Bataillon D'amour

Joachim Witt's song 'Bataillon D'amour' paints a vivid and melancholic picture of youthful innocence intertwined with burgeoning desire. The lyrics open with a haunting image of fog drifting through a cold city, setting a somber and reflective tone. The fog, likened to white cloths, creates a sense of obscurity and mystery, while the wet cobblestones and glistening streets add to the cold, almost desolate atmosphere. This backdrop serves as the stage for the unfolding narrative, where a fleeting glimpse of a young girl's face emerges from the darkness, illuminated by a sliver of yellow light from a doorway. The girl, barely thirteen, is already touched by the shadows of night, symbolizing a premature loss of innocence and the encroachment of adult experiences.

As the song progresses, Witt introduces the delicate and intimate interaction between the girl and a boy. The boy's hands gently caress her chest, and the narrator, passing by, feels a warm breath of desire. This moment is both tender and unsettling, capturing the complexity of adolescent love and the awakening of sexual feelings. The wet street, where their shadows silently meet and seduce each other, becomes a metaphor for the labyrinthine nature of love and desire. The imagery of shadows touching and seducing each other in silence emphasizes the secretive and often confusing nature of young love, where emotions are intense yet unspoken.

The recurring refrain 'Bataillon d'Amour' (Battalion of Love) suggests a collective experience of love and desire, almost as if these young lovers are soldiers in an emotional battle. The use of military imagery juxtaposed with the tender moments of affection highlights the intensity and potential danger of these feelings. Witt's song captures the bittersweet essence of adolescence, where innocence and desire coexist, leading young hearts into the complex and often bewildering world of love.