Monsieur René Lyrics in English by Bénabar
Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Monsieur René by Bénabar from French to English.
These English lyric translations are not yet verified.
'Bonne retraite' en sucre plie et casse sous le couteau
"Happy retirement" in sugar bends and breaks under the knife
Monsieur René s'en va, on fait un pot
Mr. René is leaving, we're having a get-together
'Un discours!' réclament en chœur les cinq personnes de l'assemblée
"A speech!" the five people in the assembly demand in chorus
Parler c'est pas son fort à Monsieur René
Talking isn't his strong suit, Mr. René
Monsieur René a passé l'âge
Mr. René is past that age
Monsieur René, faut tourner la page
Mr. René, you have to turn the page
Tout le monde descend: troisième étage
Everyone off: third floor
Les collègues ont fait la quête, offrent une sacoche en cuir
The colleagues took up a collection, offer a leather satchel
Le patron voulait faire un geste, c'est une boîte de cigares
The boss wanted to make a gesture, it's a box of cigars
René ne fume plus depuis dix ans mais remercie quand même
René hasn't smoked for ten years but thanks them anyway
Sur un bureau, des gobelets en plastique et une quiche lorraine
On a desk, plastic cups and a quiche lorraine
Monsieur René a passé l'âge
Mr. René is past that age
Monsieur René, faut tourner la page
Mr. René, you have to turn the page
Tout le monde descend: troisième étage
Everyone off: third floor
Monsieur René aura tout le temps de faire ce qu'il pouvait pas avant
Mr. René will have all the time to do what he couldn't before
Bricoler, ranger le garage
Do DIY, tidy the garage
Grasses matinées jusqu'à des neuf heures, baby sitting des petits enfants
Lie-ins until nine o'clock, babysitting the grandchildren
Le pavillon, le jardinage, Monsieur René n'aime pas le jardinage
The house, gardening, Mr. René doesn't like gardening
Parti pour des grandes vacances, sans septembre qui les finit
Gone for a long vacation, without September to end it
Ce sera toujours dimanche et y aura plus jamais de lundi
It'll always be Sunday and there'll never be another Monday
Monsieur René finit sa course sans s'échapper du peloton
Mr. René finishes his race without escaping the pack
A son âge on ne fait plus de courses, on fait les commissions
At his age you don't run races anymore, you run errands
Monsieur René a passé l'âge
Mr. René is past that age
Monsieur René, faut tourner la page
Mr. René, you have to turn the page
'Bonne retraite' en sucre plie et casse sous le couteau
"Happy retirement" in sugar bends and breaks under the knife
Monsieur René s'en va, on fait un pot
Mr. René is leaving, we're having a get-together
Il plie sous les accolades, grimace un sourire
He bends under the embraces, grimaces a smile
Une vie de boulot dans une sacoche en cuir
A life of work in a leather satchel
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Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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peloton — pack / group
Peloton literally translates to "platoon" or "squad," often used in a military context. However, it's most famously associated with cycling, referring to the main group of riders in a race.
In this song, it's used metaphorically to describe Monsieur René's life. He "finishes his race without escaping the peloton," implying he lived a conventional life, never breaking away from the common path or standing out from the crowd. It's a poignant image of an ordinary life.
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