Au Grand Jamais In English
Reviewed/Translated by John Elkhoury
COMPREHENSION DIFFICULTY: MEDIUM


Suis-je parfois fragile ?
Am I ever fragile?
Ais-je vraiment le choix ?
Do I really have a choice?
M’arriverais-t-il d’être à cran? tout bas
Do I ever grumble softly? maybe
Pensais-je à la mort?
Was I thinking about death?
Pour enfin arrêter d’être si fort, sais-je au moins pleurer ?
To eventually stop being so strong, can I at least cry? 

Non jamais, au grand jamais
No never, never ever
Regardez est-ce que je tremble ?
Look am I trembling? 
Non jamais, plutôt crever que de laisser la vie me descendre
No never, I would rather die than let life kill me
Non jamais, jamais, au grand jamais…
No never, never, never ever…

Céderais-je dans mes bras
In my arms I will substitute
La place de ma guitare
My guitar’s place
A une bague au doigt ou à ces filles d’un soir ?
For a wedding ring or girls of the night
Suis-je des froids glacés
Am i struck by awe
Quand je monte sur scène
When I appear on stage
S’est on déjà brûlés à la chaleur humaine ?
Has anyone ever been burnt by human warmth?

Non jamais, au grand jamais
No never, never ever
Regardez est-ce que je tremble
Look am I trembling? 
Non jamais, plutôt crever que de laisser la vie me descendre
No never, I would rather die than let life kill me
Non jamais, jamais, au grand jamais…
No never, never, never ever…


Non jamais, au grand jamais
No never, never ever
Regardez moi ! est-ce que je tremble ?
Look at me! Am I trembling?
Non jamais, plutôt crever que de laisser la vie me descendre
No never, I would rather die than let life kill me
Non jamais au grand jamais
No never, never ever
Et achevez moi si je tremble
And finish me off if I tremble
Car jamais, au grand jamais je ne laisserais cette vie me descendre
Because never, never ever will I let this life kill me

Non jamais … jamais … jamais
No never… never… never
Au grand jamais
Never ever
Au grand jamais
Never ever

From the harmonica to the violin, the music that accompanies Bensé’s lovely voice really makes this song. IT feels so laid back, so French! I believe this song is about a man who contemplated suicide, however he constantly asks himself if he’s strong enough “I was thinking of death… to eventually stop being so strong…“. Bensé is torn between continuing his one-night stands or settling down. However, he realizes he’s strong, he never trembles! He won’t let life get the best of him anymore..

For the complete list of reviewed French songs, click HERE.
All songs and lyrics are owned by their respective owners. Any discrepancies with translations can be posted below. Please note that translations are not always word for word, I strive to make the statements sound fluent in English.