Le vent nous portera- Noir Désir (Detroit)

This is a 2001 alternative rock ballad from the French group Noir Désir. It was written by the singer of the group Bertrand Cantat.
The song is very different from their usual rock style, and it became a great success for the group, both within their fan base and the public at large.
It has been covered by numerous artists, including Sophie Hunger for a jazz version in 2010, Margherita Pirri for a modern folk version in 2020, Pia Salvia with a harp version in 2025, Kistehén for the Hungarian version (2008) and Les Charbonniers de l’Enfer for a traditional folk version (2010)

The song is rarely played these days on mainstream media due to Bertrand Cantat’s criminal and violent history.
In 2025, as new evidence was brought to court that Bertrant Cantat (who had been incarcerated for the murder of his partner, the famous actress Marie Trintignant, in 2003) was also responsible for the suicide of his wife and the mother of their two children in 2010, as she suffered domestic violence during his conditional release between 2007 and 2010.
A TikToker called Kloe rewrote the song with new lyrics to denounce the violence perpetrated by the author of the song. Her song went viral, and the French singer Soann covered it.

Just as I try to separate the artist from their work, for example, appreciating Céline’s novel “Journey to the End of the Night” even though I cannot share or condone views he had and shared in his life outside the novel, nor in this case the actions and behaviours of Bertrand Cantat; I find this song to be beautiful and poetic, with a powerful message about the passage of time.

It explores the ephemeral nature of life, love and experiences, the forces that move us through life and reminds us that everything eventually fades away, carried by the wind (unavoidable passage of time).
Written in a poetic style, the lyrics use metaphors and abstract phrases to invite the listener to think and create their own understanding. I have therefore translated the song quite literally and avoided making my own interpretation in the subtitles.

Je n’ai pas peur de la route
Faudrait voir, faut qu’on y goûte
Des méandres au creux des reins
Et tout ira bien là
Le vent nous portera

Ton message à la Grande Ourse
Et la trajectoire de la course
Un instantané de velours
Même s’il ne sert à rien va
Le vent l’emportera

Tout disparaîtra mais
Le vent nous portera

La caresse et la mitraille
Et cette plaie qui nous tiraille
Le palais des autres jours
D’hier et demain
Le vent les portera

Génétique en bandoulière
Des chromosomes dans l’atmosphère
Des taxis pour les galaxies
Et mon tapis volant, dis?
Le vent l’emportera
Tout disparaîtra mais
Le vent nous portera

Ce parfum de nos
années mortes
Ce qui peut frapper à ta porte
Infinité de destins
On en pose un et qu’est-ce qu’on en retient?
Le vent l’emportera

Pendant que la marée monte
Et que chacun refait ses comptes
J’emmène au creux de mon ombre
Des poussières de toi
Le vent les portera
Tout disparaîtra mais
Le vent nous portera

I am not afraid of the road
We should see, we should taste it
Twists and turns of the lower back
And everything will be alright
The wind will carry us

Your message to Ursa Major
And the trajectory of the race
A snapshot of velvet
Even if in vain
The wind will carry it

Everything will disappear, but
The wind will carry us

The caress and the bullets
This wound that tears us apart
The palace of other days
From yesterday to tomorrow
The wind will carry it

Genetics on our backs
Chromosomes in the
atmosphere
Taxis to the galaxies
And what about my flying carpet
The wind will carry it
Everything will disappear
The wind will carry us

The fragrance of our
gone-by years
Those who can knock at your door
Infinity of destinies
We let one down and what do we
retain from it?
The wind will carry it

As the tide rises
And each one takes stock
I take, in the heart of my shadow
some dust from you
The wind will carry it
Everything will disappear
The wind will carry us


Discover more from Between the French lyrics

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