Shangha� (le long couloir)

Song Meaning

This song paints a vivid picture of two lovers in Shanghai, consumed by their passion. They are described as "completely incendiés," drinking each other's bodies and spitting out their destinies, suggesting an all-consuming, almost destructive love. Their nights are spent refining their story, dreaming of an "interminable couloir" – an endless corridor – that stretches along the Black River and under the sun, a space defined by both their desire and their despair. The central tension lies in the contrast between their intense, almost mythical connection and the mundane reality they face. While they "swim in his veins" and he "rocks her sorrows," they also transform into "fourmis" (ants) every Saturday, submitting to reality. They ride their "cheval de fer" (iron horse) to the markets, buying things to prepare for departure, hinting at an impending separation or a desire to escape. The most striking image is the "interminable couloir," a metaphor for their relationship that they are constantly digging. This corridor, traced by the sun and situated in the middle of the river, represents their attempt to create a timeless, boundless space for their love. However, it's also built "au beau milieu de leur désespoir," revealing the fragility and underlying sadness of their situation. The repetition of "Ils s'aiment, ils s'aiment" acts as an incantation, a desperate affirmation against the encroaching despair and the demands of their daily lives. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they capture the dizzying intensity of a love that feels both eternal and precarious. The writing juxtaposes grand, almost cosmic imagery with the small, repetitive actions of daily life, highlighting how even the most passionate connections are shaped by external pressures and internal anxieties. The recurring chorus, "Elle nage dans ses veines / Ils s'aiment, ils s'aiment / Il berce ses peines / Ils s'aiment, ils s'aiment," becomes a mantra of devotion, a desperate attempt to hold onto their shared world amidst the chaos.