☝️ Key Points
- The singer meets Nathalie in Moscow during the Cold War era and she guides him through the city.
- She tells him about the October Revolution and they spend time together at Café Pushkin.
- Nathalie and the singer meet a group of students who want to know everything about the West. Afterwards, they are alone in an intimate moment.
- The singer misses Nathalie after leaving Moscow and dreams of serving as her guide in Paris one day.
- The song is about a romantic encounter marked by political and cultural differences, and the longing for a future reunion.
Interpretation
The song 'Nathalie' by
Gilbert Becaud tells the story of a romantic encounter between the singer and a young woman named Nathalie in Moscow during the Cold War.
In the opening verses 'La place Rouge était vide / Devant moi marchait Nathalie', the singer describes how he follows Nathalie through an empty, snowy Moscow. She acts as his guide and tells him about the October Revolution. The singer thinks about the time they will later spend together at Café Pushkin.
The verses 'Dans sa chambre à l'université / Une bande d'étudiants / L'attendait impatiemment' depict a scene where Nathalie and the singer meet a group of students who want to know everything about the West. Nathalie translates and they have a joyful time singing and dancing together.
Towards the end of the song, when the room is empty and all the friends have left, the singer is left alone with Nathalie. There is no mention of the October Revolution or Lenin anymore - they are now united in an intimate moment.
The final verse 'Que ma vie me semble vide / Mais je sais qu'un jour à Paris / C'est moi qui lui servirai de guide' describes the singer's longing for Nathalie after leaving Moscow. He dreams of meeting her one day in Paris and serving as her guide.
Overall, the song is about a romantic encounter marked by political and cultural differences. It speaks of longing and hope for a reunion in the future.