Today I figured it was about time to introduce Amir on this site.

“Longtemps” is a song by French-Israeli singer/songwriter Amir. It was released in August of 2018, and reached number 7 on the charts in Belguim and number 46 in France, and was certified platinum. The song won Chanson de l’Année (Song of the Year) at the 2019 Fête de la Musique in Nîmes. It was the lead single from his re-released third studio album Addictions.

Song information from Wikipedia.

About the Artist

Laurent Amir Khlifa Khedider Haddad, who performs as Amir, is a French-Israeli singer/songwriter. Born in Paris France, he immigrated to Israel when he was 8 years old. He became known in 2006 when he participated in the Israeli music competition Kokhav Nolad (meaning A Star is Born in Hebrew), where he advanced four stages. His first studio album Vayehi was released in 2011. In 2014 he took part in season three of the television show The Voice: la plus belle voix, where he finished third. In 2016 he was selected to represent France with the song “J’ai cherché” in the Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm, Sweden , where he finished in 6th place with 257 points, France’s highest scoring entry in history and its best placing since 2002. Amir has won three NRJ Music Awards and two MTV Europe Music Awards and his second and third albums were both certified 3x platinum.

Biographical information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘galère’ – This term originally referred to a type of ship propelled by oars, called a ‘galley’ in English. As ships got larger, many men were needed to row these ships. In the 16th century it became commonplace to use slaves or convicts to work the oars. Conditions on these ships were abysmal, which led to the current usage of this term to mean ‘a difficult situation’, ‘a pain’, or even ‘hell’.

‘les miennes’ and ‘la tienne’ – These are both examples of French possessive pronouns, which can be used to replace a possessive adjective and a noun when the noun has already been referenced. For example we can say ‘Tu as oublié ton livre ? Prends le mien.’ (You forgot your book? Take mine.) instead of using ‘livre’ twice and saying ‘Tu as oublié ton livre ? Prends mon livre’ (You forgot your book? Take my book). Possessive pronouns always match the noun in gender and number. Here ‘les miennes’ refers to ‘les galères’ and ‘la tienne’ refers to ‘la peau’.

‘qu’on s’apprenne’ – The verb ‘apprendre’ means to learn. The ‘se’ here makes it reciprocal, meaning ‘we learn about each other’.

‘être/se mettre dans des beaux draps’ – This phrase means ‘to be in a mess’, ‘be in a pickle’, or ‘to be up a creek without a paddle’. This phrase originated in the Middle Ages. At that time the term ‘draps’ referred to clothing. The phrase was originally ‘être dans de beaux draps blancs’ because the tradition of the time was that people accused of lust had to attend Mass dressed in white, as a form of penitence or to sow their guilt. As white is a symbol of purity and innocence, this was supposed to bring out the “black” aspects of their lives. The word ‘blancs’ (white) was dropped from the phrase, but the meaning of the phrase has not changed.

‘quand même’ – Literally meaning ‘when the same’, this phrase means ‘all the same’, ‘still’, ‘anyway’, or ‘even so’.

‘tous les deux’ – While this phrase literally means ‘every two’, in normal usage it often means ‘both’. It can mean ‘the two of us’, ‘both of us’, ‘the two of you’, ‘both of you’, ‘the two of them’ or ‘both of them’.

‘avoir froid’ – This is one of the many phrases that uses ‘avoir’ in French. Meaning ‘to be cold’, it translates literally as ‘to have cold’.

‘toit’ – While this word literally means ‘roof’, it can also be used more figuratively to mean ‘home’, or ‘a roof over one’s head’.

‘avoir besoin’ – This is another of the many phrases that uses ‘avoir’ in French. Meaning ‘to need’, it translates literally as ‘to have need of’.

Subjunctive

There are several instances of the subjunctive mood in this song:

‘vouloir que’ – There are many instances of this phrase in this song, both in the present (je veux que) and the conditional (je voudrais que). When the verb ‘vouloir’ (to want) is followed by a dependent clause beginning with ‘que’, it will always be followed by a verb in the subjunctive. As ‘vouloir que’ is about wanting it fulfills the requirement of the subjunctive of expressing a desire or someone’s will.

‘jusqu’à ce que’ – ‘Jusqu’à ce que, meaning ‘until’, is one of the conjunctions that requires the subjunctive.

