La Montagne

Jean Ferrat's song "La Montagne" is a poignant reflection on the migration of rural inhabitants to urban areas in search of better opportunities. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the countryside, where people leave their birthplace to seek a new life in the city. The song captures the bittersweet emotions of leaving behind the familiar and the beautiful, yet challenging, life in the mountains. The opening lines describe the departure of individuals who have long dreamed of the city's allure, its secrets, and modern conveniences like formica and cinema. However, this departure is tinged with a sense of loss, as the older generation's simple yet profound way of life fades away.

The chorus, "Pourtant que la montagne est belle," serves as a recurring lament, marveling at the beauty of the mountain and questioning how one can imagine the arrival of autumn when seeing a flock of swallows. This imagery symbolizes the inevitable passage of time and the changes it brings. The song contrasts the natural, enduring beauty of the mountains with the transient, often harsh realities of life. The verses recount the hard work and resilience of the rural people, who built their lives with their hands, creating vineyards and enduring the challenges of farming. Despite the hardships, there was a sense of fulfillment and connection to the land that is now being lost.

Ferrat also touches on the generational shift, where the younger generation seeks a different life, one that involves stable jobs as police officers or civil servants, and the comforts of modern living, such as hormone-fed chicken in their H.L.M. (low-income housing). The song captures the tension between the desire for progress and the longing for the simplicity and authenticity of rural life. "La Montagne" is a tribute to the enduring beauty of the countryside and a melancholic reflection on the inevitable changes brought by time and modernization.