Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: french
Song Meaning of “C’était l’année dernière” by Il Etait Une Fois
This song is about the sense of longing we feel when memories of the past resurface in our minds. It’s an optimism-filled ode to the way our memories can bring us joy even if it’s been awhile since they happened.
The song begins with a moment of reflection, when the singer recognizes that what’s gone has been gone for a while – “C’était l’année dernière / On était plus jeunes, plus fou”. Yet they then recognize a glint of hope and joy that comes with thinking back on those memories, on those people they shared it with – “Nos souvenirs / Des milliers de chemins / Et je crois qu’on était heureux”. Even though nostalgia can bring sadness, it’s also a reminder of how happy we can be.
The chorus serves as an encouragement to try and reclaim that happiness that once existed, reminding us that “Rien ne s’efface, l’impossible est autrement plus beau / Un monde a l’envers, et je me demande à quoi servirais le temps”. This invites the listener to discard any feelings of loss; to accept the fact that the things that made us so happy may not be possible anymore but that there is always something else beautiful that can be found.
The song ends with the same hopeful message as it began with – that memories of the past should be savored and appreciated, not forgotten – “Encore plus loin, on pourra retrouver / Une autre vie, une autre folie / Et je sais qu’on est heureux”. Even if it’s been years since that happy time happened, it can still bring us joy. We should take that joy as an opportunity to create something new and find more happiness.