“Tout l’univers” is a single by Swiss singer Gjon’s Tears that was released in March of 2021. The song represented Switzerland in the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The song finished in 3rd place, the best result for Switzerland since 1993.

Song information from Wikipedia.

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘Ne pas te retenir’ – With the verb in the infinitive here, there are a couple possible meanings for the phrase. One option is that the ‘te’ is a direct object being held back by an undefined subject. So the translation would be ‘To not hold onto you’ or ‘To not hold you back’. The other option is that this is a version of the reflexive ‘se retenir’ meaning to hold oneself back. So it could also mean ‘To not hold yourself back’.

‘Nous nous retrouvons au point d’impact’ – This is a reflexive verb that could either be reflexive or reciprocal in this context. ‘Se retrouver’ can either mean ‘to meet each other’, or ‘to find oneself’, ‘to get one’s bearings’ or ‘to be found’. So it could mean that after they will meet each other at the impact point, or that they will find themselves. I feel it is more likely however that the song is saying they will lose each other and then they will find each other again. This is also an example of the present tense being used as the implied future. Even though the present tense is used, the meaning is ‘we will meet’.

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. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Touttoutall, all of, every one of, the whole | adj | masc sing l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsuniversuniversuniverse | noun | masc sing

[Verse 1]
Laisserlaisserto leave; to let, allow | verb, reg | infin lelethe | art, def | masc sing ventventwind, breeze; air circulation; air, feeling, atmosphere | noun | masc sing quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel frôlefrôlerbrush past/against; verge on, be close to, approach | verb, reg | first and third pers sing pres
Sasahis, her, its, one's | adj, poss | fem sing mainmainhand | noun | fem sing sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep monmonmy | adj, poss | masc sing épauleépauleshoulder | noun | fem plural
Lelethe | art, def | masc sing videvideemptiness, empty space, void, vacuum, nothingness | noun | masc sing dansdansin | prep mamamy | adj, poss | fem sing têtetêtehead | noun | fem sing
Pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in coll speech lalathe | art, def | fem sing moindremoindrelower; lesser, least | adj | masc and fem sing cachettecachettehiding place, hideout | noun | fem sing

[Verse 2]
C’cethis, that, it | pron | indef dem | shortened to c' before a vowelestêtreto be | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsaubeaubedawn, daybreak | noun | fem sing quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel déclinedéclinerweaken, sicken, become weaker; decline; reject, refuse; state, give | verb, reg | first and third pers sing pres
Derrièrederrièrebehind | prep ununa | art, indef | masc sing champchampfield | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep ruineruinedegradation, decline, deterioration; ruin; bankruptcy | noun | fem sing
Lelethe | art, def | masc sing momentmomenttime, moment, period | noun | masc sing dedeof; from | prep grandirgrandirto get bigger/taller, grow; increase; grow up | verb, reg | infin
Nenenot, no | adv | used with another neg term, such as 'ne … pas' pasne … pasnot | adv | the 'ne' may be omitted in col speech teteyou; yourself | pron | dir obj, indir obj, and reflex, sec pers sing retenirretenircatch; hold on to, hold back | verb, irreg | infin

[Pre-Chorus]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub voisvoirto see, watch | verb, irreg | first and sec pers sing pres derrièrederrièrebehind | prep nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl morceauxmorceaupiece, bit, fragment | noun | masc pl dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj
Etetand | conj cecethis, that | adj, dem | masc sing quequethat, than | conj | | ce que = what lalathe | art, def | fem sing douleurdouleurpain | noun | fem sing aavoirto have | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb, irreg | pp dedeof; from | prep moimoime, to me | pron | first pers sing, disj

[Chorus]
Touttoutall, all of, every one of, the whole | adj | masc sing l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsuniversuniversuniverse | noun | masc sing
Nosnosour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj cœurscœurheart | noun | masc pl soussousunder, underneath | prep lalathe | art, def | fem sing terreterreearth; soil; land, property | noun | fem sing
Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing milieumilieumiddle | noun | masc sing desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl faillesfaillefault, rift; flaw | noun | fem pl oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv touttouteverything; anything | pron éclateéclaterto smash, break, crack; split, divide; pulverize; burst, explode, shatter; break out; erupt, come out | verb, reg | first and third pers sing pres
Sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex trouvertrouverto find | verb, reg | infin | se trouver = be located; happen; find oneself, think you look auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing pointpointdot, spot, point; period; place, position | noun | masc sing d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsimpactimpactimpact; chip, mark; effect; influence | noun | masc sing
Sanssanswithout | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj

[Verse 3]
Quequewhat, that, whom | pron deviendrontdevenirto become; happen to | verb, irreg | third pers pl fut nosnosour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl soufflessoufflebreath; breeze, puff of wind, blast of air | noun | masc sing
S’siif | conj | shortened to s' before vowelsilsilsthey | pron | third pers pl masc or mixed gender, sub restentresterto remain, be left | verb, reg | third pers pl pres sursuron, upon; on top of, above | prep lelethe | art, def | masc sing bord ?bordedge, rim; (river) bank | noun | masc sing
Cetcetthis, that | adj, dem | masc sing before vowels amouramourlove | noun | masc when singular, fem when plural quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj tordtordreto wring, twist, contort | verb, reg | third pers sing pres

[Pre-Chorus]
JejeI | pron | first pers sing, sub voisvoirto see, watch | verb, irreg | first and sec pers sing pres derrièrederrièrebehind | prep nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl morceauxmorceaupiece, bit, fragment | noun | masc pl dedeof; from | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj
Etetand | conj cecethis, that | adj, dem | masc sing quequethat, than | conj | | ce que = what lalathe | art, def | fem sing douleurdouleurpain | noun | fem sing aavoirto have | verb, irreg | third pers sing pres | aux verb used with pp to form p.c. faitfaireto do, to make | verb, irreg | pp dedeof; from | prep moimoime, to me | pron | first pers sing, disj

[Chorus]
Touttoutall, all of, every one of, the whole | adj | masc sing l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsuniversuniversuniverse | noun | masc sing
Nosnosour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj cœurscœurheart | noun | masc pl soussousunder, underneath | prep lalathe | art, def | fem sing terreterreearth; soil; land, property | noun | fem sing
Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing milieumilieumiddle | noun | masc sing desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl faillesfaillefault, rift; flaw | noun | fem pl oùoùwhere; at that time, when | adv touttouteverything; anything | pron éclateéclaterto smash, break, crack; split, divide; pulverize; burst, explode, shatter; break out; erupt, come out | verb, reg | first and third pers sing pres
Sesehimself, herself, oneself, itself, themselves, each other | pron | third pers sing and pl, reflex trouvertrouverto find | verb, reg | infin | se trouver = be located; happen; find oneself, think you look auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing pointpointdot, spot, point; period; place, position | noun | masc sing d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsimpactimpactimpact; chip, mark; effect; influence | noun | masc sing
Sanssanswithout | prep toitoiyou | pron | sec pers sing, disj

[Bridge]
Derrièrederrièrebehind | prep mesmesmy | adj, poss | masc and fem pl paupièrespaupièreeyelid | noun | fem pl
Trouvertrouverto find | verb, reg | infin dedeof; from | prep l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsairairair, atmosphere; appearance; tune | noun | masc sing

[Final Chorus]
Touttouteverything; anything | pron l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsuniversuniversuniverse | noun | masc sing
Nosnosour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl deuxdeuxtwo | adj cœurscœurheart | noun | masc pl soussousunder, underneath | prep lalathe | art, def | fem sing terreterreearth; soil; land, property | noun | fem sing
Auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing milieumilieumiddle | noun | masc sing desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl faillesfaillefault, rift; flaw | noun | fem pl etetand | conj desdessome | art, indef | masc and fem pl ressacsressacbackwash, receding waves | noun | masc pl
Nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj nousnouswe, us | pron | first pers pl, sub, dir obj, indir obj, disj retrouvonsretrouverfind; encounter, meet; get back; remember; get back (to) | verb, reg | first pers pl pres | se retrouver = to meet each other; find oneself; get one's bearings; be found auà + leat the, to the | prep + def art | masc sing pointpointdot, spot, point; period; place, position | noun | masc sing d’deof; from | prep | used before vowelsimpactimpactimpact; chip, mark; effect; influence | noun | masc sing
Commentcommenthow | adv soignersoignerto treat; care for, look after; be a cure for | verb, reg | infin nosnosour | adj, poss | masc and fem pl cœurscœurheart | noun | masc pl quiquiwho, which, that | pron | interr or rel éclatent?éclaterto smash, break, crack; split, divide; pulverize; burst, explode, shatter; break out; erupt, come out | verb, reg | third pers pl pres

