1. |
[wakaw’95]
00:30
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2. |
Tous les matins
03:37
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Tous les matins
Paroles et musique par Alexis Normand
Mes nièces me réveillent en sautant sur mon lit
« Matante, c’est le matin! »
Elles viennent de commencer une guerre de chatouillis
Et de bisous-câlins
On sort dehors
Et je leurs mets d’la crème solaire
On construit des châteaux d’sable
Jusqu’à ce qu’une parte en colère
Tous les matins, tous les matins.
“It’s too early for their nap,” dit mon beau-frère en me passant
Un café avec d’la crème.
Souvent c’est lui qui se lève avec les enfants
“It’s not even 8 am.”
On partage le chalet
De 750 pieds carrés
Toute la famille élargie
And another on the way
Les petits mettent la table
Même s’ils ne savent pas comment
C’est tellement beau d’voir la façon qu’on
Travaille ensemble maintenant
Le bouquet de pissenlits est
Dans le vase de maman
Y’a tout ce dont j’ai besoin
Tous les matins, tous les matins
Pépère nous apporte des brioches à la cannelle
Achetées chez Country Crossroads
On se garoche tous en même temps pendant qu’elles
Sont toujours chaudes
On se chicane pour le beurre
Mémère apporte un autre couteau
Sur le quai en pyjamas
On se lave les doigts dans l’eau
Les petits mettent la table
Même s’ils ne savent pas comment
C’est tellement beau d’voir la façon qu’on
Travaille ensemble maintenant
Y’a le bouquet de pissenlits
Dans le vase de maman
Et leurs bisous-câlins
Tous les matins, tous les matins
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3. |
Hidden Valley
03:25
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Hidden Valley
Music and Lyric by Alexis Normand
The wind, with graceful temper, blows
Across the open plains
And over gravel roads
I’m driving on a cloud of snow
To hidden valley
The morning sun and shadows draw
Remnants of a time
When glacial waters thawed
Down to the Gulf of Mexico
From hidden valley
Oh, the tales these hills could tell
Ones of dinosaurs and oil wells
It’s so easy to feel small
And unsure how I fit into it all
Then a lone wolf disappears
Into the frozen field
After white-tailed deer
I saw them graze a day ago
In hidden valley
Oh, the hills all care so well
They know how to trust what time will tell
I think I’m still hanging on
Feels like I’ve been driving for so long
And if I take in what’s left of the ice age, peeking through the snow
Will I take in the balance unfolding in the hills below,
And let my breath become a cloud,
Untie the knots that have me bound,
And finally, just sigh out loud,
In hidden valley?
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4. |
Le doigt dessus
03:18
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Le doigt dessus
Paroles par Alexis Normand,
Musique par Alexis Normand et James Bunton
Ou Ou Ou Ou
Je n’sais plus si je mérite cette chance
Si ma voix peut briser le silence,
Prise dans la boîte qu’il faut cocher
Qu’que chose semble mal placé
Je ne remarque plus le poids constant
De répondre à toutes les attentes
Je n’veux plus mener ce combat
Où est-ce que j’ai appris à faire ça?
J’peux juste pas mettre le doigt dessus
J’peux juste pas mettre le doigt dessus
Ou Ou Ou Ou
Je n’entends même plus mon cœur qui casse
Quand on m’traite de personne de seconde classe
J’savais pas qu’j’portais ce mal
Quand est-ce qu’il est devenu normal?