‘pour que’ – ‘Pour que’, meaning ‘so that’ is another of the conjunctions that requires the subjunctive.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

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

Longtempslongtemps(for) a long time | adv

[Verse 1]
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl problèmesproblèmeproblem, difficulty, issue | noun | masc pl
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowels and sometimes consonants in coll langtestesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl galèresgalèrehell, difficult situation, pain, chore | noun | fem pl devientdevenirto become; happen to | verb | third pers pl subj leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl miennesmienmine | poss pron | fem pl | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowels and sometimes consonants in coll langtutuyou | pron | sec pers sing, inform m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelsbalancesbalancerto swing, rock; to drop; to throw away | verb | sec pers sing subj auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing visagevisageface | noun | masc sing testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl orages,oragestorm, thunderstorm; (fig) storm, rage | noun | masc pl testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl peinespeinesorrow, grief, pain; effort, exertion; difficulty, trouble; punishment | noun | fem pl
Pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or prons desdessome | indef art | masc and fem pl nuitsnuitnight | noun | fem sing diluviennesdiluviendiluvian, floodlike | adj | fem pl
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelsapprenneapprendreto learn (about), hear (about), find out about | verb | third pers sing subj
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres partagerpartagerto share, divide | verb | infin testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl joies,joiejoy, pleasure, delight, enjoyment | noun | fem pl testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl migrainesmigraineheadache, migraine | noun | fem pl
Tontonyour | poss adj | masc sing corpscorpsbody | noun | masc sing and pl mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing donnedonnerto give | verb | third pers sing pres lelethe | def art | masc sing vertigevertigevertigo, dizziness, giddiness | noun | masc sing etetand | conj testesyour | poss adj | masc and fem pl mainsmainhand | noun | fem pl mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing mènentmenerto lead; direct; carry out | verb | third pers pl pres
Oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv rien(ne) … riennothing, not … anything | pron | in cases where the 'ne' is grammatically necessary it is often omitted in coll lang nenenot, no | adv | used with another negative term, such as 'ne … pas' nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl gênegênerto disturb, bother; embarrass, make uncomfortable; annoy | verb | third pers sing pres
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | sometimes shortened to j' in coll langpourraispouvoirto be able to (would be) | verb | first pers cond m’meme; myself | pron | first pers sing, dir obj, indir obj, and reflex | shortened to m' before vowelstatouertatouerto tattoo | verb | infin notrenotreposs adj | our | masc and fem sing histoirehistoirestory; history | noun | fem sing sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lelethe | def art | masc sing brasbrasarm | noun | masc sing and pl
Mememe | pron | dir and indir obj, reflex, first pers sing mettremettreto put, place | verb | infin | être/se mettre dans des beaux draps = to be in a mess, be in a pickle, be up a creek without a paddle dansdansin | prep dedeof; from | prep beauxbeauhandsome, attractive, beautiful | adj | masc pl | être/se mettre dans des beaux draps = to be in a mess, be in a pickle, be up a creek without a paddle drapsdrapsheet | noun | masc pl | être/se mettre dans des beaux draps = to be in a mess, be in a pickle, be up a creek without a paddle sisiso | adv t’teyou | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing | shortened to t' before vowelsesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres avecavecwith | prep moimoime | pron | dir and indir obj, first pers sing
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal dansdansin | prep cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep fousfoucrazy person, lunatic | noun | masc pl
JejeI | pron | first pers sing l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowels and sometimes consonants in coll langsaissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron

[Chorus]
Etetand | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowels, and sometimes consonants in coll langvoudraisvouloirto want | verb | first and sec pers sing cond qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsçaçathis, that, it | pron duredurerto last, continue | verb | third pers sing subj longtempslongtemps(for) a long time | adv
Useruserto wear out/down/away; to use | verb | infin mamamy | poss adj | fem sing peaupeauskin | noun | fem sing sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing tiennetienmine | poss pron | fem sing | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun
Ununa | indef art | masc sing jourjourday | noun | masc sing j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsoublieraioublierto forget | verb | first pers sing fut touttoutall, entirely, very | adv jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing nom,nomname | noun | masc sing jejeI | pron | first pers sing sauraisavoirto know | verb | first pers sing fut simplementsimplementsimply, clearly, plainly; only, merely, just | adv
Quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres belle,beaubeautiful, attractive, handsome; pleasant; good, excellent | adj | fem sing quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres miennemienmine | poss pron | fem sing | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowels, and sometimes consonants in coll langvoudraisvouloirto want | verb | first and sec pers sing cond qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsçaçathis, that, it | pron duredurerto last, continue | verb | third pers sing subj centcentone hundred | adj ansanyear | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than | conj jamaisjamaisnever, ever | adv lalathe | def art | fem sing raisonraisonreason; senses; motive, excuse | noun | fem sing n’nenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' | shortened to n' before vowelsatteigneatteindreto reach, get to; attain, acheive; affect, touch | verb | third pers sing subj
Cetcetthis, that | dem adj | masc sing before vowels aveu,aveuadmission, confession, declaration | noun | masc sing cettecettethis, that | dem adj | fem sing envieenvielonging, desire, wish, yearning | noun | fem sing dedeof; from | prep rêverrêverto dream | verb | infin toustousall, all of, every | adj | | tous les deux = both (of us) leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj | | tous les deux = both (of us) quandquandwhen | adv, conj | | quand même = all the same, still, anyway, even so mêmemêmeeven | adv | | quand même = all the same, still, anyway, even so
Jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsununa | indef art | masc sing jourjourday | noun | masc sing nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj yeuxœileye | noun | masc pl s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelséteignentéteindreto extinguish, put out; turn off | verb | third pers pl subj | s'éteindre = to go out, die

