I was going to go over a different song by Arcadian, but then they released this quarantine song, so of course, I have to do it. They released it in April of 2020 on Facebook. It was written over Skype during confinement for Covid-19, and uses video that people sent to them. Another French singer/songwriter TiBZ makes an appearance in this video. In the post they said that their role in the virus response is “to entertain you, to look for the positive and to put it into song”. And all proceeds from this song go to the French Hospital Foundation.

About the Artists

Arcadian is a pop music group that started in France, and is pretty new to the music scene. Arcadian is made up of Yoann Pinna and Florentin Cabezon from France, and Jérôme Achermann from Switzerland.

The group started playing together in 2015 while living together in Paris’s 18th arrondissement (district). They played in the metro and in bars around the city, including playing frequently at Social Square, a bar in the third arrondissement. They also began posting their music on YouTube. They were noticed by a representative of the television station TF1, who asked them to be on the fifth season of The Voice: La plus belle voix. They were eliminated in the semi-finals, but the experience gave them exposure. They were signed by the label Mercury France, part of Universal Music. They released their first album in April of 2017, and a second album in October of 2019.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘se lever’ – While the verb ‘lever’ means ‘to lift’, the reflexive ‘se lever’ rather than meaning ‘to lift oneself’ means ‘to get up’.

‘ne … plus’ – This is a common form of negation. Used in the same way as ‘ne … pas’ (sandwiched around the verb), it means ‘not anymore’ or ‘no longer’.

‘ne … plus que’ – This is another common form of negation. Also used in the same way as ‘ne … pas’ (sandwiched around the verb), it means ‘only’.

‘BFM TV’ – This is the name oflarrou a French news and weather channel. It is the most-watched news channel in France with 10 million daily viewers.

‘laisser tomber’ – Literally meaning ‘to let fall’, this phrase can mean to physically ‘drop’ an item, or ‘to let go of’ something figuratively. It can also mean ‘to give up on’ someone or ‘to let (someone) down’.

‘chez’ – Literally meaning ‘with’, this is also used to signal someone’s house. It can me ‘at [name]’s house’, or ‘home’ depending on the context. For example ‘chez Paul’ would translate as ‘at Paul’s house’ whereas ‘restons chez nous’ (seen at the end of the video) would translate as ‘lets stay home’.

‘faire le tour de’ – This phrase means ‘to walk around’ ‘to go around’, or ‘to make the rounds of’.

‘Pour les médecins on applaudit’ – In Paris, as in many other large cities in France and in other places in the world, citizens would all cheer out their windows and off their balconies in a message of thanks to healthcare workers.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Danserdanserto dance | verb | infin

[Verse 1]
Encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing matinmatinmorning | noun | masc sing oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv jejeI | pron | first pers sing mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing lèveleverto raise, lift | verb | first pers sing pres | se lever = to get up
Maismaisbut | conj c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres lalathe | def art | fem sing mêmemêmeeven | adv journéejournéeday | noun | fem sing
Etetand | conj qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelselleelleshe, her, it | pron | third pers sing commencecommencerto begin, start | verb | third pers sing pres ououor | conj qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelselleelleshe, her, it | pron | third pers sing s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, third pers sing and pl | shortened to s' before vowelsachèveacheverto finish; to kill | verb | third pers sing pres | s'achever = to end, come to an end
JejeI | pron | first pers sing saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres plusplusmore | adv | | ne … plus = not anymore, no longer quellequelwhich, what | adj | fem sing heureheurehour | noun | fem sing ililhe, it | pron estêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres
JejeI | pron | first pers sing mangemangerto eat | verb | first pers sing pres seulseulonly, single; alone | adj entreentrebetween | prep deuxdeuxtwo | adj sériesseries, show; set, collection; series successionnoun | fem pl
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres plusplusmore | adv | | ne … plus que = only qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowels | ne … plus que = onlyuneunea | indef art | fem sing seuleseulonly, single; alone | adj | fem sing chaînechaînechain; channel, station | noun | fem sing dedeof; from | prep télétélévisionTV | noun | fem, sing
Lelethe | def art | masc sing matinmatinmorning | noun | masc sing c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres plutôtplutôtrather, instead | adv NetflixNetflixNetflix | prop noun | streaming service
Lelethe | def art | masc sing soirsoirevening | noun | masc sing BFM TVBFM TVBFM TV | prop noun | French television news service

[Pre-Chorus]
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech tombertomberto fall | verb | infin dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing déprimedéprimedepression | noun | fem sing
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, tuyoupron | sec pers sing, inform saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas', the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl laisserlaisserto leave; to let, allow | verb | infin | laisser tomber = drop, let go of; give up on; let down tombertomberto fall | verb | infin | laisser tomber = drop, let go of; give up on; let down
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl soignantssoignantnurse, nursing staff | noun | masc pl etetand | conj toustousall, all of, every | adj ceuxceuxthose, the ones | pron quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel trimenttrimerslave away, work one's fingers to the bone | verb | third pers pl pres
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, tuyoupron | sec pers sing, inform saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres resterresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | infin chezchezhome, at s.o.'s house; where s.o. lives, in s.o.'s area; with; among | prep nousnouswe, us | pron etetand | conj danserdanserto dance | verb | infin

[Chorus]
Dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelshiverhiverwinter | noun | masc sing jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsétéétésummer | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres resterresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | infin confinésconfinéconfined, cooped up | adj | masc pl
Dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelshiverhiverwinter | noun | masc sing jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsétéétésummer | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | first and third pers sing pres iciicihere | adv pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's danserdanserto dance | verb | infin
Danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin
Danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin

