On a d�j� donn�

Song Meaning

The lyrics of "On a déjà donné" open with a stark, defiant refusal, a declaration that "we have already given" enough. It immediately sets a tone of weary rebellion, suggesting a breaking point has been reached after years of submission to various forms of aggression and inherited power. The speaker is clearly fed up. The central emotional tension lies in the speaker's rejection of those who wield power through violence, inherited status, or sheer arrogance. The repeated "A tous ces..." and "A ceux qui..." builds a powerful litany of grievances against figures who demand sacrifice without earning it, from "amateurs de feu" to those "qui ont raison héréditairement." This highlights a deep-seated frustration with injustice and unearned authority. Against these oppressive forces, the speaker's counter-proposal is particularly striking. They "oppose la folie, la fantaisie et le vent," along with "le génie d'un tout petit enfant." This juxtaposition of innocent creativity and untamed freedom against rigid, inherited structures powerfully articulates an alternative worldview, suggesting that true strength lies not in unearned power but in an authentic, unburdened spirit. The emotional punch of these lyrics comes from their cyclical nature. Despite the fierce declarations of refusal and the speaker's clear-eyed critique of societal and personal hypocrisies, the final lines reveal a persistent vulnerability. The repeated "On a déjà donné tant de fois pour rien / En se disant c'est pour demain" culminates in the admission that "quand l'amour vient frapper," the cycle of hope and deferred gratification ("toujours pour demain") begins anew, underscoring a deeply human, perhaps tragic, inability to fully close off to possibility, even after repeated disillusionment.