[Verse 2]
Monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing évidenceévidenceevidence; foregone conclusion | noun | fem sing | de toute évidence = quite evidently
T’tuyou | pron | sec pers sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing souriresouriresmile | noun, masc etetand | conj mamamy | poss adj | fem sing cartecartecard | noun | fem sing chancechance(good) luck; chance, probability | noun | fem sing
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowels, and sometimes consonants in coll langveuxvouloirto want | verb | first pers sing pres qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' déconne,déconneract like an idiot, do something stupid; mess around, fool around; joke, kid | verb | third pers sing subj qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' décolle,décollerto be swept away; take off; get going; remove, detach, unstick; lift, raise | verb | third pers sing subj qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' délire,délirerbe crazy, be out of your mind, hallucinate; babble deliriously | verb | third pers sing subj qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsononone, people, you, someone; we | pron | following verbs conjugate in third pers sing, even when used colloquially to mean 'we' dansedanserto dance | verb | third pers sing subj
Jusqu’àujusqu'à + leuntil + the | prep + def art dernierdernierlast | adj | masc sing silencesilencesilence | noun | masc sing
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsiraiallerto go | verb | first pers sing fut dansdansin | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing rueruestreet, road | noun | fem sing sisiso | adv t’tuyou | pron | sec pers sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langasavoirto have | verb | sec pers sing pres | avoir besoin = to need besoinbesoinneed, requirement, necessity | noun | masc sing | avoir besoin = to need d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsununa | indef art | masc sing toittoitroof; roof over your head, home | noun | masc sing
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelspourraispouvoirto be able to | verb | first pers cond vivrevivreto live | verb | infin nununaked, nude; bare, stark, exposed; empty unused | adj | masc sing pourpourto; for | prep | to' before verbs, 'for' before nouns or prons qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelst’tuyou | pron | sec pers sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langaiesavoirto have | verb | sec person sing subj ununa | indef art | masc sing peupeulittle, a little (bit), not much | adv moinsmoinsless | adv froidfroidcold | adj | masc sing
C’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, informal dansdansin | prep cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing mondemondeworld, crowd, people, everybody | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep fousfoucrazy person, lunatic | noun | masc pl
JejeI | pron | first pers sing l’le, lathe | def art | masc or fem sing | shortened to l' before vowels and sometimes consonants in coll langsaissavoirto know | verb | first and sec pers sing pres c’cethis, that, it | pron | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb | third pers sing pres touttouteverything; anything | pron