[Verse 2]
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl parentsparentparent | noun | masc pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel rêventrêverto dream | verb | third pers pl pres dude + lefrom, of the | prep + art jourjourday | noun, masc
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsécoleécoleschool | noun | fem sing seraêtreto be | verb | third pers sing fut plusplusmore | adv | | ne … plus = not anymore, no longer ferméeferméclosed | adj | fem sing
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl enfantsenfantchild, kid | noun | masc, fem pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel ontavoirto have | verb | third pers pl pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb | pp | faire le tour de = to walk around, go around, make the rounds of lelethe | def art | masc sing tourtourcircuit; revolution; quick walk/stroll; tour, journey | noun | masc sing | faire le tour de = to walk around, go around, make the rounds of
Dedeof; from | prep leurleur(to) them | indir obj pron | third pers pl dixdixten | adj mètresmètremeter | noun | masc pl carréscarrésquare | adj | masc pl
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl médecinsmédecindoctor, physician | noun | masc pl ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' applauditapplaudirto applaud, clap | verb | third pers sing pres
Toustousall, all of, every | adj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl soirssoirevening | noun | masc pl avantavantbefore | prep lelethe | def art | masc sing dinerdinerdinner | noun | masc sing
Cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing soirsoirevening | noun | masc sing yyhere, there | adv | | il y aura = there will be auraavoirto have | verb | third pers sing fut | il y aura = there will be pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech dedeof; from | prep concertconcertconcert | noun | masc sing
Maismaisbut | conj ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres touttouteverything | noun | masc sing donnerdonnerto give | verb | infin [Pre-Chorus]
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech tombertomberto fall | verb | infin dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing déprimedéprimedepression | noun | fem sing
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, tuyoupron | sec pers sing, inform saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas', the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in colloquial speech leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl laisserlaisserto leave; to let, allow | verb | infin | laisser tomber = drop, let go of; give up on; let down tombertomberto fall | verb | infin | laisser tomber = drop, let go of; give up on; let down
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl soignantssoignantnurse, nursing staff | noun | masc pl etetand | conj toustousall, all of, every | adj ceuxceuxthose, the ones | pron quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel trimenttrimerslave away, work one's fingers to the bone | verb | third pers pl pres
AllezallerTooltip content, allezallerTooltip content, tuyoupron | sec pers sing, inform saissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres resterresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | infin chezchezhome, at s.o.'s house; where s.o. lives, in s.o.'s area; with; among | prep nousnouswe, us | pron etetand | conj danserdanserto dance | verb | infin

[Chorus] x 2
Dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelshiverhiverwinter | noun | masc sing jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsétéétésummer | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' vaallerto go | verb | third pers sing pres resterresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | infin confinésconfinéconfined, cooped up | adj | masc pl
Dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelshiverhiverwinter | noun | masc sing jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsétéétésummer | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloqually to mean 'we' resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | first and third pers sing pres iciicihere | adv pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or pron's danserdanserto dance | verb | infin
Danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin
Danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin, danserdanserto dance | verb | infin

Lyrics with Translation

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

Danser
Dance

[Verse 1]
Encore un matin où je me lève
Another morning where I get up
Mais c’est la même journée
But it’s the same day
Et qu’elle commence ou qu’elle s’achève
And whether it is starting or ending
Je sais plus quelle heure il est
I don’t know what time it is anymore
Je mange seul entre deux séries
I eat alone between two series
J’ai plus qu’une seule chaîne de télé
I only have one TV channel
Le matin c’est plutôt Netflix
In the morning it’s Netflix instead
Le soir BFM TV
The evening BFM TV

[Pre-Chorus]
Allez, allez, allez
Come on, come on, come on
On va pas tomber dans la déprime
We’re not going to fall into depression
Allez, allez, tu sais
Come on, come on, you know
On ne va pas les laisser tomber
We’re not going to let them down
Allez, allez, allez
Come on, come on, come on
Pour nos soignants et tous ceux qui triment
For our nurses and all those who slave away
Allez, allez, tu sais
Come on, come on, you know
On va rester chez nous et danser
We’re gonna stay home and dance

[Chorus]
De l’hiver jusqu’à l’été
From winter until summer
On va rester confinés
We’re going to stay confined
De l’hiver jusqu’à l’été
From winter until summer
On reste ici pour danser
We stay here to dance
Danser, danser, danser, danser
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Danser, danser, danser, danser
Dance, dance, dance, dance

[Verse 2]
Pour les parents qui rêvent du jour
For the parents who dream of the day
Où l’école sera plus fermée
When school will not be closed anymore
Pour les enfants qui ont fait le tour
For the children who have made the rounds
De leur dix mètres carrés
Of their ten square meters
Pour les médecins on applaudit
For the doctors we applaud
Tous les soirs avant le diner
Every night before dinner
Ce soir y aura pas de concert
Tonight there won’t be a concert
Mais on va tout donner
But we’ll give it all

[Pre-Chorus]
Allez, allez, allez
Come on, come on, come on
On va pas tomber dans la déprime
We’re not going to fall into depression
Allez, allez, tu sais
Come on, come on, you know
On ne va pas les laisser tomber
We’re not going to let them down
Allez, allez, allez
Come on, come on, come on
Pour nos soignants et tous ceux qui triment
For our nurses and all those who slave away
Allez, allez, tu sais
Come on, come on, you know
On va rester chez nous et danser
We’re gonna stay home and dance

[Chorus] x 2
De l’hiver jusqu’à l’été
From winter until summer
On va rester confinés
We’re going to stay confined
De l’hiver jusqu’à l’été
From winter until summer
On reste ici pour danser
We stay here to dance
Danser, danser, danser, danser
Dance, dance, dance, dance
Danser, danser, danser, danser
Dance, dance, dance, dance