What’s in a Lyric?
In her new hit single – ‘Promise This’, Cheryl Cole
turns to French in order to fully express her emotions. Or does
she? What do you make of this:
“Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Alouette uette uette
Déployer l’aile”
Before you hit the Google Translate button, don’t bother as it
just translates “Alouette” as a lark and “l’aile”
as a wing. The rest Google gives up on. Even without hearing Cheryl’s
French pronunciation!
Ah ha, we hear you say, it’s all about Larks… just like probably
the very first French words we ever heard as kids… “Alouette,
gentile alouette”. What we tend to forget about this charming
childhood ditty, of course, is that it’s all about plucking the
wings (and just about everything else) off the poor unfortunate
Skylark!.
Didn’t know that? Well Cheryl does, because lo and behold, she
goes on to sing (in English, thank heavens) “Before I pluck
your wings cover me please spread your wings cover me”.
So, there you have it… even if you are less than fluent in
French, you now know that Cheryl is singing about that French
Gourmand avian delicacy, where they have to cover their heads
in shame when eating it. Because of how they kill and cook it.
(Another story, another time perhaps).
Cheryl Cole spreads her wings.
A still from the ‘Promise This’ video
– click the image
to view the video –
Free Spirit
Well no, actually,’ Promise This’ has got nothing to do with larks
apparently. More to do with the free spirit of the bird. See this
gem of an analysis, from a recent trawl of the internet buzz about
Cheryl Cole and her lyrics…
“The spreading of wings concept is mirrored in the English
language lyrics of the song and in the video. As for meaning,
I think it’s a sad take on a modern relationship. [in other words]
Before I pluck your wings (i.e. entrap you so you can’t fly away),
cover me please. Spread your wings, cover me and promise this…be
the last to kiss my lips.”
This commentator goes on to say:
“So the spreading of the wings comes first – the thought
of comfort, nurture and protection from another being. Then the
protectee starts to pluck the wings (by nagging, out of indifference)
and ultimately the protection is lost but presumably the protector
can’t fly away.”
A bit of a sad comment about love and relationships? Maybe,
but here is one (English) verse though that would seem to point
to her true reason for penning this song…
“Promise this if I die before I wake oh
Promise this take the time to say your grace
On your knees you pray for me
Promise this be the last to kiss my lips”
Near Death
Almost certainly, Cheryl is alluding to her very close dice
with death, following her contracting a very dangerous strain
of Malaria. She very nearly didn’t make it apparently. Who did
she want to “… be the last to kiss my lips”? She
hasn’t said, but we guess it wasn’t Ashley. Or maybe…
Not Everything in French Makes
Sense!
Sometimes it is best not to over-analyse song lyrics as it
just goes to show however, that not everything you hear in French
makes sense! Catchy tune though and a great video…
