“Allez reste” is a song by French band Boulevard des Airs in collaboration with French singer/songwriter Vianney. It was released in February of 2019, was certified gold, and became the most played radio single of the year.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artists

Boulevard des Airs

Boulevard des Airs is a French music group that was started in 2004 by four friends, Sylvain Duthu, Laurent Garnie and brothers Jean-Noël and Florent Dasque at Marie-Curie High School in Tarbes, in the Hautes-Pyrénées department in Southwestern France. They began performing all over France, and sold three self-produced albums at their concerts. In January of 2010 they performed for the first time at the Olympia in Paris, and in June of 2011 they were signed to Sony Music. Their first album Paris-Buenos Aires came out in October of 2011 and was certified gold. Their success really began to take off with the release of their third album Bruxelles in June of 2015, which was certified platinum within a few months. Their 2018 album Je me dis que toi aussi brought even more success, reaching number three in French sales, and earning the award for Original Song of the Year at the 2019 Victoires de la musique music awards for the single of the same name.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Vianney

Vianney Bureau, known as Vianney, is a singer/songwriter from Pau, a city in the southwest of France, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department. He discovered a passion for music when he was twelve and began writing songs. In 2005 his father introduced him to friends who were musicians and helped him record his first self-produced album with his older brother. In October of 2014 he released his first studio album Idées blanches, which would be certified platinum. His second album Vianney, which would be certified diamond, was released in November of 2016. Also in 2016 he won the award for Male Artist of the Year at the Victoires de la Musique music awards. In 2019 he wrote the song “On trace” for the 2019 Enfoirés show Monde des Enfoirés.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘allez’ – While this is the second person plural (vous) conjugation of the verb ‘aller’, meaning ‘to go’, it is often used as an interjection to just mean ‘come on’. You’ll notice in this song that the verb directly following ‘allez’ is conjugated in the second person singular (tu) form.

‘tousser’ – This verb is usually used to mean ‘to cough’, however it can also be used to mean ‘to cough’ or ‘to splutter’, like one would say for an engine. I honestly picture they way old cars are portrayed in cartoons. I think this is more the meaning being conveyed in this song, that rather than flowing in a smooth and steady stream, the memories ‘cough’ and ‘splutter’.

‘filer en douce’ – The verb ‘filer’ can mean ‘to fly by’, ‘to speed by’, ‘to run’, ‘to fly’ or ‘to dash’, among other meanings. However when you add ‘en douce’, which literally translates as ‘in sweet’ and means ‘on the sly’ or ‘furtively’, the phrase means ‘to sneak out’ or ‘to sneak away’.

‘m’en parler’ – While this means ‘to speak of it to me’, this is more simply translated as ‘to tell me’.

‘avoir beau + infinitive’ – Idiomatic language often doesn’t translate well, and this is one of those instances. These two little words carry a whole lot of meaning. The idea of the phrase is that despite your best efforts, no matter how hard or how many times you try, you are not successful in reaching your desired outcome. This is often translated with phrases such as ‘whatever one does’, ‘no matter what one does’ or ‘no matter how hard one tries’.

‘faire au mieux’ – Translating literally as ‘to do to the best’, this phrase means ‘to do one’s best’.

‘de mes yeux’ – Translating literally as ‘of my eyes’, this means to see something ‘for myself’or ‘with my own eyes’.

‘s’est délavé’ – There are a couple things to point out in this phrase. First, this is an example of the fact that, while most verbs take the auxiliary verb ‘avoir’ in the passé composé, reflexive verbs take ‘être’. Second, this is an example of the reflexive used for passive or impersonal construction, where the initiator of the action is not expressed. For example “ça se dit pas” (that’s not said). Here, what he saw has become faded, but he doesn’t say who or what caused the fading.

‘mon enfance’ – While the noun ‘enfance’ is feminine, you will notice that it is proceeded by the masc possessive adjective. This is because feminine nouns that start with a vowel use ‘mon’, ‘ton’ et ‘son’ rather than ‘ma’, ‘ta’ and ‘sa’ to avoid having two vowels back to back.

