Audio recorded by David Issokson, teaching French since 2014 — not a native speaker, but fluent at a near-native level.
Tourner dans le vide is a haunting 2014 hit by French singer Indila that struck a chord across Europe. In this lesson, I read the lyrics line by line and break down the grammar and vocabulary in simple terms. You’ll discover the meaning behind the words and why this song leaves such a lasting impression.
Tourner dans le vide: Song Overview
The song tells the story of a woman in love with a working-class man who’s judged by society. After his departure, she’s left with a tear “stuck in her eyes,” haunted by his memory. The music video reflects this pain as Indila imagines dancing with him at a cold, high-society gathering.
Listen to Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide – Lyrics with English Translation
Il était brun, le teint basané
Le regard timide, les mains toutes abîmées
Il taillait la pierre, fils d’ouvier
Il en était fier, mais pourquoi vous riez?
Non, ne le jugez pas
Vous qui ne connaissez pas
Les vertiges et le labeur
Vous êtes faussement heureux, vous troquez vos valeurs
Lui, il est tout mon monde, et bien plus que ça
Seule je crie son nom quand vient le désarroi
Et puis tout s’effondre quand il n’est plus là
J’aimerais tellement lui dire mais je n’ose pas
He was brown-haired and dark-skinned
With a timid look and damaged hands
He cut stone, the son of a worker
He was proud, why are you laughing?
No, don’t judge him
You who don’t know
The heights and the labor
You are falsely happy, you swap your values
He is my entire world, and even more than that
I scream his name alone when the confusion comes
And everything crumbles when he’s not here any more
I would like to tell him so much but I don’t dare
Lui qui me fait
Tourner dans le vide, vide
Tourner dans le vide, vide
Tourner dans le vide, il me fait tourner
Dans le vide, vide, vide
Tourner, tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide, il me fait tourner
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
He makes me
Spin in emptiness, emptiness
Spin in emptiness, emptiness
Spin in emptiness, he makes me spin
In emptiness, emptiness, emptiness
Spin, spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness, he makes me spin
In emptiness
In emptiness
In emptiness
In emptiness
In emptiness
In emptiness
In emptiness
Qui peut bien me dire ce qui est arrivé?
Depuis qu’il est parti, je n’ai pu me relever
Ce n’est plus qu’un souvenir, une larme du passé
Coincée dans mes yeux qui ne veut plus s’en aller
Oh non, ne riez pas
Vous qui ne connaissez pas
Les vertiges et la douleur
Ils sont superficiels, ils ignorent tout du cœur
Lui, c’était tout mon monde et bien plus que ça
J’espère le revoir là, pas dans l’au-delà
Aidez-moi tout s’effondre puisqu’il n’est plus là
Sais-tu mon bel amour, mon beau soldat
Who can tell me what happened?
Since he’s been gone, I haven’t been able to get back on my feet
It’s just a memory, a tear from the past
Stuck in my eyes that doesn’t want to leave
Oh no, don’t laugh
You who don’t know
The heights and the pain
They’re superficial, they know nothing about the heart
He was my entire world and even more than that
I hope to see him again here, not in heaven
Help me, everything crumbles since he’s no longer here
Do you know, my love, my beautiful soldier
Que tu me fais
Tourner dans le vide, vide
Tourner dans le vide, vide
Tourner dans le vide, tu me fais tourner
Dans le vide, vide, vide
Tourner, tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide, il me fait tourner
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
That you make me
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness, you make me spin
In emptiness, emptiness, emptiness
Spin in emptiness, he makes me spin
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Il me fait tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Il me fait tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Tourner dans le vide
Il me fait tourner
Tourner dans le vide
He makes me spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
He makes me spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
Spin in emptiness
He makes me spin
Spin in emptiness
Line-by-Line Explanation of Tourner dans le vide Lyrics
Below are selected lines from Indila’s song, with notes to help you understand the grammar, vocabulary, and meaning behind each phrase.
Il était brun, le teint basané
“He was brown-haired and dark-skinned.”
