Les Chemins de traverse

The song describes two people who meet by chance and choose a wandering life together. Their journey feels joyful and free: they travel, play music, and live in the moment rather than planning to return. Later, the speaker remembers that others tried to stop them, but the final verses imagine their travels continuing. The mood is affectionate and carefree, with a note of defiance.

Several images suggest their way of life. “The butterflies go where the wind carries them” compares them to creatures guided by chance rather than a fixed plan. “Taking the side roads” means choosing less direct routes; here, it also suggests avoiding other people’s expectations and valuing freedom over efficiency. The repeated scene of walking near a railway at night, hearing music and footsteps under the still moon, gives their travels a vivid, intimate atmosphere.

The “bohemian” life of travel and music seems to be more than a temporary adventure: the speaker calls it the only way of life they love. Yet the song leaves some uncertainty. The memories may describe a lasting shared freedom, or the repeated future tense may be a hopeful promise to keep that spirit alive. The lyric does not explain whether the pair are still together, so the ending can feel both confident and wistful.