Comment Allez Vous

Song Meaning

Blossom Dearie's "Comment Allez Vous" isn't just a language lesson; it’s a masterclass in the art of understated charm and social performance. The song meaning revolves around the simple French phrase, but Dearie elevates it to a playful commentary on affectation and connection. The lyrics, light and breezy, suggest a world where even a basic greeting can be a performance, a way to signal sophistication or belonging. The repetition of "Comment allez vous?" serves as both a literal question and a social lubricant. Dearie hints at the performative aspect of politeness. The lines, "Are you happy are you sad? / Feeling good or feeling bad?" quickly followed by the more suggestive, "Do you feel like misbehaving?", create a delicate tension between surface-level inquiry and a deeper, perhaps more mischievous, curiosity about the other person’s inner state. This juxtaposition highlights how social interactions are often layered with unspoken desires and hidden agendas. The song's playful tone is further amplified by the almost absurd examples of who uses the phrase – from "Chinese laundry man" to "Sheiks in the desert". This broad, almost cartoonish, imagery underscores the universality of the desire to connect and impress. "Comment Allez Vous" is a reminder that even the simplest interactions are ripe with potential for humor, connection, and a touch of playful subversion. It suggests that behind the polite facade, there's always room for a wink and a shared understanding of the game we're all playing.