porte les plateaux lourds à ses mains d'enfant

  ➔ Use of the present tense to describe ongoing actions.

  ➔ The present tense "porte" indicates that she is currently carrying the heavy trays.

• Le bruit, les lumières, c'est lui qui s'avance

  ➔ Use of demonstrative pronoun 'c'est' to introduce a subject.

  ➔ The phrase "c'est lui" translates to "it is him", emphasizing the subject.

• Juste quatre mots, le trouble d'une vie

  ➔ Use of 'juste' to indicate a small quantity.

  ➔ The word "juste" means "just" or "only", emphasizing the simplicity of the phrase.

• Elle y pense encore et encore et toujours

  ➔ Use of repetition for emphasis.

  ➔ The repetition of "encore" emphasizes her continuous thoughts.

• Tournent les vies, oh tournent les violons

  ➔ Use of the present tense to express habitual actions.

  ➔ The phrase "tournent les vies" suggests that lives are continuously turning or changing.