Malheur translates to "misfortune" or "unhappiness." It's a strong word that carries a sense of deep sorrow or bad luck, making it more impactful than simpler words for sadness.
In the song, the repeated phrase "Ne parle pas de malheur" (Don't speak of misfortune) is a plea to avoid bringing up painful topics or negative thoughts. It highlights the singer's desire to escape from a state of sadness and longing after a departure, making it a central theme of the lyrics.
"Ne parle pas de malheur" is Daniel Balavoine singing to someone right after a breakup, still reeling from how fast everything changed. He keeps saying "tout va vite" (everything is happening so fast) and "tout va trop vite" (too fast) because he can't process the loss at the pace it's arriving.
The chorus is a plea: don't even say the word "malheur" (misfortune, heartbreak) out loud, because hearing it named makes the pain sharper ("tu me fais trop mal" — you're hurting me too much). He's not ready to accept the breakup as a fact yet, so he begs the other person to leave it unspoken.
Between the verses he holds onto small, private images — a Polaroid where he imagines drawing a wrinkle onto her face, picturing her growing old without him, and admits he's losing his memory of her even as he waits and waits. It's a song about the disorientation right after a loss, when someone would rather sit in denial than hear the truth said plainly.