À Quoi Ça Sert?

Françoise Hardy's song 'À Quoi Ça Sert?' delves into the complexities and fears associated with love and vulnerability. The lyrics reflect a deep introspection on the nature of love, fear, and the human tendency to avoid emotional pain. Hardy begins by acknowledging a shared fear of love, suggesting that both she and the listener have hearts that are hesitant to make promises. Despite this fear, she questions the purpose of hiding or escaping from love, hinting at the possibility that love might be worth the risk.

The song continues to explore the idea of offering oneself fully, even when there is little to give beyond one's own perspective and experiences. Hardy touches on the inevitability of suffering, posing the rhetorical question of who truly escapes pain. This leads to a poignant reflection on the futility of avoiding love and the isolation that comes from such avoidance. The imagery of an 'ivory tower' symbolizes self-imposed isolation, where one might avoid deep sorrow but also miss out on true happiness.

In the final verses, Hardy emphasizes the limited nature of what she can offer—only the stars and nothing more. This metaphor suggests that while she may not have much materially, she offers the beauty and wonder of the universe. She concludes with a powerful message about the inevitability of pain in life and the pointlessness of living in solitude. The repetition of the question 'À quoi ça sert?' (What’s the point?) underscores the central theme: the futility of avoiding love and the importance of embracing connection, despite the risks involved.