Mille colombes

Mireille Mathieu's song 'Mille colombes' is a heartfelt plea for peace and a return to innocence. The lyrics paint a serene winter scene in a village, where the white sky and the children's choir in an old church evoke a sense of purity and hope. The imagery of the organ 'aux couleurs du temps' (with the colors of time) suggests a timeless, universal longing for harmony and tranquility.

The central theme of the song is a desire for global peace, symbolized by the 'mille colombes' (a thousand doves) and 'millions d'hirondelles' (millions of swallows). These birds are traditional symbols of peace and freedom, respectively. Mathieu's call for these symbols to appear 'à tous les soleils levants' (at all sunrises) emphasizes the hope for a new beginning each day, free from conflict and fear. The repetition of the phrase 'Que la paix soit sur le monde' (May peace be upon the world) underscores the urgency and universality of this wish.

The song also touches on the idea of reclaiming the innocence of childhood. Mathieu dreams of a future where 'tous les hommes redeviennent des enfants' (all men become children again), suggesting that the purity, simplicity, and kindness of children could lead to a more peaceful world. The vision of a world where 'les canons dormiront sous les fleurs' (the cannons will sleep under the flowers) is a powerful metaphor for disarmament and the triumph of beauty and life over destruction and death. This idyllic vision is both a poignant reminder of what has been lost and a hopeful aspiration for what could be achieved.