‘avoir peur’ – In French you don’t use the verb to be (être) to say you are afraid. The verb avoir is used instead, translating literally to someone ‘having fear’.

‘avoir peur que’ – This is one of the expressions that will always be followed by a verb in the subjunctive, as it voices a fear of what would, could or might happen.

‘à pas de géant’ – A ‘pas de géant’ is a ‘big step’ or a ‘giant step’. To do something ‘à pas de géant’ means to do something ‘with giant strides’ or ‘with great strides’.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

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

AllezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing

[Verse 1]
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl souvenirssouvenirmemory | noun | masc pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel toussenttousserto cough; splutter | verb | third pers pl pres
Etetand | conj lalathe | def art | fem sing mémoiremémoirememory | noun | fem sing quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel bégaiebégayerto stammer, stutter | verb | third pers sing pres
Lelethe | def art | masc sing tempstempstime | nouns | masc sing aavoirto have | verb | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. filéfilerfly by, speed by; fly, run, dash; trail, track, follow | verb | pp | filer en douce = sneak out, sneak away enento, in | prep doucedouxsoft; gentle; sweet | adj | fem sing | filer en douce = sneak out, sneak away sanssanswithout | prep m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsenento, in | prep parlerparlerto speak | verb | infin
Etetand | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres | avoir beau = whatever, no matter what one does beaubeauhandsome, attractive, beautiful | adj | masc sing | avoir beau = whatever, no matter what one does fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieux,mieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres | avoir beau = whatever, no matter what one does beaubeauhandsome, attractive, beautiful | adj | masc sing | avoir beau = whatever, no matter what one does sanssanswithout | prep | sans cesse = continuously, ceaselessly cessecesserto stop, cease | verb | third pers sing pres | sans cesse = continuously, ceaselessly essayeressayerto try | verb | infin
Cecethis, that | pron | masc sing quequethat, than | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres | aux verb used with the pp to form the p. c. vuvoirto see | verb | pp dedeof; from | prep mesmesmy | poss adj | masc and fem pl yeuxœileye | noun | masc pl | de mes yeux = for myself, with my own eyes s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing délavédélaverto wash out, fade; saturate | verb | pp

[Pre-Chorus]
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal lelethe | def art | masc sing rirerirelaugh, laughter | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing enfanceenfancechildhood | noun | fem sing
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsodeurodeursmall, scent, fragrance, odor | noun | fem sing dedeof; from | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing écoleécoleschool | noun | fem sing
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amour,amourlove | noun | masc when sing, fem when pl perduperdulost | adj | masc sing | perdu d'avance = already lost, lost before even beginning d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsavanceavancelead, head start, advantage; advance; ahead, fast | noun | fem sing | perdu d'avance = already lost, lost before even beginning
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres peurpeurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid quequethat, than | conj tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsenvoless'envolerfly away, fly off; blow away; flee; soar | verb | sec pers sing subj

[Chorus]
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best

[Verse 2]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing rêvaisrêverto dream, daydream; imagine; desire | verb | first pers sing imperf éléphant,éléphantelephant | noun | masc sing mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing voilàvoilàhere is/are; there is/are; this/that is; there you go, there you have it | adv devenudevenirbecome; become of, happen to | verb | pp moineaumoineausparrow | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas', the 'ne' may be omitted in coll lang domptedomptertrain, tame; control, master; subdue, subjugate, quash | verb | third pers sing pres pasne … pasnot | adverb | the 'ne' may be omitted in coll lang lelethe | def art | masc sing temps,tempstime | nouns | masc sing cecethis, that | pron | masc sing drôledrôlefunny; odd, weird, strange | adj | masc and fem sing d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsoiseauoiseaubird; fellow (pej) | noun | masc sing
Ononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' égareégarerto lose, misplace | verb | third pers sing pres leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl valisesvalisesuitcase | noun | fem pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel gardentgarderto keep, save; take care of, look after | verb | third pers pl pres nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl momentsmomenttime, moment, period | noun | masc pl
Etetand | conj sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | reflex pron | third pers, sing and pl videntviderto empty, clear out | verb | third pers pl pres dedeof; from | prep nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl remisesremisedelivery, presentation, submission; discount, reduction;shed, outhouse; store room, stock room | noun | fem pl ààat, to, in | prep paspasstep; footprint; speed, pace | noun | masc sing | pas de géant = big/giant step, à pas de géant = with giant/great strides dedeof; from | prep géantgéantgiant | noun | masc sing | pas de géant = big/giant step, à pas de géant = with giant/great strides

