Couard means "cowardly" or "a coward." It's a somewhat old-fashioned and strong word that isn't used in everyday conversation as frequently as other synonyms.
In the song, the narrator admits, "Que j'Ă©tais couard, c'est vrai," acknowledging his own cowardice in the relationship. This self-deprecating honesty, using a less common but impactful word, immediately sets a tone of vulnerability and regret, making it an intriguing choice for a learner.
Have you ever been so in love that it actually made you a bit... terrible? Benjamin Biolay's "Jaloux De Tout" [Jealous of Everything] is a raw, confessional look at a relationship crumbling under the weight of intense jealousy and insecurity. Our singer admits he was a "couard" [coward] and "plein d'absinthe" [full of absinthe], acknowledging his own flaws while still seeing his partner as a "sainte" [saint] compared to him.
He describes being consumed by jealousy, even of a "moindre pédé, du moindre cheval" [slightest gay man, slightest horse] his partner rode! He confesses to finding her "sale" [dirty] because of his own twisted perceptions, even though he saw her as his "femme rêvée, ma fille de perse" [dream woman, my Persian girl]. It's a really honest, almost brutal, look at how too much love, or rather, a possessive kind of love, can destroy something beautiful. He knew it was "la guerre" [war] and that she would eventually forget his kisses, but not the "enfer" [hell] he created.