Empreinte means 'footprint' or 'imprint'. It's a poetic word used to describe the marks we leave behind or the tracks we decide to follow.
What makes this word so special in the song is a clever pun. The lyrics use the noun empreinte (footprint) and then the verb emprunte ('borrows'), which sound exactly the same. This creates a beautiful, thought-provoking line—"ce chemin qu'on empreinte" (this path that one borrows)—suggesting our journey through life is only temporary.
Imagine life as a giant maze filled with sweet fruits, painted doors and floating balloons. In “Le Labyrinthe,” Feu! Chatterton invites us to pause in the very middle of that maze, look up and marvel at the beauty above while admitting we are all a little bit lost. The song balances gentle advice — “be in no hurry, have no fear” — with a subtle warning: if you get too comfortable decorating the walls of your personal labyrinth, you might mistake the trap for a home.
Throughout the lyrics, the band contrasts childhood freedom (the balloon that finally breaks its string) with adult routine (walking through life as if it belonged to someone else). By repeating “Nous sommes tous perdus,” the singer reminds us that feeling lost is universal, yet the answer is not frantic escape. Instead, the song suggests reclaiming our own path, staying curious and taking time to look around at the small wonders that make the journey worthwhile.