La Seine

François Jacqueline's song "La Seine" is a poetic and romantic ode to the river Seine and its intimate relationship with the city of Paris. The lyrics personify the river as a wandering, adventurous lover who meanders through various towns and neighborhoods, ultimately finding its true love in Paris. The Seine is depicted as a living entity with emotions, whims, and desires, making its journey through the city a metaphor for a passionate love affair.

The song begins by describing the Seine's journey from Châtillon to Méry, highlighting its adventurous and wandering nature. As the river flows through different towns, it becomes more languorous and happy, especially when it reaches Paris, its chosen lover. The lyrics use vivid imagery to describe how the Seine wraps around Paris, caressing its old streets and historical landmarks. The river's movements are likened to a dance, as it "roucoule, coule, coule" (coos, flows, flows) and "s'enroule, roule, roule" (rolls, rolls, rolls) around the city's flowered quays.

The song also touches on the historical and cultural significance of the Seine, mentioning its indifference to the city's officials and its focus on the romantic idylls of lovers in the Tuileries. The river's journey is filled with nostalgia and memories, especially when it passes by places like Bercy. The Seine's path is described as zigzagging, reflecting its inebriated state from the intoxicating beauty and love it finds in Paris. The song concludes with the Seine's reluctant departure from Paris, expressing its sadness at leaving its beloved city but also its eternal connection, as it leaves a loop at Saint-Denis and continues its journey towards the sea.

"La Seine" is a beautiful and evocative tribute to the river and its deep connection with Paris, capturing the essence of the city's romantic and historical charm through the metaphor of a passionate love affair.