[Outro]
Touttouteverything; anything | pron l’le, lathe | art, def | masc or fem sing, shortened to l' before vowelsuniversuniversuniverse | noun | masc sing

Lyrics with Translation

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

Tout l’univers
The whole universe

[Verse 1]
Laisser le vent qui frôle
Let the wind that brushes
Sa main sur mon épaule
Its hand on my shoulder
Le vide dans ma tête
The emptiness in my head
Pas la moindre cachette
Not the slightest hiding place

[Verse 2]
C’est l’aube qui décline
It’s the dawn that is waning
Derrière un champ de ruine
Behind a field of ruin
Le moment de grandir
The time to grow up
Ne pas te retenir
To not hold onto you

[Pre-Chorus]
Je vois derrière nous des morceaux de toi
I see pieces of you behind us
Et ce que la douleur a fait de moi
And what pain has done to me

[Chorus]
Tout l’univers
The whole universe
Nos deux cœurs sous la terre
Our two hearts under the ground
Au milieu des failles où tout éclate
In the middle of the rifts where everything shatters
Se trouver au point d’impact
Being at the point of impact
Sans toi
Without you

[Verse 3]
Que deviendront nos souffles
What will become of our breaths
S’ils restent sur le bord ?
Should they stay on the edge?
Cet amour qui nous tord
This love that contorts us

[Pre-Chorus]
Je vois derrière nous des morceaux de toi
I see pieces of you behind us
Et ce que la douleur a fait de moi
And what pain has done to me

[Chorus]
Tout l’univers
The whole universe
Nos deux cœurs sous la terre
Our two hearts under the ground
Au milieu des failles où tout éclate
In the middle of the rifts where everything shatters
Se trouver au point d’impact
Being at the point of impact
Sans toi
Without you

[Bridge]
Derrière mes paupières
Behind my eyelids
Trouver de l’air
Finding some air

[Final Chorus]
Tout l’univers
The whole universe
Nos deux cœurs sous la terre
Our two hearts under the ground
Au milieu des failles et des ressacs
In the middle of the rifts and the receding waves
Nous nous retrouvons au point d’impact
We’ll meet at the point of impact
Comment soigner nos cœurs qui éclatent ?
How can we heal our shattering hearts?

[Outro]
Tout l’univers
The whole universe

Grammatical Concepts Used in this Song

• Possessive Adjectives:
  • Sa main sur mon épaule
  • Le vide dans ma tête
  • Nos deux cœurs sous la terre
  • Que deviendront nos souffles
  • Comment soigner nos cœurs qui éclatent ?
  • Derrière mes paupières

• Disjunctive Pronouns:
  • Je vois derrière nous des morceaux de toi
  • Et ce que la douleur a fait de moi
  • Sans toi

• Object Pronouns:
  • Ne pas te retenir
  • Cet amour qui nous tord

• Reflexive Pronouns:
  • Se trouver au point d’impact
  • Nous nous retrouvons au point d’impact

• Reflexive Verbs:
  • Se trouver au point d’impact
  • Nous nous retrouvons au point d’impact

• Contractions:
  • Au milieu des failles où tout éclate
  • Se trouver au point d’impact
  • Au milieu des failles et des ressacs
  • Nous nous retrouvons au point d’impact

• Relative Pronouns:
  • Laisser le vent qui frôle
  • C’est l’aube qui décline
  • Cet amour qui nous tord
  • Et ce que la douleur a fait de moi
  • Comment soigner nos cœurs qui éclatent ?

• Irregular Verbs:
  • être:
    • C’est l’aube qui décline
  • voir:
    • Je vois derrière nous des morceaux de toi

• Passé Composé:
  • Et ce que la douleur a fait de moi

• Future:
  • Que deviendront nos souffles