Gâtée (from the verb gâter) means 'spoiled' or 'pampered'. While it can sometimes have a negative connotation, in this song, Céline Dion uses it to express profound gratitude for the life she's lived, saying, "La vie m'a tellement gâtée" (Life has spoiled me so much).
It's an evocative word that captures a feeling of being blessed and fortunate, making it both interesting and memorable. It's not an everyday word you'd find in every song, offering a unique glimpse into the song's emotional depth.
In this beautiful song, Céline Dion sings from the perspective of someone looking back on a life that has been so full and happy that time seems to have flown by. She looks at an old photo and can't believe how much time has passed, singing, "C'était pourtant hier, mentirait ma mémoire" (It was just yesterday, my memory must be lying). She insists she isn't complaining, because "La vie m'a tellement gâtée" (Life has spoiled me so much). It's just that when life is so good, you forget that it has to end.
So, she makes a plea for just a little more time. It's a bargain with God or fate for "Encore un soir / Encore une heure / Encore une larme de bonheur" (One more evening / One more hour / One more tear of happiness). She argues it's a small request, something that "face à l'éternité, ça va même pas se voir" (in the face of eternity, it won't even be noticed). In a powerful moment, she even offers to trade her spot in the afterlife, saying, "je donne ma place au paradis / Si l'on m'oublie sur Terre" (I'll give my place in paradise / If I'm forgotten on Earth). She just wants one more evening to cherish the life she loves.