[Chorus] x 2
Etetand | conj j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowels, and sometimes consonants in coll langvoudraisvouloirto want | verb | first and sec pers sing cond qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsçaçathis, that, it | pron duredurerto last, continue | verb | third pers sing subj longtempslongtemps(for) a long time | adv
Useruserto wear out/down/away; to use | verb | infin mamamy | poss adj | fem sing peaupeauskin | noun | fem sing sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lalathe | def art | fem sing tiennetienmine | poss pron | fem sing | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun
Ununa | indef art | masc sing jourjourday | noun | masc sing j’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowelsoublieraioublierto forget | verb | first pers sing fut touttoutall, entirely, very | adv jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep monmonmy | poss adj | masc sing nom,nomname | noun | masc sing jejeI | pron | first pers sing sauraisavoirto know | verb | first pers sing fut simplementsimplementsimply, clearly, plainly; only, merely, just | adv
Quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres là,làthere; here | adv quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres belle,beaubeautiful, attractive, handsome; pleasant; good, excellent | adj | fem sing quequethat, than | conj t’tuyou | pron | sec person sing inform | may be shortened to t' before vowels in coll langesêtreto be | verb | sec pers sing pres miennemienmine | poss pron | fem sing | used with def art in reference to a previously referenced noun
J’jeI | pron | first pers sing | shortened to j' before vowels, and sometimes consonants in coll langvoudraisvouloirto want | verb | first and sec pers sing cond qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsçaçathis, that, it | pron duredurerto last, continue | verb | third pers sing subj centcentone hundred | adj ansanyear | noun | masc sing
Quequethat, than | conj jamaisjamaisnever, ever | adv lalathe | def art | fem sing raisonraisonreason; senses; motive, excuse | noun | fem sing n’nenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' | shortened to n' before vowelsatteigneatteindreto reach, get to; attain, acheive; affect, touch | verb | third pers sing subj
Cetcetthis, that | dem adj | masc sing before vowels aveu,aveuadmission, confession, declaration | noun | masc sing cettecettethis, that | dem adj | fem sing envieenvielonging, desire, wish, yearning | noun | fem sing dedeof; from | prep rêverrêverto dream | verb | infin toustousall, all of, every | adj | | tous les deux = both (of us) leslesthe | def art | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj | | tous les deux = both (of us) quandquandwhen | adv, conj | | quand même = all the same, still, anyway, even so mêmemêmeeven | adv | | quand même = all the same, still, anyway, even so
Jusqu’àjusqu'àuntil | prep cecethis, that | dem adj | masc sing qu’quethat, than | conj | shortened to qu' before vowelsununa | indef art | masc sing jourjourday | noun | masc sing nosnosour | poss adj | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj yeuxœileye | noun | masc pl s’sehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex | shortened to s' before vowelséteignentéteindreto extinguish, put out; turn off | verb | third pers pl subj | s'éteindre = to go out, die

Lyrics with Translation

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

Longtemps
For a Long Time

[Verse 1]
J’veux des problèmes
I want some problems
J’veux qu’tes galères deviennent les miennes
I want your difficult situations to become mine
J’veux qu’tu m’balances au visage tes orages, tes peines
I want you to throw your rages, your sorrows in my face
Pour des nuits diluviennes
For floodlike nights
J’veux qu’on s’apprenne
I want us to learn about each other
J’veux partager tes joies, tes migraines
I want to share your joys, your headaches
Ton corps me donne le vertige et tes mains me mènent
Your body makes me giddy and your hands lead me
Où rien ne nous gêne
Where nothing bothers us
J’pourrais m’tatouer notre histoire sur le bras
I could have our story tattooed on my arm
Me mettre dans de beaux draps si t’es avec moi
Put myself into a pickle if you’re with me
C’est toi dans ce monde de fous
It’s you in this world of lunatics
Je l’sais c’est tout
I know it, that’s all

[Chorus]
Et j’voudrais qu’ça dure longtemps
And I would like it to last a long time
User ma peau sur la tienne
To wear out my skin against yours
Un jour j’oublierai tout jusqu’à mon nom, je saurai simplement
One day I’ll forget everything up to my name, I’ll just know
Que t’es là, que t’es belle, que t’es mienne
That you’re here, that you’re beautiful, that you’re mine
J’voudrais qu’ça dure cent ans
And I would like it to last a hundred years
Que jamais la raison n’atteigne
May reason never reach
Cet aveu, cette envie de rêver tous les deux quand même
This confession, this desire of both of ours to dream anyway
Jusqu’à ce qu’un jour nos deux yeux s’éteignent
Until one day the light in both our eyes goes out

[Verse 2]
Mon évidence
My evidence
T’es mon sourire et ma carte chance
You’re my smile and my lucky card
J’veux qu’on déconne, qu’on décolle, qu’on délire, qu’on danse
I want us to fool around, to be swept away, to be out of our minds, to dance
Jusqu’au dernier silence
Until the last silence
J’irai dans la rue si t’as besoin d’un toit
I’ll go to the street if you need a roof over your head
J’pourrais vivre nu pour qu’t’aies un peu moins froid
I could live naked so you’d be a little less cold
C’est toi dans ce monde de fous
It’s you in this world of lunatics
Je l’sais c’est tout
I know it, that’s all

[Chorus] x 2
Et j’voudrais qu’ça dure longtemps
And I would like it to last a long time
User ma peau sur la tienne
To wear out my skin against yours
Un jour j’oublierai tout jusqu’à mon nom, je saurai simplement
One day I’ll forget everything up to my name, I’ll just know
Que t’es là, que t’es belle, que t’es mienne
That you’re here, that you’re beautiful, that you’re mine
J’voudrais qu’ça dure cent ans
And I would like it to last a hundred years
Que jamais la raison n’atteigne
May reason never reach
Cet aveu, cette envie de rêver tous les deux quand même
This confession, this desire of both of ours to dream anyway
Jusqu’à ce qu’un jour nos deux yeux s’éteignent
Until one day the light in both our eyes goes out