La Bise Lyrics in English Julien Doré

La Bise by French singer Julien Doré turns a simple social ritual—the quick kiss on the cheek—into a witty exploration of romantic hesitation. The narrator wants a real kiss, yet ends up with a polite peck while his partner literally “leans like Pisa,” unsure which side to offer. This comic image opens the door to deeper doubts: promises of strolling through Venice get washed out by rain, and love is compared to poison in the water. Every small gesture feels loaded with meaning, showing how easily passion can be reduced to ceremony.

Behind the playful wordplay lies a bittersweet message. Doré pokes fun at long-term relationships that look perfect on vacation photos but avoid saying what really matters. The couple dreams of paradise, but senses they might never get there; instead, they keep “paying for what they don’t say.” In just a few cheeky lines, the song captures the mixture of desire, irony, and vulnerability that lingers when love is strong enough to hurt yet too tempting to ignore.