Les Grands Ensembles Lyrics in English by Benjamin Biolay

Home / Lyrics translation / Benjamin Biolay / Les Grands Ensembles

Below, I translated the lyrics of the song Les Grands Ensembles by Benjamin Biolay from French to English.

Y'a pas que l'éphéméride et la détente

It's not just the daily grind and relaxation

Y'a pas que des gens lucides dans les files d'attente

There aren't only lucid people in the waiting lines

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que des luminaires et des constellations

There aren't only light fixtures and constellations

Y'a pas que des réverbères, des dalles, du béton

There aren't only streetlights, slabs, concrete

Dans les grands ensembles

In the large housing estates

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que des sacrifices, y'a des bains de mer

There aren't only sacrifices, there are sea swims

Y'a pas que des édifices, y'a des bonnes affaires

There aren't only buildings, there are good deals

N'empêche, les jours passent et se ressemblent

Still, the days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que la solitude, mais y'a plus que les miettes

There's not only solitude, but there's only crumbs left

Y'a pas que du liquide dans les nuits de tempête

There's not only liquid on stormy nights

N'empêche, dans les grands ensembles

Still, in the large housing estates

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que du fil d'écosse, y'a pas que des veuves

There's not only mercerized cotton, there aren't only widows

Du peuple de l'opium, du Kentucky Fried Chicken

Of the opium people, of Kentucky Fried Chicken

Qu'il pleuve ou vente, les jours passent et se ressemblent

Whether it rains or blows, the days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que des sextoys, y a pas que des XX boys

There aren't only sextoys, there aren't only XX boys

C'est pas du Tolstoï, c'est de la série Z qui cogne

It's not Tolstoy, it's Z-series that hits hard

Dans les grands ensembles

In the large housing estates

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que la solitude, les temps morts

There's not only solitude, dead times

Y'a pas que la lassitude qui caresse mon corps

There's not only weariness that caresses my body

N'empêche, les jours passent et se ressemblent

Still, the days pass and are all alike

Y'a pas que l'éphéméride et la détente

It's not just the daily grind and relaxation

Y'a pas que des gens lucides dans les files d'attente

There aren't only lucid people in the waiting lines

N'empêche, dans les grands ensembles

Still, in the large housing estates

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Les jours passent et se ressemblent

The days pass and are all alike

Lyrics and Translations Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing

BENJAMIN BIOLAY

Did you like this lyrics translation?

éphéméride — ephemeris / almanac

Éphéméride literally translates to "ephemeris" or "almanac", referring to a calendar or a collection of daily events.

It's an intriguing and somewhat uncommon word in everyday French, making it stand out in the lyrics. In the song, Benjamin Biolay uses it to suggest the mundane, repetitive nature of daily life, contrasting it with deeper realities: "Y'a pas que l'éphéméride et la détente" (There's not just the almanac and relaxation). This word choice immediately sets a reflective and slightly melancholic tone, inviting listeners to ponder what lies beyond the ordinary.

Did you know?

In addition to reading lyric translations, you can now learn French with music and lyrics from your favorite artists.

No more boring lessons. You can now learn with engaging and culturally relevant lyrics from the best artists.

Benjamin Biolay Les Grands Ensembles Lyrics