Relationships and Nantes

“Nantes”
Beirut
The Flying Club Cup
http://lyrics.wikia.com/wiki/Beirut:Nantes

The What: The song is a man talking about his relationship with his lover. Their relationship is struggling, but the man has said that, no matter how foolish their attempts and no matter how long it would take, he would remain by her side. While subject this is a common “theme”, he brings it new life by drawing parallels between the relationship and the city of Nantes.

Multidimensional Language #1:

Nobody raise your voices
Just another night in Nantes
Nobody raise your voices
Just another night in Nantes

The city of Nantes is seen as a calm, serene place which raised voices have no place in; hence, the line “Nobody raise your voices / Just another night in Nantes.” But this duplet is also a connection to the couple’s struggles. They are trying to prevent themselves from arguing and normalize their situation by saying that it’s just another night. This parallel made the relationship troubles even more emotional because the serene image of the city is juxtaposed against the tensions of the couple.

Multidimensional Language #2:

“This will slip into the sea”

This line is another example of a dichotomous relationship between the city of Nantes and the couple’s relationship. Nantes is right along the Loire River which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. The line shows a relaxed homogeneity with the river (sea in the song), but the speaker is saying something different. He will wait for her until it completely disappears into the sea. Internally he will be anything but relaxed. It strengthens the meaning because it provides a stark contrast between the city and the relationship inside the city.

Multidimensional Language #3:
(Object Shattering)Woman: Oh, no, please, we're not at home
Man: I assure you, it doesn't matter
Woman: No, leave me
Man: What's wrong with you today
Woman: I only just know that men disgust me, you're always thinking about that.

A few aspects exist in these lines. They were originally spoken in French therefore no non-French speakers understand the meaning while listening (including me — I happened to find a translation). It completely goes against the tone of the rest of the song. This section includes outright emotional anger, and possibly physical anger or violence (due to the object shattering). It also includes the only part of the song that includes the woman’s perspective. She is not doing well at all in the relationship. The romanticized story told by the English part of the song is given a different light with this translation; additionally, the entire part was in French (which many listeners won’t understand), and so it seemed as if the women’s perspective was meant to be hidden. She was given a voice that no one could hear. This section deepens the meaning of the song because it rids it of the romanticism that exist in the remaining stanzas.