☝️ Key Points
- The song is a poetic ode that themes the beauty, infinity, and calming effect of the sea.
- The lyrics describe in detail the sea, its movement, its silver reflections, and its constant change.
- Trenet draws a comparison between the waves of the sea and pure angels, naming the sea as the guardian of infinite azure.
- The surrounding scenery of the sea is also included, symbolizing melancholy and tranquility.
- The song lyrics end with the emotional portrayal of the sea's influence on the lyrical poet, which has filled his heart with love and tranquility.
Interpretation
The song 'La Mer' by
Charles Trenet is a poetic ode to the sea. The song lyrics describe the beauty, infinity, and calming effect of the sea.
The beginning of the song 'La mer. Qu'on voit danser le long des golfes clairs. A des reflets d'argent. La mer. Des reflets changeants. Sous la pluie' describes the sea as dancing along the clear bays with silver reflections that change under the rain. Trenet paints a vivid picture of the movement and ever-changing appearance of the sea.
In the next verse 'La mer. Au ciel d'été confond. Ses blancs moutons. Avec les anges si purs. La mer bergère de l'azur. Infinie' Trenet compares the waves of the sea (white sheep) to pure angels and calls the sea the shepherdess of infinite azure. This shows his admiration and reverence for the boundless beauty and power of nature.
The following part 'Voyez. Près des étangs. Ces grands roseaux mouillés. Voyez. Ces oiseaux blancs. Et ces maisons rouillées' invites the listener to contemplate the scenery around the sea, the wet reeds near the ponds, the white birds, and the rusty houses. This creates a feeling of melancholy and tranquility.
Finally, the song ends with the lines 'La mer. Les a bercés. Le long des golfes clairs. Et d'une chanson d'amour. La mer. A bercé mon coeur pour la vie' Trenet tells how the sea has forever soothed his heart with its gentle movement and love song. This shows his deep emotional connection and lifelong love for the sea.