J’voudrais me tailler une meilleure place
Mais j’trouve pas mon crayon ni mon efface
Je n’peux plus tracer mes contours
J’sais plus où j’suis dans mes détours
Je suis devenue le flou de l’entre-deux,
Le moi, le vous. Je suis le nœud
Que j’traine partout, et je n’peux
Juste pas mettre le doigt dessus
J’peux juste pas mettre le doigt dessus
J’peux juste pas mettre le doigt dessus
Ou Ou Ou Ou x2
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5. |
Sans mots
03:32
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Sans mots
Paroles et musique par Alexis Normand
Berce, berce, petit bébé
Dans mes bras, toute la journée
In and out of tender sleep
Les secondes passent au ralenti
Quand tu ouvres les paupières
Mon cœur se gonfle de lumière
Mes yeux se noient en t’regardant
J’suis fière et j’ai peur en même temps
J’sais pas quoi dire bébé
My words all melt away
Je suis sans mots quand ça vient à toi
Berce, berce, ABC
I wish that I knew how to say
Cuddle time and cutie pie,
Peak-a-boo and lullaby.
I’ll look them all up one by one
J’le fais pour nous, ma p’tite mignonne
Berce, berce, one, two, three
Compte sur moi, tendre chérie
Je suis sans mots quand ça vient à toi
J’t’offre ma fortune
Plus grande que le ciel et la lune
La voix de ma grand-mère
Portée par ses enfants fiers
Berce, berce petit enfant
Chante fort ton bel accent
Cette mélodie coule dans nos veines
Elle suit les courbes de la plaine
J’sais pas quoi dire bébé
My words all melt away
Je suis sans mots quand ça vient à toi
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6. |
[i can hear my voice]
01:21
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7. |
Leave
03:31
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Leave
Music and Lyrics by Alexis Normand
I think I was crying on the bus
I think I was crying on the bus cuz’ people just kept staring
I think I was crying over us
My sister was on the line with me
My sister was on the line with me asking if she should worry
My sister was a lifeline for me
After the surge you were so kind
Making it harder every time
I tried to leave you and your vicious circle
You were so good at picking fights
You were so good at picking fights and I could feel them coming
You were so good at being right
I got really good at giving in
I got really good at giving in and gave too many chances
You did what you could to wear me thin
Checking the history on my phone
Never allowed to leave alone
There was no way out of your vicious circle
After the surge you were so kind
Making it harder every time
I tried to leave you and your vicious circle
Deep down when I would listen
I could hear her shout: “You’ve got to get yourself out”
Deep down when I would listen
I knew that she was right, I had tried with all my might
But being with you got way too hard
I was so anxious and on guard
Never allowed to leave alone
You were checking the history on my phone
And playing down every harsh exchange
Pleading with me, this time you’ll change
That’s when I saw right through your vicious circle
After the surge you were so kind
Making it hardest the last time
I managed to leave you …
Leave, leave
Leave, leave
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8. |
[l’alphabet]
00:51
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9. |
À plus jamais
05:38
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À plus jamais
Paroles et musique par Alexis Normand
Pour qui te prends-tu?
D’accuser ma maman
De n’faire aucun effort
Avec nous, ses enfants.
« I do not speak French »
Elle dit si souvent
Je porte déjà son malaise
Et je n’ai que huit ans.
Je dois enfin me libérer de tout ça
J’entends toujours
Chuchoter à haute voix
Comme dans la cour d’école
Où tu m’pointais du doigt.
Pour qui te prends-tu?
Le temps t’a tendu
Ton discours est fané
Et ne me parle plus
Je dois enfin me libérer de tout ça
Je dois enfin me libérer de tout ça
Et de toi, et de toi.
Je me promets
De lutter autrement
Car j’n’ai plus l’énergie
D’camoufler mon accent
Je dois enfin me libérer de tout ça
Je dois enfin me libérer de tout ça
Et de toi, oh de toi.
Ça commence par moi
Ça commence par moi
Je ne veux plus juger, juger comme tu fais
Je ne veux plus juger, comme tu fais
Je ne veux plus juger, mais j’le fais
Je ne veux plus juger, comme tu fais
À plus jamais x5
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10. |
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The Night Before je t’aime
Music and lyrics by Alexis Normand
The gentle rain and soft moonlight
Fall on the tent, our home tonight
Tucked underneath our wool duvet
Your slumber dreams the hours away
You keep me warm as you hold me through the night
Oh, what a day we had once more
The lake and woods outside the door
Where hiking trails, are just yours and mine
And wild grass smells like summertime
This feels so right; like nothing I have known before
You feel so right; like nothing I have known before
I lay awake again
Because I want to say, je t’aime
I just can’t seem to unwind
I replay us in my mind
The glowing warmth and blushing skies
Dance on your lips and dozing eyes
This morning light may soothe my chest
But spinning thoughts won’t slow to rest
Is this meant to be?
