And today we have another request. “Karma Girls” is a song by French rock band Indochine. The single was released in March of 2019 and appears on their 13th album 13, released in September 2017. It reached number one on the French digital sales chart.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Indochine (French for Indochina) is a French rock/new wave band formed in 1981 by Parisians Dominique Nicolas and Nicola Sirkis. In April of 1982, the group opened on tour for Taxi Girl. However, they gained popularity with each show and were eventually pulled from the tour as it was feared that their popularity would eclipse that of the headliners. Their first album L’Aventurier was released in November of 1982, selling more than 250,000 copies. The single of the same name was a huge hit in the summer of 1983 and sold more than 500,000 copies. Their popularity continued throughout the ’80s, both in France and internationally, with hits such as “3 nuits par semaine”, “3e sexe”, “Tes yeux noirs” and “Canary Bay”.

Although the ’90s would lead to a period of decline in popularity, the band would make a comeback with the release of their 2002 album Paradize. Led by the single “J’ai demandé à la lune” it entered the French sales charts at number three and would go on to sell more than a million copies, earning Diamond certification. This album won Indochine an MTV Europe Music Award for Best French Act, a Victoire de la musique award for Best Pop/Rock Album, and an NRJ Music Award for Best French Language Album.

With more than 13 million albums sold, they are the highest-selling French group ever. They were the first French rock group to fill the Palais Omnisports in Paris-Bercy in 2003 and the Stade de France in 2010. In 2011 they were awarded a Victoire d’Honneur (Victory of Honnor) at the Victoires de la musique awards ceremony to celebrate their 30-year career. In 2017 they received the Award d’honneur (Honor Award) at the NRJ music awards to crown their 36-year career.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘au hasard’ = The noun ‘hasard’ means ‘chance’, ‘luck’, ‘fate’ or ‘coincidence’. The phrase ‘au hasard’ means ‘at random’ or ‘randomly’.

‘on y croit’ – This is an example of the adverbial pronoun ‘y’ when it is used to replace the object of the preposition ‘à’. In this use it is often translated as ‘to him, her or it’, ‘at him, her or it’, or ‘about him, her or it’. Here ‘croire à’ means ‘to believe in’, so ‘on y croit’ means ‘I believe in it’, with whatever the ‘it’ is having been left undefined.

‘libre’ – While this term usually translates as ‘free’, this is only in the sense of being ‘available’ or ‘at liberty’. For example ‘I’m free this afternoon’, or ‘He’s free to do as he pleases’. To say that something is ‘without cost’ one would use the term ‘gratuit’.

‘mon histoire’ – You may notice that ‘histoire’ is a feminine noun, yet it takes the masculine possessive adjective. This is because French doesn’t like two vowel sound together, so to avoid this feminine nouns that begin with a vowel or a mute ‘h’ use ‘mon’, ‘ton’ and ‘son’ instead of ‘ma’, ‘ta’ and ‘sa’. ‘Histoire’ starts with a mute ‘h’.

Activities

We’ve created flashcards, games, and exercises to practice vocabulary and grammatical concepts found in this song. Check out our Activities Page to take your learning further!

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. If you prefer to see it in chart form check out our grammatical analysis page.

Karmakarmakarma | noun | masc sing Girlsgirlshowgirl, chorus girl | noun | fem pl | Anglicism

[Verse 1]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres dedeof; from | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing ami,amifriend | noun | masc sing viens,venirto come | verb | sec pers sing impera jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
JejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep tatayour | poss adj | fem sing vievielife | noun | fem sing
DieuDieuGod | noun | masc sing m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsaavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. dit,direto say, tell | verb | pp « monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amiamifriend | noun | masc sing
Viens,venirto come | verb | sec pers sing impera jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toi »toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Marchermarcherto walk; to function, work | verb | infin jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing mortmortdeath; end, ruin | noun | fem sing
Oui,ouiyes | adv avecavecwith | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing ami,amifriend | noun | masc sing ààat, to, in | prep tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing brasbrasarm | noun | masc sing and pl
Oui,ouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform

[Verse 2]
Toujourstoujoursalways | adv monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing saitsavoirto know | verb | third pers sing pres oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform vasallerto go | verb | sec pers sing pres
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing ami,amifriend | noun | masc sing monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing cœurcœurheart | noun | masc sing batbattreto beat; hit; whisk; defeat | verb | third pers sing pres pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or prons toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Ouiouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amiamifriend | noun | masc sing
Viens,venirto come | verb | sec pers sing impera jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing terre,terreearth; soil; land, property | noun | fem sing chaquechaqueeach, every | adj | masc or fem sing nuitnuitnight | noun | fem sing
Avecavecwith | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal partoutpartouteverywhere | adv ààat, to, in | prep tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing brasbrasarm | noun | masc sing and pl
JejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep tatayour | poss adj | fem sing vievielife | noun | fem sing
DieuDieuGod | noun | masc sing m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsaavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. dit,direto say, tell | verb | pp « monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amiamifriend | noun | masc sing
Viens,venirto come | verb | sec pers sing impera jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toi »toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Marchermarcherto walk; to function, work | verb | infin jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing mortmortdeath; end, ruin | noun | fem sing
Avecavecwith | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amiamifriend | noun | masc sing
Oui,ouiyes | adv ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used to mean 'we' yyhere, there | adv croitcroireto think (that), believe (that) | verb | third pers pl pres encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv
jusqu’jusqueuntil, to, up to | advici,icihere | adv dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing nuitnuitnight | noun | fem sing
Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing | au hasard = at random, randomly hasardhasardchance, luck, fate, coincidence | noun | masc sing | au hasard = at random, randomly
Oui,ouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Oui,ouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing prendsprendreto take | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform

