Comme Toi

Jean-Jacques Goldman's song "Comme Toi" is a poignant and haunting reflection on the innocence and beauty of a young girl's life, tragically cut short by the horrors of history. The song begins by painting a serene picture of a little girl with clear eyes and a velvet dress, surrounded by her family and basking in the gentle sunlight. This idyllic scene is filled with warmth and happiness, capturing the essence of a carefree childhood. The girl, who loves music, particularly Schumann and Mozart, represents the universal innocence and joy found in children everywhere.

As the song progresses, we learn more about the girl's daily life. She attends school in her village, learns about books and laws, and enjoys singing songs about frogs and sleeping princesses. She cherishes her doll and her friends, Ruth, Anna, and Jeremy, with whom she dreams of a future, perhaps even getting married in Warsaw. This part of the song emphasizes the normalcy and simplicity of her life, making her story relatable to anyone who has experienced the joys of childhood.

The heartbreaking twist comes in the final verse, where we learn that the girl's name is Sarah, and she is not yet eight years old. Her life, filled with dreams and white clouds, is abruptly shattered by the decisions of others. The song reveals that Sarah lived during a time of great turmoil, likely referencing the Holocaust, and her fate was sealed by the cruelty of those in power. The repeated refrain "Comme toi" (Like you) serves as a powerful reminder that Sarah's story could be the story of any child, highlighting the fragility of innocence and the devastating impact of historical atrocities on individual lives.