J'ai pour toi un lac

Gilles Vigneault's song 'J'ai pour toi un lac' is a poetic exploration of deep affection and commitment, using vivid imagery to convey the intensity and breadth of the narrator's feelings. The song begins with the metaphor of a lake, which represents a serene and profound love. This lake is described as 'a beautiful blue lake,' likening it to 'an eye open on the deep night,' suggesting both depth and clarity in the emotions being expressed. The lake's reaction to the beloved's name, trembling like a leaf in autumn or a winter song, further emphasizes the sensitivity and responsiveness of the narrator's love.

The lyrics then transition to a journey on soft sand, illustrating a path of quiet, steady progress in the relationship. This path is marked by thousands of silent steps, leading 'towards we know not where,' which adds an element of mystery and endless possibility to the journey of love. The imagery of the wind drawing on the sand as it does on our foreheads suggests a natural, inevitable marking of time and experience, paralleling the way love leaves its imprint on individuals.

Finally, the song speaks of continuously rebuilding 'a thousand castles' from a friendly cloud, which for the narrator's 'princess' could transform into a boat, an apple tree, a crown, or a basket of bright fruits. This stanza highlights the transformative power of love and the narrator's desire to provide everything to the beloved, from the mundane to the magical. The closing lines, urging the beloved not to let this love be lost, encapsulate the song's theme of cherishing and safeguarding the profound connection they share.