What does that even mean?
Laying here is so damn easy
Et je ne dors plus la nuit
I lay awake again,
The night before, je t’aime.
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11. |
Roots and Wings
04:38
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Roots and Wings
Music and lyrics by Alexis Normand
I remember as a child
I would jump for many hours
On inner tubes from tractor tires
Floating on a lake
I was never very wild
And always willing to push harder
I get that from my father
Who won’t settle for a break
Ou ou
I remember as a teen
I left home in an airliner
And my parents hid a letter
In my carry-on
I was only seventeen
But reading their words made me stronger
And kept me honest like my mother
Who cries when I am gone
Oh, they gave me wings so I can fly on, keep dreaming
And they gave me roots so I can land home for safekeeping
I’m still working through the shame
That makes me feel much weaker
I get that from a teacher
Who never learned my name
Then I remember my grand-mère
When, out of nowhere she looked over
She said: “You’re bound for something greater,
I’ll pray for you ma chère”
I know, that I’ve wings so I can fly on, keep dreaming
I know, that I’ve roots so I can land home for safekeeping
These roots run deep
My heart they keep
These roots run deep
My heart they keep
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12. |
[grand-mère raconte]
00:52
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13. |
Empty Arms
03:38
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Empty Arms
Music and Lyrics by Alexis Normand
with collaboration of Farideh Olsen and Allyson Reigh
I see you with wide eyes
Planning for your baby
Hope and light aglow
Excited for tomorrow
But his little beating heart
Will stay a world apart
His gentle kicks inside
Reminders he’s still with you
It’s why you love him every day
Despite what doctors say
And when it’s time for goodbye
We’ll rally by your side
I wouldn’t have your faith.
Where do you find your grace?
How can you be so strong,
At home with empty arms?
And you dear little one
Whose light drew us together
And softened the divide
Teaching siblings to be kind
You’re one less reason to doubt
Life knows how to work itself out
I wouldn’t have their faith
Where do they find their grace?
How can they be so strong,
Without you in their arms?
I wouldn’t have their faith
Where do they find their grace?
How can they stay so strong,
Without you in their arms?
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14. |
||||
Roots and Wings
Music and lyrics by Alexis Normand
I remember as a child
I would jump for many hours
On inner tubes from tractor tires
Floating on a lake
I was never very wild
And always willing to push harder
I get that from my father
Who won’t settle for a break
Ou ou
I remember as a teen
I left home in an airliner
And my parents hid a letter
In my carry-on
I was only seventeen
But reading their words made me stronger
And kept me honest like my mother
Who cries when I am gone
Oh, they gave me wings so I can fly on, keep dreaming
And they gave me roots so I can land home for safekeeping
I’m still working through the shame
That makes me feel much weaker
I get that from a teacher
Who never learned my name
Then I remember my grand-mère
When, out of nowhere she looked over
She said: “You’re bound for something greater,
I’ll pray for you ma chère”
I know, that I’ve wings so I can fly on, keep dreaming
I know, that I’ve roots so I can land home for safekeeping
These roots run deep
My heart they keep
These roots run deep
My heart they keep
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Alexis Normand Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Musicienne au cœur chaud, Alexis Normand nous arrive avec le vent envoûtant des plaines. Ses textes soigneusement ficelés,
chantés d’une voix limpide et sensuelle, sont une caresse pour les oreilles.
***
Alexis Normand delivers music brimming with warmth and vulnerability. Her soulful voice and jazz-folk melodies recall the soft prairie wind and the enchanting glow of the living skies.
... more
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