Bertrand Gosselin

Song Meaning

The narrator looks back on a childhood marked by an early, innate curiosity and a knack for figuring things out on his own. He recalls being a clever kid, able to operate a gramophone without help, and possessing a strong desire to sing loudly, a passion his mother supported by buying him his first guitar. This early encouragement seems crucial, as he notes she didn't wait too long to get it for him. This youthful self-sufficiency and passion for music have carried into adulthood, with the narrator declaring he's "as crazy as before." He hints at a rich inner life, full of "little secrets inside." His music is now something he cultivates in a nearby field, a space that feels both personal and expansive. The imagery of music being smoked and then sung suggests a deeply ingrained, almost tangible, and perhaps even intoxicating, relationship with his art. The contrast between the child operating a gramophone and the adult cultivating music in a field highlights a progression from mechanical understanding to organic creation. The phrase "she didn't wait too long" emphasizes the importance of timely support for his burgeoning talent. The final, almost nonsensical "Tra la la..." acts as a release, a simple, joyful expression that cuts through the more complex reflections on his past and present artistic life.