[Verse 3]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform oui,ouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Metsmettreto put, to place | verb | sec pers sing impera tatayour | poss adj | fem sing mainmainhand | noun | fem sing dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing miennemienmine | poss pron | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun etetand | conj monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing corpscorpsbody | noun | masc sing disparaîtradisparaîtreto disappear, vanish; die out | verb | third pers sing fut
Lelethe | def art | masc sing jourjourday | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep gloiregloireglory, fame, pride | noun | fem sing seraêtreto be | verb | third pers sing fut commecommelike, as; because, since | conj celui-làcelui-làthat one, him | pron
Quandquandwhen | adv, conj nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl seronsêtreto be | verb | first pers pl fut libres,librefree, available; independent; at liberty; open | adj | masc or fem pl ununa | indef art | masc sing jour,jourday | noun | masc sing tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform leurleur(to) them | pron | third pers pl, indir obj dirasdireto say, to tell | verb | sec pers sing fut
Quequethat, than; let; so, so that | conj jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toi,toiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform oui,ouiyes | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform
Ununa | indef art | masc sing jour,jourday | noun | masc sing tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform leurleur(to) them | pron | third pers pl, indir obj dirasdireto say, to tell | verb | sec pers sing fut quequethat, than; let; so, so that | conj c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing, fem before mute h and vowels histoirehistoirestory; history | noun | fem sing

Lyrics with English Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Karma Girls
Karma Girls

[Section 1]
Je sais de toi, tout de toi
I know about you, everything about you
Mon ami, viens, je sais tout de toi
My friend, come, I know everything about you
Je sais tout de ta vie
I know everything about your life
Dieu m’a dit, « mon ami
God told me, “my friend
Viens, je sais tout de toi »
Come, I know everything about you”
Marcher jusqu’à la mort
Walking until the end
Oui, avec toi
Yes, with you
Mon ami, à ton bras
My friend, on your arm
Oui, je sais tout de toi
Yes, I know everything about you

[Section 2]
Toujours mon cœur sait où tu vas
My heart always knows where you’re going
Mon ami, mon cœur bat pour toi
My friend, my heart beats for you
Oui je sais tout de toi
Yes, I know everything about you
Tout de toi, mon ami
Everything about you, my friend
Viens, je sais tout de toi
Come, I know everything about you
Sur la terre, chaque nuit
On earth, every night
Avec toi, partout à ton bras
With you, everywhere, on your arm
Je sais tout de ta vie
I know everything about your life
Dieu m’a dit, « mon ami
God told me, “my friend
Viens, je sais tout de toi »
Come, I know everything about you”
Marcher jusqu’à la mort
Walking until the end
Avec toi, mon ami
With you, my friend
Oui, on y croit encore
Yes, we still believe in it
Jusqu’ici, dans la nuit
Up until now, in the night
Au hasard
Randomly
Oui, je sais tout de toi
Yes, I know everything about you
Oui, je prends tout de toi
Yes, I take all of you

[Section 3]
Je sais tout de toi, oui, je sais tout de toi
I know everything about you, yes, I know everything about you
Mets ta main dans la mienne et mon corps disparaîtra
Put your hand in mine and my body will disappear
Le jour de gloire sera comme celui-là
The day of glory will be like that one
Quand nous serons libres, un jour, tu leur diras
When we are free, one day, you will tell them
Que je sais tout de toi, oui, je sais tout de toi
That I know everything about you, yes, I know everything about you
Un jour, tu leur diras que c’est mon histoire
One day you’ll tell them that this is my story

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Mon ami, viens, je sais tout de toi
  • Dieu m’a dit, “mon ami
  • Mon ami, à ton bras
  • Toujours mon cœur sait où tu vas
  • Mon ami, mon cœur bat pour toi
  • Tout de toi, mon ami
  • Avec toi, mon ami
  • Mets ta main dans la mienne et mon corps disparaîtra
  • Un jour, tu leur diras que c’est mon histoire
  • Je sais tout de ta vie
  • Avec toi, partout à ton bras
• Possessive Pronouns:
  • Mets ta main dans la mienne et mon corps disparaîtra

• Object Pronouns:
  • Dieu m‘a dit, “mon ami
  • Oui, on y croit encore
  • Quand nous serons libres, un jour, tu leur diras
  • Un jour, tu leur diras que c’est mon histoire

• Irregular Verbs:
  • Je sais de toi, tout de toi
  • Mon ami, viens, je sais tout de toi
  • Je sais tout de ta vie
  • Viens, je sais tout de toi
  • Oui je sais tout de toi
  • Toujours mon cœur sait où tu vas
  • Je sais tout de toi, oui, je sais tout de toi
  • Que je sais tout de toi, oui, je sais tout de toi
  • Toujours mon cœur sait où tu vas
  • Mon ami, mon cœur bat pour toi
  • Oui, on y croit encore
  • Oui, je prends tout de toi
  • Un jour, tu leur diras que c’est mon histoire

• Imperatives:
  • Mon ami, viens, je sais tout de toi
  • Viens, je sais tout de toi
  • Mets ta main dans la mienne et mon corps disparaîtra

• Passé Composé:
  • Dieu m’a dit, “mon ami

• Future:
  • Mets ta main dans la mienne et mon corps disparaîtra
  • Le jour de gloire sera comme celui-là
  • Quand nous serons libres, un jour, tu leur diras
  • Un jour, tu leur diras que c’est mon histoire