[Pre-Chorus]
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal lelethe | def art | masc sing rirerirelaugh, laughter | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing enfanceenfancechildhood | noun | fem sing
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowelsodeurodeursmall, scent, fragrance, odor | noun | fem sing dedeof; from | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing écoleécoleschool | noun | fem sing
Toiyoupron | sec pers sing, informal monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing amour,amourlove | noun | masc when sing, fem when pl perduperdulost | adj | masc sing | perdu d'avance = already lost, lost before even beginning d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsavanceavancelead, head start, advantage; advance; ahead, fast | noun | fem sing | perdu d'avance = already lost, lost before even beginning
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsaiavoirto have | verb | first pers sing pres peurpeurfear | noun | fem sing | avoir peur = to be afraid quequethat, than | conj tutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsenvoless'envolerfly away, fly off; blow away; flee; soar | verb | sec pers sing subj

[Chorus]
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best

[Bridge]
AllezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing
AllezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing

[Chorus] x 2
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj devenirdevenirto become | verb | infin vieuxvieuxold | adj | masc sing and pl
AllezallerTooltip content reste,resterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing allezallerTooltip content resteresterremain, stay, be left, continue | verb | sec pers sing encoreencorestill, yet; again | adv ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv
Toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal etetand | conj moimoime | pron | dir, indir obj fairefaireto do; to make | verb | infin | faire au mieux = do your best auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing mieuxmieuxbetter | adv | faire au mieux = do your best

Lyrics with Translation

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

Allez reste
Come on stay

[Verse 1]
J’ai les souvenirs qui toussent
I have memories that splutter
Et la mémoire qui bégaie
And a memory that stutters
Le temps a filé en douce sans m’en parler
Time has snuck by without telling me
Et j’ai beau faire au mieux, j’ai beau sans cesse essayer
And I may do the best, I may constantly try
Ce que j’ai vu de mes yeux s’est délavé
What I saw with my own eyes faded

[Pre-Chorus]
Toi le rire de mon enfance
You, the laughter of my childhood
Toi l’odeur de mon école
You, the scent of my school
Toi mon amour, perdu d’avance
You my love, already lost
J’ai peur que tu t’envoles
I’m afraid you’ll fly away

[Chorus]
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best

[Verse 2]
Je me rêvais éléphant, me voilà devenu moineau
I dreamed I was an elephant, now I’ve become a sparrow
On ne dompte pas le temps, ce drôle d’oiseau
We don’t tame time, that strange bird
On égare les valises qui gardent nos moments
We misplace the suitcases that keep our moments
Et se vident de nos remises à pas de géant
And empty our stock rooms with great strides

[Pre-Chorus]
Toi le rire de mon enfance
You, the laughter of my childhood
Toi l’odeur de mon école
You, the scent of my school
Toi mon amour, perdu d’avance
You my love, already lost
J’ai peur que tu t’envoles
I’m afraid you’ll fly away

[Chorus]
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best

[Bridge]
Allez reste
Come on stay
Allez reste
Come on stay

[Chorus] x 2
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi devenir vieux
You and I getting old
Allez reste, allez reste encore un peu
Come on, stay, stay a little bit longer
Toi et moi faire au mieux
You and I doing our best