Monter / Descendre Lyrics in English by Zélie
Cran is an informal French word for 'guts' or 'courage'. It's a less common and more evocative term than 'courage' or 'bravoure'.
In the song, Zélie sings, "Grandis, comprends qu'il faut du cran pour vivre longtemps" (Grow up, understand that you need guts to live a long time). This line uses cran to emphasize the resilience and inner strength required to navigate life's challenges, making it a powerful and memorable word in the context of the song's themes of vulnerability and perseverance.
Zélie's "Monter / Descendre" is a really honest look at the ups and downs of life and emotions. She talks about wanting to live intensely, saying "J'veux qu'on vive trop fort" [I want us to live too intensely] and wanting to be remembered. But then she immediately brings in the self-doubt and sadness, mentioning "Moi qui doute, moi qui pleure / Parce que j'crois plus en rien" [Me who doubts, me who cries / Because I don't believe in anything anymore]. It's this constant push and pull, like her "grand cœur / Qui monte puis descend" [big heart / That goes up then down].
She's got this mix of confidence and vulnerability, saying "J'ai la confiance, j'ai la gueule / J'ai l'insolence, j'ai des sœurs" [I have confidence, I have nerve / I have insolence, I have sisters]. A big theme is wanting to tell her mother everything, all the "chaos qu'on a dans la tête" [chaos we have in our heads] and why she cries so often. It's about growing, moving forward, destroying, and starting over. Even though she loves the present, she worries about tomorrow, saying "J'aime le présent, j'le trouve solaire / Mais p't-être demain, j'vais manquer d'air" [I love the present, I find it sunny / But maybe tomorrow, I'll run out of air]. It's a powerful song about embracing all the messy parts of being human.