Il était is the imperfect of être (to be), used for past descriptions. Brun = brown-haired. Le teint basané = tanned or swarthy complexion.
Le regard timide, les mains toutes abîmées
“With a timid look and damaged hands.”
Regard = look or gaze. Abîmé means damaged, worn out — often used with objects or body parts.
Il taillait la pierre, fils d’ouvrier
“He cut stone, the son of a worker.”
Tailler = to carve or chisel. Pierre = stone. Ouvrier = manual laborer.
Il en était fier, mais pourquoi vous riez ?
“He was proud of it — so why are you laughing?”
En refers to his work. Fier = proud. Riez is the vous-form of rire (to laugh).
Non, ne le jugez pas
“No, don’t judge him.”
Le = him (direct object pronoun). Jugez = imperative form of juger.
Vous qui ne connaissez pas
“You who don’t know.”
Connaître = to be familiar with (used for people, unlike savoir for facts).
Les vertiges et le labeur
“The heights and the hard work.”
Vertige = fear of heights or dizziness. Labeur = labor, toil.
Vous êtes faussement heureux, vous troquez vos valeurs
“You’re falsely happy, trading away your values.”
Faussement = falsely. Troquer = to swap or trade.
Lui, il est tout mon monde, et bien plus que ça
“He is my whole world — and even more.”
Lui emphasizes the subject. Mon monde = “my world” in a poetic sense.
Seule je crie son nom quand vient le désarroi
“I scream his name alone when despair sets in.”
Désarroi = confusion, turmoil. Crier = to scream (not to cry — pleurer is to cry).
Et puis tout s’effondre quand il n’est plus là
“Then everything falls apart when he’s not here anymore.”
S’effondrer = to collapse, fall apart. Il n’est plus là = he’s no longer here.
J’aimerais tellement lui dire mais je n’ose pas
“I’d love to tell him, but I don’t dare.”
J’aimerais = conditional of aimer (I would like). Oser = to dare.
Lui qui me fait
“He who makes me.”
Poetic fragment. Lui adds emphasis. Can also mean “He’s the one who defines me.”
Qui peut bien me dire ce qui est arrivé ?
“Who can tell me what happened?”
Ce qui est arrivé = what happened (literally: what arrived).
Depuis qu’il est parti, je n’ai pu me relever
“Since he left, I haven’t been able to get back on my feet.”
Se relever = to recover. Partir uses être in passé composé.
Ce n’est plus qu’un souvenir, une larme du passé
“It’s just a memory — a tear from the past.”
Ne…plus que = “only now.” Larme = tear. Souvenir = memory.
Coincée dans mes yeux qui ne veut plus s’en aller
“Stuck in my eyes, refusing to go away.”
Coincée = stuck. S’en aller = to leave, to go away.
Ils sont superficiels, ils ignorent tout du cœur
“They’re superficial — they know nothing of the heart.”
Ignorer = to not know or to ignore, adding double meaning.
J’espère le revoir là, pas dans l’au-delà
“I hope to see him here — not in the afterlife.”
L’au-delà = the beyond, the afterlife. Revoir = see again.
Sais-tu mon bel amour, mon beau soldat
“Do you know, my sweet love, my beautiful soldier?”
Bel is used before a vowel (from beau), for smoother flow — a poetic closing line.
Become an expert in French song lyrics!
Listening to French songs and studying the lyrics is one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your language skills! On FrenchLearner, I break down some of Indila’s most powerful tracks, including Dernière Danse, Parler à ta tête, S.O.S., and Love Story.
I’ve also analyzed top hits by Belgian sensation Stromae, such as Alors On Danse, Papaoutai, and Formidable.
Prefer the classics? Check out our detailed lyrics lessons for timeless French songs like La Vie en Rose and Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Édith Piaf, Ne Me Quitte Pas by Jacques Brel, and Je t’aime… moi non plus by Serge Gainsbourg.
Looking for more great songs to learn with?
Check out my full library of lessons with vocabulary and grammar explanations: 👉 French song lyrics
