Dada is a charming and somewhat old-fashioned French word for a 'hobbyhorse' or 'rocking horse'. It evokes a sense of childhood play and imagination.
In the song, the speaker comically lists various absurd modes of transport (like a motorcycle on his back or a boa under his arm) he supposedly used to get to Tahiti. The inclusion of 'dada' adds to the whimsical and playful tone, highlighting the imaginative and impossible journey.
Albert De Paname turns story-telling into a playful duel of imagination in “Tahiti.” One friend brags about spending the summer on the famous Polynesian island, claiming he got there on a motorbike, a bicycle, even a pet horse and a pet snake tucked under his arm. The other friend keeps interrupting with common-sense objections: “You cannot ride a bike across the ocean!” The back-and-forth feels like a children’s game of “let’s pretend,” piling up increasingly absurd images before finally admitting that the only realistic way is by boat.
Behind the humor, the song celebrates the thrill of travel dreams. Tahiti becomes a symbol of freedom, sunshine, and escape, while the ridiculous modes of transport remind us that daydreams do not need to follow the rules of geography or physics. By the end, listeners are left smiling at the power of creativity—and maybe itching to book a ticket, by any means possible!